Wet and Wild.

Hi Folks.

Our signal was so poor yesterday I did not bother trying to post. Yesterday was such a beautiful day, so we moved the boat and winded it before coming back to Crick for the night.

This morning could not have been more different to yesterday morning. We woke up at 6 am to gale force winds and driving rain. There was nothing for it, but to have a cup of tea and then go back to sleep for an hour and a half, which was absolute bliss. I had no desire to get up early this morning. Snuggled under the duvet was definitely the best place to be on such a dire morning weather wise. But all good things must come to an end and Marmite was doing her best to get our attention. With the time creeping on, I gave in and got up. The usual boat chores took place, before we took the decision to move. The wind and rain looked like it had settled a bit and with a schedule to keep to and customers to see, we felt we should make the effort to move towards Welford.

Keith and I both donned our wet weather trousers, Donkey jackets, hats and gloves. We were wrapped up against whatever the weather could throw at us. Little did we know it was going to throw everything at us. To start with the cruising was not to bad, but the wind began to blow stronger and stronger and then the rain kicked in big time.

Now I know your thinking well why on earth did I not stay inside?

I hate being inside, I like to be outside and the way I see it. if Keith has to stand on the back steering in the rain then i should be out there too. I know I am completely barking mad. At times the rain was almost horizontal and was hitting my face like a million daggers. Both Keith and I were look a bit like drowned rats. I did get the chance to pop inside to make lots of hot coffee. I even cooked us a chilli con carne for tonights dinner, so that I could take advantage of the heat from the back cabin stove. When Keith is steering he stands near the back cabin stove, so his legs and feet are always warm. I had to change my gloves because my hands were cold due to wet gloves and even keith asked for a change of gloves as the cruise wore on. the boat was being pushed around in the wind, but not as bad as it would have been if she had been unloaded.

We arrived at the Welford Junction moorings, but all the ringed moorings were taken. When I say taken, that is not strictly right, because there were rings available, but because the boats on them had moored with huge gaps between the boats, some of the rings could not be used, which to me is silly. So we had to get out the long mooring pins and whilst I held the boat on the centre line, Keith got the sledge hammer out and knocked the pins in. As we were mooring up the boat behind us lots one of their mooring pins and their boat drifted across the canal. having tied our boat up, I went and gave them a hand to moor their boat up again. Short mooring pins in this weather are not ideal.

Once inside with the elements shut out, we stripped off all of our wet clothing, which is now hanging up in the back cabin. It resembles a Chinese laundry at the moment, with the coats and trousers steaming in the heat. I made us some Chicken and Mushroom soup for lunch and we are now relaxing after an eventful morning. Hopefully the wind will drop, so that tomorrow we can supply our customers with coal. But as for today, I am doing nothing else. I do have to venture outside to put the TV ariel up, but that can wait for a bit. Hope your day is a nice one ;0)