Time, Milestones And Horse Drawn Boat

This is the "Dreckly" clock in situ as referred to on yesterday's blog. "Dreckly" means "when I get round to it" in Cornish dialect and is a very suitable motto for life on the cut!

Today is a milestone. It is my birthday, the first birthday I have had on a boat, the first on Epiphany. I hope to have many more! John tells me it is also St Petroc’s Day. For those who are not Cornish St Petroc is a Cornish Saint and there is at least one church named for him – St Petroc’s at Bodmin, a very large church and some argue Cornwall’s second cathedral. Sharing his Day means I have a direct link to Cornwall, I always knew the attraction was deep in my psyche! If you follow our blog you will know we also have friends with a new narrowboat called “Petroc”.

Last night there were some “louts” on the towpath about 1 am. Apparently they were trying to break into a boat but were scared away by someone shouting the Police were coming. We had some small stones on our roof this morning as if they had thrown them. John was still up and got the cratch open just as they were running away. Thank goodness there was nothing more serious for us or for anyone else. In the morning at about our breakfast time, the horse drawn “Kennet Valley” with a group of children passed by. They had to get on our roof to make sure the rope cleared all our goods and chattels there. Unfortunately they caught our Cornish Ensign and broke the top fastening. It was easily repaired with some string!

It has been a bit overcast today but not cold. We left Kintbury about 11 and cruised to Hungerford for lunch. We passed “Kennet Valley” on its return journey at Station Road Bridge.

As we approached they were watering up on the off side with the rope in the water. Fortunately they finished just before we arrived and moved to the towpath side to attach the horse.

After lunch, John went to the shops for a couple of things whist I had a rest. We then locked up with a Reading Marine hire boat through 74 to 72. One of the guys was lock wheeling on a bike and he also opened Hungerford Church Swing Bridge and the one over Cobbler’s Lock. This has to be open when going through the lock. It was very easy going with this help. They were a nice crowd from Norfolk.

Previous share boat owners with Ownerships so quite experienced. The changes in lock gear continue even on this stretch and many of the gates are very leaky. The by washes below the locks can be fierce too.

We left them to continue at lock 71 and we moored in the same place as on our out cruise, just below the lock. I will be able to get this up before 10pm tonight and so will try to get an early night – much needed now I am a year older!