About Us

My photo
In 1977 we hired our first narrowboat from Anglo Welsh at Market Harborough.From that moment our destiny was set. In 2006 we finally purchased our own brand new 57' narrowboat which we named 'Free Spirit'. Our aim is to travel the length and breadth of all the navigable rivers and canals of the UK. This will be our story as it unfolds.

Monday 17 November 2014

Amusing start to the holiday

Hooray.....I'm back online again 'cause I'm using the hotel's Wi Fi. We're in Bournemouth you see, for the ECP&DA Gadabout Turkey and Tinsel getaway.

So this morning, after waiting ages for the coach to turn up because the usual Monday traffic held up it's progress, and once all the Gadabouts were safely on board, we got underway and made the first stop at Watford gap without incident. 40 minutes later we were once again on the move and after another couple of hours made the services at Newbury for the next scheduled stop.  We were all back on board and about to set off when Paul our driver realised there was a problem with the coach. The front right  tyre was flat as a pancake..... but, as pointed out, only at the bottom mind! This made it impossible for us to proceed and only one thing for it, call for help. Having sat on the bus for over an hour, eventually a very nice man in his van arrived with new tyre. Now, we fully expected to be told to disembark while the wheel came off and tyre changed, but we were all very surprised (including the driver) when we were told to stay on-board. Turns out this chap could remove the tyre without removing the wheel, only using two tyre levers and a dirty great hammer. After a lot of brute force, pulling, pushing and heaving the old tyre was off and the new one fitted and all done in 30 minutes. Three cheers for the man in the van.

Shelia Gadabout organiser

The culprit. A bolt

Our rescuer









New tyre going on





Job done.
Having arrived late at the hotel we were bundled into reception for tea and biscuits, given room keys,  the itinerary for the next few days (tomorrow is Christmas day, Wednesday is Boxing Day and Thursday is New Year Eve) told there would be a pre-drink sherry before dinner and sent to the room to change. Then, having been called in for dinner, the next amusing incident occurred. We were all seated in the dining room, 2 coach loads of guests being seated 9 to each table. Orders had been taken and in due course the waitress came and started dishing out our  food. Suddenly she said 'oh know this is the wrong table' and whisked our dinners away from under our nose. We all sat open-mouthed in complete amazement. Then, when she did finally return with our meals the meat was fine but the veg was so sparse we all ended up with two small potatoes, 3 baby corn and one floret of broccoli each. And then to add insult to injury and whilst all the other diners had finished their desert, had coffee and were all departing she eventually brought our sweet. Not the best start to this trip away although one saving grace, our room isn't bad and of course the Wi Fi is free.  Hope tomorrow bods a bit better.

The Gadabouts


 
Swimming pool. Could be a bit chilly this time of year

The hotel

No comments:

Blog Archive