We set off on Wednesday 13th July at 9.30 am.
The weather was cool, but pleasant, perfect for chugging.
The river was quiet, it was like we were the only people in the entire world, and we were doing a steady 1100 revs.
Going upriver, the maximum speed limit is 4mph. Coming down, and going with the flow, it’s 6mph.
We arrived at our first lock at 11.30, and paired up with a 70 footer holiday boat.
On board were a variety of adults and three children, all on holiday from Norway.
They allowed us to go in first. The thing was, they couldn’t close the gate behind them as they were too long, and so I had to reverse out.
Yes, you read that right. Me. On my own. Without a safety net. Reversing.
Hubby had already decided that I was doing most of the driving this trip and he’d operate the locks because of my knee. The fact that he has 2 bad knees is incidental.
Still, I managed it, and felt rather pleased with myself as it was a pretty neat manoeuver,
Not so much going back in though, I got my direction wrong, cocking it up good and proppa, and it would’ve made a hilarious comedy sketch.
We went through our second lock an hour later and after about 20 minutes, the skies opened. I went inside for our showerproofs, but it was too late, Hubby was drenched.
He decided to stop over early in a lovely peaceful little mooring at Comperton Quay.
It’s only big enough for two narrowboats, and we had it all to ourselves, so after he’d berthed, we put the covers back up, dried ourselves off and I got dinner.
We’d travelled a grand distance of 10 miles in 4 hours.
In keeping with my SW plan, I cooked a tomato and mushroom pasta, and used up the last of the meringue nests, a couple of gingernut biscuits and the quark with a handful of grapes topped with a little of my granola cereal for a dessert.
So far so good, my total syns for the day equated to 13, I’d had speed food, free food and my A and B options of choice. All diet boxes ticked.
The boat had performed well, but our horn died shortly after leaving, so we were using our stand-by of a manual blower. Just call me Horatio.
pensitivity101 
Looks like a lovely boat. My only experience is Norfolk Broads.
Thank you. She’s a 41 foot Sea Otter, so aluminium compared to steel or fibreglass. She’s comfy and keeps us warm and dry.
She sounds lovely. Do you live on her all year round?
Yes. She is home, and we have been liveaboards 2 years as at the 29th July. One we got used to it, we are pleased we made the decision (dreadful experience selling our previous property and trying to find something else). We’ve made friends and love the life. It is so basic and simple, no complications of ‘stuff’, heavy traffic or rowdy neighbours and at the moment is working very well for us.
That’s really beautiful. I’ve always loved boats. My dad had a sailing cruiser on Ullswater – happy memories of long weekends up there.
Thanks. There are lots of posts about our life afloat, pictures of our revamp and the wildlife here in the marina, where there is a mix of narrows, wide beams and cruisers. Peruse and enjoy!
Will do. Thank you and have a lovely trip!
😀
It’s a different world on the locks – lovely to read all about it 🙂