Part of our 'normal' life is going to Percy for weekends as and when we can. As we have our son back with us at the moment we thought we would give him and his girlfriend some space so we headed to Percy. Percy has not had a shake down clean since returning from the two week blacking cruise. So in very hot temps we got the genny out and the Dyson and gave the boat a good clean. I was in the forecabin sorting plus doing other jobs.
We decided on a whim to go and have an evening cruise as we had been watching the boats pass all day. We have two options facing Alrewas for winding, bottom of Bagnall lock above the busy Alrewas moorings or on and off the river and wind below Wychnor lock. As it was so nice an evening and there were no boats moving plus we needed water we went for the longer cruise.
The law of sod intervened and just after the winding hole in Alrewas and after the bridge I saw a guy walking with a windlass, boat coming on a very narrow stretch I think (Alrewas was full) I was at tickover anyhow as it was so narrow and I like Percy on tickover ! A Shakespere boat come around the bend and saw Percy and tried to 'accelerate' around me !! No chance I see what she is attempting and go full astern with lots of black smoke for effect. We then have luckily a button to button head on with Percy winning or so it felt as she (still under power ) is bumped into a collision course with the moored boats. It was only the efforts of another boater on his boat that stopped her hitting him, despite him very ably and calmly giving the correct tiller directions.
It was nothing really but as the boater said as I passed if it had not been a button to button hit there would have been metal damage !!
The rest of the cruise was pure joy, the only point of interest was the lack of moorings from Wychnor lock back to the top of Bagnall lock (we tied up on the last bit of piling after the road bridge above Bagnall at about 9.45pm for our tea!
We came back early on Sunday as we had to sort out family, but not too sorry as it was very warm on the boat overnight. Rachel suffers from hay fever so does not like the door open when the pressure is falling.... felt like torture to me !!
Some images....
If you could bottle it you would make a mint !
They walked up and back taking photos ...any ideas ? Certainly not a sight I have seen before on the canals
Fellow Blogger Paul from NB Lola came past while we were working. He was mored up and not at home on the way out but we did catch a few words as we approached on the way back. One day we will stop for a cup of tea or a beer.
Worth clicking on to see bigger but it was from my Iphone so not the best but it summed up the atmosphere of late evening cruising in the middle of summer....
1 comment:
I think you'll find they were filming an advert for Percil Automatic.Glad the old girl's ok, same goes for the boat. ;)
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