After its brief holiday on the Oxford Canal, Python celebrated her shared 80th Birthday with non-identical twin sister Panther at Wyken last weekend, hosted by the Coventry Canal Society, and has now moved on to Redhill (on Soar) for a well earned blacking and some fettling of upper paintwork ready for the IWA National. Strangely, on the three days I was on board (from Hawkesbury to Willington (via Coventry and T&M canals)) I did not notice any boats from this list or from Cutweb. Python's next move: Immediately after the National down the Trent to West Stockwith and a tidal exit on to the Chesterfield Canal. They certainly knew how to build boats in the 1920s, she has perfect manners, goes like a train, (unbelievably) steers in reverse and produces virtually no wash even at speed. Ignoring the numerous dents and battle scars gained over the years she has a beautiful hull shape. And finally her present engine (her third and installed for around 40 years) is an absolute dream, if a little noisy at times. It burns no oil and apparently uses virtually no diesel, running, I assume, mainly on the fumes from the Thetford. Mr Millin eat your heart out, I'm in love with an HA2. Arthur Naylor nb(s) Python, Seth Ellis, Pendle Magic (as the mood takes me)!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
