From AHarvey523@aol.com Sun May  2 15:45:48 1999
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 14:07:19 EDT
From: AHarvey523@aol.com
Reply-To: canals@blacksheep.org
To: canals@blacksheep.org
Subject: Re:  Trip report 1 - started as short, got longer

Hello, are you all back at your computers now after a weekend's boating?  I
can't get connected at the moment so this will be sent 'whenever' - only once
I hope!  I have just caught up with the weekend's digests, so this will be
mercifully short.  

We took Amos up to Wombourne for the weekend, with daughter, son in law and
grandchildren as crew.  We spent Friday night in the Marina, with a glass or
two (or three) to celebrate our WA.  On Saturday morning we spoke to John
Turner who does the upholstery and canopies, cratch covers etc and he promised
to make a cushion, (attached to a board) to fit our rather saggy sofa bed.  He
promised it for 2 ish and said we could collect it as we cruised past. After
the family arrived, and we had taken their car to the Round Oak we set off at
about 2.30 in the afternoon.  It was warm, but not sunny as we had hoped.  We
had an uneventful and very pleasant cruise, about 2 hours.  

Just after we had come out of the staircase at Botterham, I realise that we
had forgotten to collect the cushion.  A quick call to John at JT Trimmings,
and he said he'd deliver it as he was going home soon.  We met at the bridge
by the Waggon and Horses, and took the it aboard.  How was that for service?
He does an excellent job, and I have no hesitation in reccommending him if any
of you need this type of job done.  He has made cushions, canopies and
patchups for us and our friends for several years and never does a bad job.  

We winded just above Bumblehole lock and back through and down to moor outside
the Round Oak. We had a few pints in the garden with the family, before they
went off home.

We had moored near some friends from the Marina, who hadn't seen our new boat,
so a guided tour followed.  We then repaired back to the pub for a celebration
meal.  Unfortunately as it was crowded we upset a young couple, who thought
that sitting at a table for 6 entitled them to have it to themselves while
others stood up to eat!  They insisted it was "their" table.  They wished to
be alone as it was their anniversary.  "Snap" I said brightly.  They went off
elsewhere, I'm not sure where, and kept popping back as other putting-off
ideas occurred.  They hadn't even seen my table manners at that point.

"Do you smoke?" - We were sitting by a large Thank you for not... sign.

"Will you please come and tell us when you've finished, as we want to be
alone."

As we were about to leave our friend came into the bar, and we stopped to
speak to him.  Antisocial young couple leapt past us and into "their" seats.
I cannot imagine a place less appropriate to choose to be alone, than a
popular canalside pub with patio and play area, family room and well
established food sales on a Saturday night, after the first decent weekend's
weather for a month.   Ah well, when love flies in the window...

Part 2 to follow.

Regards
Ann