There are some well qualified and regular cruisers amongst the hirers, there are also idiots, we met the latter today on 'Wallingford' of Oxford narrow boat hire. As we started to turn into a bend the afore mentioned came around the bend the other way, on our side, going too fast, we had nowhere to go, so hit the brakes ( so to speak ) and had just about stopped when they hit us very hard just behind the bow, knocking us into the bank, and neatly removing all the stuff from our inside shelves into a pile of rubble on the floor, including the T V ( so very serious then ! ) They shouted 'sorry', as we tried to extract ourselves from the trees and re-float the boat, chuckling to each other ( ok , made the chuckling bit up ). One of our main worries was the water tank, we thought the impact could have moved it, but so far it seems ok.
At the next lock we chatted to the boat behind us, they had a lucky escape, for they too had met the boat, and again, on a bend going too fast, and out of control, so the crew of 'Wallingford' have not learnt, or don't care. These were not drunken youths, but a middle aged couple.
We had not planned to move today for the weather forecasts were saying rain all day, at 10 am we had seen none and it was fairly warm, so went for it. We had each a different approach to preparing for rain.
Ali, no intention of getting even damp
Baz, my skin is waterproof, bring in on !
Centre arch is too easy, lets go for a smaller one
No dramas
Posh house, rubbish boat house, some people get their priority's wrong
Back near Swinford bridge, a nice spot
To our shame, we are at present moored bow down stream, it was just starting to rain, and we had a boat behind us, so doing a U turn could have ended with our second BANG ! of the day - cowards I know.
Well better get going as we have a little shelf re filling to do, mutter, mutter.
Bye for now,
Baz and Ali.
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