We certainly had some rain last night, started not long after we had joined Dennis and Margaret on Icing (The Party boat) playing Mexican train. This meant a quick dash back to FS once the game was over Well into the night the drumming continued on the cabin top but thankfully by the morning all sign of the heavy rain had disappeared. Bit of mizzle in the air but otherwise very pleasant cruising weather.
Spirits were high then as we entered the first of the 5 broad locks to do today, Shardlow lock. Dennis and I at the helm and Stuart, Wendy, Margaret and Ian doing the lock.
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| Almost ready to leave Shardlow |
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| Shardlow lock |
At the top of this lock is visitor moorings and both Dennis and me noticed a chap preparing his boat to leave. Fair enough, if he gets away first so be it. But he fiffed and faffed so long that as we exited the boats together and all the crew were getting back on board, he glanced behind, saw that we were leaving the lock and threw his mooring rope back onboard quick as a flash. Power on and pulled out just in front of us! Now in my book, this is not boating etiquette and I was somewhat miffed by it
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| He was folding the pram top away. |
Second lock was Aston and all three arrived roughly at the same time. The lock was full so he sends his misses/girlfriend to lift the paddles. He then spoke to Ian saying it was good that we could share the lock. Ian replied to this by stating that Icing and FS were travelling together and he would have to go up alone. "What a waste of water" came back the angry reply. Excuse me...exactly how does he come to that conclusion? With three boats it stands to reason that one would have to be by itself anyway! Now I'm not denying that I should have kept my mouth shut but this retort got my back up so much that I laid into him about his action of pulling away in front of us. Talk about opening a can of worms!! All hell was let loose, him denying the fact he had done it and how I was a stupid woman to even suggest such a thing. Then the unthinkable happened. With him taking his eye off his boat and with water now rushing out of the paddles, the boat made a break for it across the canal. His centre rope had been loosely tied to a bollard which meant the boat drifted even further out. It then stopped abruptly and tipped in the most alarming way. In the back cabin was a small dog and I feared for its life. Somehow he got the boat under control and I supposed we could have gone to help but the abuse he was still throwing at me stopped all of us in our tracks. Eventually, the gate opened and in he went still hurling insults toward anyone that was prepared to listen.
We pootled to Weston lock doing a tad over tickover the whole way. Wasnt about to confront this man again and on arrival noticed a C&RT guy helping him ascend. Then from behind us came another boat. Seemed logical to allow this boat to take our lock and go join Mr Angry at the next one. Margaret went up to tell him our plan to which he told her in no uncertain terms that no way was he sharing a lock with anyone! But before he had even exited the lock he appeared to have changed his mind and said he would wait for that boat. Personally, I think the lock keeper had something to say about it and told him that not to share a lock was churlish.
Now you would think the drama ended here. Not so, I'm sorry to say. Arriving at Swarkstone lock more volunteers (without flags I might add.) Dennis and I always have a bit of banter as we enter locks and as Dennis brought Icing in, happened to nudge FS's gunnel. "It is a contact sport after all" I laughed at Dennis to which one of the volunteers chuckled back and said that's not what the last boater had said. Turns out Mr Angry had allowed the other boat to go in first and then proceeded to enter at such a pace hitting his stern with some force. When words were said Mr Angry then had the audacity to say that he had done nothing wrong. More abuse hurled at each other before parting company vowing not to share a lock again.
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| Leaving Swarkstone lock |
And the next and last broad lock was Stenson. This is a very deep lock and filling has to be done gently. With the thought of two boats going in separately, we again took our time getting there. But the boat that had been hit had pulled over and as we passed showed the damage caused. "Should have been an insurance job" he mumbled to us, obviously not a happy chappie. By the time we arrived at Stenson lock, Mr Angry had long gone.
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| Volunteers at Stenson lock |
I also must give you an update about those flags. I happened to mention to the lock keeper at Weston Lock what I had been told by that volunteer at Long Eaton. He looked as baffled as me, hadn't heard anything about it so I am now left wondering if this was all in the mind of one man who wanted to play at waving flags. If anyone knows different I would love to know.
Made it as far as Shobnall, bit later than planned and dinner will be late but nothing is going to stop another game of Mexican train later. Ian won all three games last night. Time to stitch him up me thinks!
And wildlife,
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