Thanks to everyone who worked hard to make the Blue Lias weekend a great
success. Monday morning started with me taking Simon (No. 1 son) to Rugby
station so that he could start his journey to France, I then moved the car
to our planned destination and returned to the boat on the Di Blasi.
We set off up the Stockton flight sharing with Simon and Jeanette aboard nb
Clara having had to point out to another boat at Blue Lias waterpoint that
we had a pre-arranged lock sharing agreement. They appeared upset at this
news or am I getting too sensitive in my old age? We then started slowly due
to having to wait a while for traffic coming down the flight but soon got
into a smooth system where Jeanette and I made very good speed setting and
working the locks. We then shared Calcutt locks with them as well which made
it very easy going. No wide beam boats on the move this time although we did
pass it moored up towards Braunston. As we passed through Braunston, Prairie
Crocus was reversing out of the marina to head North. Brenda hollered
"bl@@dy foreigners" at Canadian Ken, who was steering PC, and got an
indignant shout from a youth walking along the towpath pointing out that HE
was British! Oh dear, some people are very touchy. We ended up following a
Kingsground boat (Mrs Thistlemouse?) for the last half mile or so and shared
the flight of locks with them. Their abundance of crew allowed me to work
ahead setting the locks ready for use whilst they worked the boats through.
A much better passage through the locks compared to last Friday's attempt.
Finally moored south of Braunston tunnel and found that my new gaiter that I
had fitted to the Aquadrive had become unseated at one end and the engine
bay was once again smothered in grease.
I have since learn my error was that I did not clean the grease away from
the mating surface well enough and so I will have to re-do it before we set
off south again.
