I set off on the Grand Circle on 31 July, incorporating the Wendover Arm & the
Aylesbury Arm too. Highs & lows come in equal measure. I pass Parglena's
mooring--not there, I pass Jannock's--not there, I make my way on to the
Wendover Arm & disturb enough kingfishers to rival the flocks of ring-necked
parakeets in London. Carp feeding on loose slices of bread are enough to send
Gregory Peck in an Ahabian Way to look for a harpoon. At the terminus a
departing boater declares "It's like having your own private mooring!" I'll go
along with that. The Aylesbury Arm with its incomparable beauty, huge fish in
the basin falling to cheese paste. Meeting an old workmate for a delicious
curry. The solitary splendour of the South Oxford Canal at its summit. The
serendipitous meeting of at least two windlass wielding people at every lock
whilst ascending the Napton Flight. The weather holding out for an impossibly
long time [Even today 21 August is very warm but
cloudy] I see 'Bix' a famous old boat that Iris Bryce travelled around on &
wrote about. Today I saw 'Albert' on the Thames--it used to be moored at
Batchworth.
My main water-pump developed a leak & placed a large amount of water in the
cabin bilge. Not worth repairing was the verdict of the boatyard so a
replacement was necessary. £65 later we're back in business. My shower tray
refuses to empty, the drain must be bunged up--I'll get round to that
eventually. Meeting a complete bunch of amateurs in Romney lock this afternoon,
jumping ashore with a bow line, massive tugs resulting in their hireboat going
broadside in the lock just in time to clout my narrowboat gliding to a neat
stop on the other side. Sorries were many & often but the point is--who let
them loose on the water with so little knowledge? Classic Cruisers, take your
shame. The lockie @ Old Windsor told me that they give the least possible
tuition to first timers. When they arrived in *his* lock they performed a
pirouette in the lock entrance before a line could be got ashore. Back at
Romney lock there were four boats including mine in the lock
when, exasperatingly I called out ''Are we going to sit here all day or is
someone going to push a few buttons?''
''Oh,'' said a coach of a coxless pair, "Is there no lockkeeper then?"
"No" that's why the notice says 'self-service' that the departing lockkeeper
exposed when he went for his lunch ten minutes ago!'' {He wasn't stupid, he
didn't have to see the ineptitude.}
Despite all that & still from here to Teddington-Limehouse & back through East
London to home to go, you can't beat a bit of boating.
Barry
Nb singlehandedandmakingafinefistofit.
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