Whilton Marina, Grand Union Canal – Wednesday 29 May 2013
I haven’t
been deliberately ignoring you – lousy email signal (that’s my excuse and you’ll
have to accept it). However a catch up
for you:
My last
post was on Monday 13th May when Jess had just arrived. Once she was fully settled I started cleaning
the towpath side of the boat (starboard) as I knew that the towpath would be on
the port side at Crick. I also repainted
the black below the gunwales so that she looks reasonable to those passing. I try to give Jess three hour-long walks a
day when other dogs are not around as she jumps at them and is very, very
yappy. Of course all other boaters obey
the signs that say “Keep your dog on a lead at all times”, don’t they?
On the Friday
I moved to Crick a journey of 5 miles and the Watford Locks – a flight of 7
with 3 of them as a staircase (locks empty into the one below rather than into
a ‘pound’). There was a C&RT staff
member who operated the locks for me. At
Crick they hadn’t put out the signs for where boats were to go so I moored near
where the footbridge is usually built.
On Saturday
I had to go back in to London for a lunch for the unit Past & Present
Association (I’m the Chairman) so Jess was left on the boat – after a long walk
and with a second one after I got back.
Virgin trains both ways and each journey only 50 minutes non-stop!!
Sunday
the Marina staff came round to mark boat spaces and I discovered that the
Braidbar boats (Sanity Again, Cala, Farne and Ice Breaker) were not on the list
provided by Waterways World! I made a quick
call to Susan and she rang the WW office on the Monday to sort it out. Fortuitously we were slotted in where I had moored.
During
the week I spent time cleaning and tidying the inside of Ice Breaker, ready for
those potential buyers (of Braidbar boats) who wanted to view a different
layout. The weather was wet and windy so
we did not put the stand together until the Saturday morning. The show has set a 14 year record – it’s been
that long since they had dry weather on all three days!! On the Monday Jules came back and collected
Jess – who initially was indifferent, but then lots and lots of licks and
barks. From Jess of course.
Tuesday
after the show the weather changed and it has been raining since. I decided not to go and spent the hung around
to give the commercials etc time to get away (thinking that the locks would be
clear). Some Hope! Although the Watford Flight were ok the
Buckby Flight had boats going down – there were eight in front of me and
another twelve behind. I paired up with
Nick another single hander. At Whilton
he went on while I stopped for fuel and a pump-out
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