Sunday 9th June
It’s been a funny old day, what with one thing and another. We left Newbold this morning and travelled 11 miles to Braunston. It was rather breezy and chilly early on so we had practically all of our winter gear on again!
There was a lot of traffic about this morning and people seemed to be doing unusual things. At the Barby moorings there was a boat sideways across the canal in front of us and the occupant said they had stopped for a wee. Not sure if they meant themselves or their 3 dogs. Also not sure why they didn’t tie the boat up properly for the duration!
Then on the last lot of Armco moorings before Braunston there was a row of moored boats and we had to cross with a couple of travelling boats coming the other way while passing them, so we were quite close to this Braidbar as we went by. The man inside was looking worriedly out of his hatch window as we passed lest we scrape his immaculate paintwork. It wasn’t us he had to worry about though …………. it was the Union Canal Carriers boat from Braunston which crossed with us!
As we looked back, for some reason they suddenly veered across the canal straight into the side of Mr Braidbar, whose hatch window immediately shot open. The poor shocked hirer then compounded the felony by turning the tiller so far in the opposite direction that as the front turned away the back came round and clouted Mr Braidbar again! Oooops. By this time Mrs Braidbar was out in the cratch giving them what for.
As we drove off Mr Braidbar was creeping along the gunwales inspecting the damage! It amused the row of other moorers who were there somewhat.
There was no more excitement and we easily found a mooring between Bridges 89 and 90, perfect for Ant to find us. I gave him a ring to tell him where we were and he said he would come Tuesday. We then went off to the pub of course.
While we were at The Boathouse, enjoying our beers in the garden, we decided to go back later for a meal. This turned out to be a bit of a mistake actually as the staff were a bit, shall we say, either surly (bar staff) or overbearing (our waitress) and the food was, shall we say, disappointing? We have come to the conclusion that it is a good pub for a drink (excellent beer) and a sit by the canal (nice garden) but as a venue for a good meal out? We’ll give it a swerve. The wine was ok though but a bit pricey.
There was a stag party going on and they had t shirts printed with – ‘Sod the wedding let’s go to the pub’ – on the front and something rather ruder on the back!
On the way back to the boat a couple of chaps, in their 20’s I’d say (this is important to note) came up to us and one of them shook Ken’s hand and said ‘All right mate?’ Ken said ‘Yes thanks.’ Then this chap said, ‘Do you mind if I kiss your wife?’ Ken said, ‘Carry on mate.’ So he grabbed me and planted a smacker right on my lips! It was so funny, I couldn’t believe he’d done it. Before you start – no it wasn’t dark and no he wasn’t pissed! So it’s official, I’ve still got it! Even if I was old enough to be his Mum!
Tomorrow we are going to Rugby on the bus.
