Two hours on…………..

You would not believe how glorious a day it has been despite the chilly start.
Walking Maggie at 8.30, all traces of the Mop Fair had vanished, packed up during the night, with not so much as an empty burger box as they had supplied their own bins, all of which had also disappeared.

It’s been a while since we’d run the engine, so we decided to take the boat out for an hour.
Yep, me at the tiller again (photo August 2016).There was hardly any wind, but it was a bit nippy, so we kept our jumpers on under our life jackets, which we always wear, without exception when out on the water.
No new photos this time, but again we had the river to ourselves until, approaching the pub, we discovered there was a fishing competition on and were flanked on both sides.
Usually, we keep to the right on the river, but it was safer to keep to a centre line.

This pub is very popular and they have replaced the original moorings jetty this year.
At this time in the morning (10.30), it was deserted, so what better an opportunity to practice my mooring skills?
Hubby became my front man on the bow, and with selected hand signals (no, not arm flappings in panic!) I brought the boat in perfectly, gently pulling in the stern alongside.
Two cruisers then passed us and the fishermen on the bank opposite had a ringside seat!
I chugged away without clunking the mooring poles with the back fenders, and continued on our way.
I was so pleased with myself!
Photo: approaching the M5 motorway April 2015.

Photo: M5 April 2015 and our photogenic yellow brush

Normally we turn just past the motorway bridge (our ‘spot’ is on the left as the river widens a little), but again we had fishermen on the banks, so had to continue further up river to a suitable place with good all round visibility.
Today, I turned the boat clockwise, and with the wind helping me, did it IN ONE (no three point turn like last time).
Oh boy, I was doubly pleased, and Hubby said he was impressed.

Coming back, the pub moorings were still empty, so time for testing my skills from the other direction. Again with Hubby on the bow guiding me with hand signals, I pulled alongside with no problem whatsoever, bringing the back in neatly in line with the jetty.

Nearing home, the buoys were out to mark the way for the sailing boats, so we slowed down as they tacked back and forth across us. Luckily, unlike the above photos taken in April last year, it was only one at a time today, but some of them came pretty close!

Today has done wonders for my confidence, but by the time we got back to the marina, the wind had picked up, so Hubby brought us into our berth.
He had a struggle, so I’m glad I was on the ropes when we docked.

This post is a contribution to amommasview
Tell Me Something Good #26

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