We join the Club and I feel a fraud

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We join the Club and I feel a fraud

Friday, 05 December 2008 17:45

4 hours 3 minutes, 3.77 miles, 9 locks, 1 swing bridge

This morning we joined the Club - of iced-in boaters! When we drew the curtains and took out the porthole covers this greeted us!

It took a while to thaw but once the sun began to shine (on the off side unfortunately!) the ice began to thaw. Although Epiphany is due to have her bottom blacked in January we didn't fancy being an icebreaker boat, so finally left after 11 am. There were still some thin patches where the sun had not penetrated but once clear of bridge 152 (below) there was no more ice.

It was at Boxmoor lock (the next one) when I became a fraud. As usual I was on the helm and John was doing the locks. I bent down for something and as I stood up nearly blacked out. Not good on the stern of a narrowboat. I managed to get her into the lock but decided that as I still felt dizzy I would become a passenger. I am recovering from a bit of a cold and maybe my ear tubes have been affected - causing a bit of dizziness. Anyway I feel better this evening after a day of rest!

So no worrying friends and family, I am OK!

However John then single-handed for the rest of the day. If you look at our journey map you will see he has done a brilliant job and we are now just short of Berkhamsted centre. Two locks short of our intended destination. He deserves his R & R this evening! 8 locks and 1 swing bridge is not a bad feat in 4 hours!

You will see that on our sidebar there is a new feature. I read books as my hobby. Not having the facility of a library any longer, I look for book swaps, Charity Shops and anywhere that sells second hand books at below about 70 pence! As a result of an appeal on Canal World Forum I now have the beginnings of a comprehensive list. I thought I would share this with any fellow Bookworm Boaters "out there".

Thanks to all John's friends on the Canal World Forum. I will update it as I discover more or find they no longer exist. If you too know of any to add, please do let us know, either through our comments or directly through the web page. Thanks!