Wednesday 29 March 2023

March visit: Day 2

I slept really well, and had a very relaxed start to the day.  I had a quick shower — emptying the tray with a bucket and sponge.  When you’ve done it like that you realise how efficient shower pumps really are!  The day had started brighter than I was expecting, but it soon came on to drizzle and then properly rain.  I spent the morning cleaning things, tackling six months of neglect, and going to a couple of work Zoom meetings.  I had a quick lunch, then set off about 1pm, when it had dried up.  I did just the couple of miles along to Stoke Bruerne, where I turned in the river arm and moored up at the start of the moorings.  There are only a couple of other boats here.  The towpath hedge has been drastically cut back — I reckon it’s been reduced by about three quarters.  It means there’s much more of a view from the boat on the towpath side, and the moorings are much brighter.

Once moored, I needed to go for a walk to get my steps for the day, so walked up the locks and through the village to the tunnel.  I could hear a boat coming, which turned out to be a Braunston hire boat.

On the way back I knocked on Kathryn’s door and had a quick chat.  I managed to get back to the boat before it started raining again.  This afternoon I have been arranging the boat’s BSS exam.  The past couple of times it’s been done while in for blacking, but the pandemic has meant things are now out of sync.  Also, the examiner who’s done it in the past is now not travelling, you have to go to him, so I’ve booked someone else to come out next month.

Adrian isn’t coming up today, but might tomorrow.

2 miles, 0 locks.  (5 miles, 0 locks)

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