Wednesday 2nd October
We got off to a slightly worrying start today when the engine wouldn’t start! We have never had engine trouble before so this was unusual. However, after a few tries and a bit of revving all was well, thank God.
We have travelled 19 miles and 2 locks from Upton to Gloucester and are currently moored in the docks. Although rain was forecast we didn’t get a drop until fairly late this afternoon and with light breezes and warm temperatures it was a very pleasant four and a half hour cruise.
When we arrived in the dock there was only one other narrow boat (which has subsequently left) and 1 yoghurt pot on the pontoons and 3 boats (one for sale) on the wall. A bit different from when we were here in the Summer. Late this afternoon 4 narrow boats all turned up from up the G and S at the same time so now there are 5 of us.
After mooring up we intended going to the Wetherspoons (as we do) but on the way we discovered The New Inn a very old, black and white timbered hotel. This, it turned out, had been the very hotel in which Ken and one of his previous wives had stayed for a weekend in the early 1980’s. Apparently Ken’s most vivid memory of the trip is Cliff Thorburn winning the World Snooker Championships ……… and he doesn’t even like snooker!
We went in for a pint and sat in the courtyard. Built around 1455 The New Inn is Grade I listed by English Heritage and is the most complete surviving example of a medieval courtyard inn with galleries in Britain. Very interesting and a nice pint of Courage Directors too.
This evening we went to Vinings, the Thai and Indian buffet restaurant in the docks, again and had another superb meal. We managed to get back to the boat before the heavy rain started which was lucky.
So that’s it now for major travelling, so far this year we have done 562 miles and 369 locks. We will potter about on this canal for a couple of months until December when we go in to Saul Junction marina until March. We have a lot of maintenance to do before we go in the marina (replacing the paint and blacking we have lost along the way mainly) so we won’t be idle! Mum and Dave and Tony and Trish are coming to the Tudor Arms at the end of this month and we are going to take them for a trip to Sharpness. Tony and Trish haven’t seen the boat since it was new so it will be a bit of a shock for them to see how ‘lived in’ it has become!
We have several things lined up which have to be done this winter including a full service sooner rather than later, getting a new washing machine (if we can ever get the old one out) and a tumble dryer. We are also considering having windows put in the side hatches so we are not plunged into semi darkness because we have to shut the hatches every time it rains.
Ken’s first jobs are greaser and loo flush, mine are cleaning the cooker and the grouting in the shower! My God we know how to live!
