From AHarvey523@aol.com Fri Apr 30 22:40:15 1999
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 15:01:08 EST
From: AHarvey523@aol.com
Reply-To: canals@blacksheep.org
To: canals@blacksheep.org
Subject: New Year's cruise(longish)

Hello and thanks to all who have posted such entertaining trip reports of your
Christmas cruises.  I have enjoyed reading them, and I hope that some of you
will be interested in our New Year Cruise, and that you all enjoyed the New
Year's weekend as much as us.  

We didn't arrive at our mooring at Ashwood until Friday lunchtime as Ken had a
gig on NYE at Brierly Hill Civic Hall and I had to drive him (he drinks you
know).  We met up with friends Bob and Yvonne on their nb The Henry Cleaver.
They too had just changed boats this year (previously had nb Woodend) and The
Henry had had a new engine installed so this was to be his/her trial run, with
Amos as backup in case of a problem.

We arrived in sunshine, and arranged to set off as soon as we had all unpacked
and lit the stoves etc.  Ken and I went back to Amos to do this but by this
time there was the threat of a large black cloud looming.  Ken started the
engine, but it took a little coaxing.  He decided to walk back to the Henry
Cleaver to consult, while I prepared our meal.  By the time he came back the
weather was decidedly iffy, and they changed the plan to - drive to the pub
tonight (club was closed) and set off tomorrow morning.  I thought this was a
bit namby pamby and called them all wimps, but when the rain sheeted down and
the wind rose to 'decidedly blustery' I wasn't really sorry though I didn't
tell them that ;)

We enjoyed a drink in two of the pubs in Swindon, then back to Amos for a few
nightcaps. (Reminder to self - replenish stocks!)  Can't see us making an
early start with the wind and rain that is howling round.

Next morning we girded our loins and set off for Kinver.  The weather was
mixed, more like April than January, one minute pouring with rain, the next we
were shading the sun from our eyes.  It was however a very pleasant trip.  We
went ahead and HC followed, helping to lock us through and waving us on.  At
Hyde lock I started to backfill for them before being waved on again.  By the
time we got through Kinver lock we were far enough ahead to backfill again,
having first checked that there was no-one coming up.  I even opened the gate
expecting them any moment.  Well there wasn't likely to be much traffic on Jan
2nd was there?  

Are you ahead of me?  Of course, as we pulled away from the lock a boat came
round the bend,  whoops!  I apologised nicely and explained why 'their' lock
was full with the gate open, but Bob and Yvonne, (who had stopped at the SS,)
passed the time of day with the crew who said "no, not many boats about today
but THAT one!"

After winding and mooring on a very grotty towpath we all repaired to the
Bathams pub in the village for a quick lunchtime drink.  Or two.

Stumbling back up the towpath in the dark we arranged to go to The Vine for
the evening.  Bob knocked on the door as they went by and we followed to the
Vine.  A pleasant drink (but not like the Bathams) and then back on board the
HC, where we made easy work of several bottles of wine.

Sunday morning when we awoke I have to say it didn't look promising.  I rose
first in case I nodded off again and missed the A****** which would never do
as I did miss the Christmas edition and Shula's wedding.  However by 11.15,
our predetermined casting off time Ken was up too and ready to go as he
couldn't face breakfast.  I am made of sterner stuff and it takes more than a
few drinks to put me off my brekky.  (One look at the two of us would tell
anyone that  :-(  but I would need more than a few drinks to get me to eat
porridge!)

Once through the first lock and a pause at the SS, where the HC passed us, and
the sun came out.  The rest of the trip was magic.  The sun shone and the wind
didn't blow.  I stood on the top step of the front cabin with the top half of
the doors open and the sun on my face, with the stove keeping my nether
regions warm.  I saw a kingfisher the nearest I've ever seen one, and lots of
other birds too.

Just one disaster.  When going thro' low bridges (of which there are several
on this stretch) it was necessary to remove the chimney, which is at the front
end of the forward cabin.  Due to the great number of logs I've been burning
there was a lot of soot in it which dropped on the roof and the foredeck.  The
deck was wet when we set out on Saturday, so the soot got stuck to my feet
too, and after doing the lock I had to enter the boat from the back so as not
to tread it into the boat.  Polite request to captain to mop the deck while I
did the next lock which was close.  Captain clearly needs more practice in
mopping as he only got the roof done before the boat started descending
without him, so he hopped on and left the deck for me to mop as we cruised
down between Gothersley and Stourton.  Being careful not to step on the wet
deck I mopped from off the top step of the cabin, then swung the mop up and
onto the roof.  

Splash!

The fishermen offered to try to hook the witches hat for us, but it was sunken
without trace, so a trip to the chandlers is first on the agenda for this
weekend.  

Now there is some domestic discussion here.  Whose fault was it?  IMO the
captain failed to obey the instructions from 'her in charge' and so it was
his.  Captain says that everything's always his fault and it's my turn to take
the  blame.  Bob and Yvonne when consulted came to a split decision, so I may
have to exercise a casting vote :-0

All in all it was a great weekend and one we hope to repeat often and soon.
The weather was amazing but then I do have this talent for attracting fine
weather for my holidays. 

Now I do have a dilemma with regard to all the new clubs that are being
floated here. 

Do I apply to the NPBC on the grounds that we refused to go out in the teeth
of a gale on NY Day, and that the sun always shines on our trips?

OTOH, we did go cruising in January and we haven't got a microwave or a
washing machine plumbed in, so are we elegible for the RTBC?  We used to crack
the ice on the canopy of our cruiser and sleep aboard in winter.

But now we have a log and coal fire and use hot water bottles.

Does this mean we are disqualified from both?

Regards
Ann