Narrowboat Alacrity

After reading the responses of Andrew Denny of Granny Buttons fame to the  ”20 Questions” feature in Canal Boat Magazine this month.

And

The suggestion from Sarah of nb Warrior in her post on 6th May

“I swore that I would answer the self same questions here, and would like to suggest that other boat bloggers do likewise“.

I decided to chip in my 10 pennerth.

The 20 Questions and Answers:-

1. What’s your favourite canal? The Grand Union and the Kennet and Avon
2. And your least-favourite? I haven’t found one yet

3. Who would be your ideal cruising companion? My wife Jo, she puts up with my “Victor Meldrew Moments” and forgives me most things.
4. What was the last book you read? Narrow Dog to Indian River by Terry Darlington.
5. What’s your favourite time of day on the waterways? Just after dawn in summer.
6. What irritates you most on the waterways? People who don’t slow down when passing moored boats, Impatient and rude boaters.
7. When would you most like to have lived? The early 1960s Music with lyrics you can understand, the new found freedom and the canals were still carrying freight.
8. When did you last fall in? I haven’t yet. But Jo has.
9. What did you want to be at 12? A scientist. I was always blowing up things including the chemistry lab windows.
10. If I didn’t have narrowboating I’d … ? Have missed out on one of the most pleasurable things in life.
11. Narrowboaters are … ? Probably the most diverse species on earth.
12. After a day’s cruising I most look forward to … A quiet mooring with a great view, a warm evening, a pint of real ale, good company and a tasty meal.
13. The waterways need … ? A government with the balls to support the treasure that’s our canal system.
14. If you met the Waterways Minister on the towpath, what would you say to him? Just because DEFRA screws up don’t penalise British Waterways support them.
15. Windows or portholes? Windows.
16. Pumpout or cassette? Pump out; I can’t stand seeing other peoples “Floaters”. (I was brought up camping with the original elsan oildrum with a seat).
17. Canals or rivers? Canals, rivers tend to have high banks so you don’t see much.
18. Where will you be when you are 70? Still boating I hope. If global warming continues there should be more than enough water.
19. What do you think is your greatest achievement in life? To have achieved what I have now and still be sane.
20. What would your superpower be? To be able to remain calm and rational in ant situation despite provocation and to be able to steer Alacrity in reverse.

Well all good things must come to an end.

After a relaxed breakfast we winded above Calcutt top lock and had a leisurely cruise back to Braunston where I totally messed up reversing back onto our mooring.

I don’t know how I managed to do it, there was no wind to speak of a definite red face moment……How long have you been boating??………………but in mitigation it was a bit crowded around the loading dock with boats on brokerage………………..well that’s my excuse…….

After a leisurely breakfast (very leisurely) we pulled the pins and moved on to a favorite mooring of ours just above Calcutt top lock.

We had to wait for a lull in the boat traffic to wind Alacrity this accomplished we moored on the offside with a great view of the reservoirs with all the assorted bird life including Grebes and Herons.

It was interesting to see that Calcutt Boats had quite a few hire boats still moored up.

The vastness of Calcutt Marina.

I didn’t need the alarm clock today………..as soon as I awoke I felt like a greyhound when the trap opens……..

I had done the shopping for the weekend yesterday so all I had to do was put it in the cool bag, put the cats on their automatic feeders and go………..not so quick John……..Ah yes I forgot about SWIMBO….need I say more. Groan………………pack, tidy up wipe this, wipe that, have you done……………………………..you know how it goes.

 Well finaly we arrived ……Just looking at the moored boats, The sounds and smells are a panacea to the battered brain…….

Not having visited Alacrity for a couple of months I expected to find her damp….not so, But she was full of spiders who took umbrage at being disturbed. They were abseiling out of the curtains and assorted corners for hours much to Jo’s disgust (she really hates spiders) so the air was rent with squeeks and other sounds of loathing.

We planned to take Alacrity out and decided to take her over to the Loading dock to fill her water tank and get some gas.

Talking to Paul from the Marina he said that this was the busiest weekend of the year so far and that due to the bad weather most owners were just starting the season.

Now for the smelly bit, we moved around to the pump out and found Nineveh waiting for a mooring to go on brokerage. With all the chores complete we moved off.

Piccadilly Circus or what Iv’e never seen so many boats on the move and everybody happy. We slowly motored down to Braunston Turn and turned left for Napton and Warwick we had decided not to go far and moored just after bridge 101.