From Heathdavid@aol.com Sat May  1 11:22:12 1999
Date: Sun, 31 May 1998 12:59:41 EDT
From: Heathdavid@aol.com
Reply-To: canals@blacksheep.org
To: Canals@blacksheep.org
Subject: Soared Round the Ring

Hi All,

We are back after soaring round the Leicester in 8 days and proved the people
that we met early on on our route wrong when they fell off their bar stools
laughing and said that it couldn't be done. We could only afford a week off
work so we started off on Friday 22nd at 6.30 p.m. after working that day and
arrived back at our moorings at Redhill at 5.00 p.m. on Saturday 30th. On the
way, we met Tony and Gina who also moor at Redhill and encouraged them to join
us round the ring and whilst we didn't stay together all the time, we often
met on the way and shared two days of locking down the Leicester section of
the Grand Union. Whilst we didn't stop much on the way, at the slow pace of
the canals, we could take many of the sights as we went. Warmer weather would
have been nice but our nicest day while we were on the Coventry and the Oxford
meant that we just about cruised into the sunset, which made the rest of our
days more relaxed.

We met Chris Duchar and family on our way - several times - as he waved us
bye, then we stopped for petrol, we caught up again and he waved us bye again.
We found out when we all moored at Kilby Bridge that he was suffering from the
flu so we sent our good wishes. I hope that he recovered soon. I must say that
I marvelled at the apparent ease that he moored the butty in between two other
mooer boats and then moored alongside. So smooth.

There were a few glum faces at Kilby Bridge as the pub was still closed, as
had been predicted by members of this group. The need for pre purchased cards
to operate the showers caught a few out as well. This seems to have been
poorly publicised and of course there is nowhere to buy them nearbye. I bit of
an own goal we thought.

I had thought about doing a report but wasn't sure if people wanted to read
our odd jottings.

Hope that you are feeling better now Chris.

David Heath