After a couple of years without much cruising we spent our 4th weekend
out of the last 6 aboard Uncle Mort, getting re-acquainted. It was
quite difficult to begin with. All the usual routines were unusual.
All the tasks that used to be second nature were third nature, at best.
But now we are re-familiarising with tiller pins, shore power cables,
chimney covers, stern glands, water fills, Squirreling and, of course,
Thetfordery. It’s good fun this boating lark isn’t it, when you get
the hang of it. Never mind the doom and gloom, we are looking forward
to a proper excursion in 2009.
It’s something of an indictment – but we haven’t worked a lock since
October 2006 !
This weekend was to be one of those gentle chugs up to Gloucester
Docks but we had a recent letter from BW explaining the G&S/Severn
operating arrangements for this off-season, which mentioned in closing
that there would be fireworks in the docks on Saturday 1st. We thought
there might be a crowd of boats around so we aimed to reach the scene
early Saturday. There “was” a crowd of boats around, already at 9am
and all the finger moorings were filled so we tied up alongside the
wall on the east side, a first for us. In the event this was a bonus
as it transpired our side hatch would give us a perfect view of the
proceedings.
We bummed around all day, doing not very much. The docks were
overburdened with H&S barriers and as the evening approached the
number of yellow coated security folk grew. The firework display put
on by Gloucester Round Table was brilliant, a twin launch-site affair
with one sited behind the new flats for the higher altitude stuff and
a floating pontoon in the docks for the foreground display. First
class. There seemed to be quite a big crowd though the rain interfered
with their pleasure. As did the inevitable hyperactive, over loud and
nauseatingly squeaky local radio DJ on the PA with his “Let me hear
your oooooooos” and “now let me hear your rrrrrrrrrrrrrrs”.
There is now a BW provided wi-fi in the docks though the signal did
not adequately permeate the boat, at our morring location. In more
favourable weather I would have explored the coverage area.
Sunday morning - wanted to fill with water and empty the dunny at the
facilities pontoon alongside Llanthony bridge. The space was taken by
two boats: a little plastic orange coloured cruiser named Avocet and a
blue coloured, un-named wide beam cruiser. The former un-crewed, the
latter busy with something unrelated to the facilities. I moaned at
the Llanthony bridgekeeper who failed to entirely conceal his apathy.
Pah !
Beeky
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