Sunday 18 June 2006
When the alarm went offat 06:00 I was already awake and had been for
sometime. I got up immediately and made tea. Fishing produced nothing so
ablutions were carried out. Then one last effort produced a superb bream of
about 2½ pounds. Barry duly captured it on camera and all too soon there were
only 20 minutes to the 'off.' Steve Coloney appeared on cue, accompanied by
Heamiyet Eren, a very old friend of his. She was like an older version of
Agnetha from Abba, a real eye-catcher that caused men to second-glance her, a
very pleasant addition to the crew.
We moved into the lock and Marvin, the lockkeeper, packed us
all in like sardines. Then, by 0845 we were released from the traps and we
sprung forward, the boats eager to chew up the 17 miles or so to Limehouse.
The weather got hotter and hotter as we penetrated the capital city
until Tower Bridge, when high cloud filled the sky but the temperature remained
constant. I phoned ahead to the Limehouse Lockkeeper who took my details and
asked us to moor on the floating pontoon outside the lock as two cruisers were
currently coming down into the river. During our visit I ascended
the long ladder to the marina and found Tammy, Matt and Violet. As we entered
the lock then Phil and Di arrived too.
We all decamped to the pub for an indifferent pint of lager
and and barbeque-burgers as we were starving, the fresh conditions making for
large appetites. After eats we returned to the boat and Steve and Heamiyet took
their leave. The rest of us then went on a 2 hour 50 minute cruise around the
Hertford Union, River Lee and Limehouse Cut, returning to the basin by 18:20.
Phil and Di set off for home and, after coffee, Tammy, Matt and Violet did so
too. I watched Corry and Heartbeat before Barry and I tackled the first four
locks on the Regent's Canal for the second time today. Finally we slipped into
a mooring space at Old Ford at 23:08 where, amazingly, a boat invited us to
take their space as they were just leaving! A perfect end to a perfect--if
somewhat long and busy day.
Monday 19 June 2006
Unsurprisingly, we both slept like proverbial tops and it was 08:45 before I
ceased my conversation with Morpheus. Nick Ferrari came through on the radio
loud and clear for the first time this holiday. Fishing produced nothing at all
but I chewed the fat with Olivia on "Phoebe" in very mild conditions with the
sun threatening to break through anytime. We moved on at 10:30 up to Haggerston
where we tied up and began a trek round three libraries. The first was now
flats, the second a technology centre and the third required photographic I.D.
Consequently I didn't get on the internet, unlike Barry who happened to be
carrying his driving licence. Returning to the boat in disgust I tried fishing
in really gusty conditions until Barry's return at 16:00.
City road basin was our next port-of-call before ascending
City Road Lock and mooring just shy of Islington Tunnel. For the
first time I can remember, there was space to do so--in a lovely spot out of
the wind. I fished but was up against a much more skilled opponent--a cormorant
as big as a bloody albatross! I did manage 4 small perch though. Corry watched,
we repaired to "Island Queen" for a couple of pints of "Leffe" in an
interesting pub that's worth a re-visit soon!
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