Am I invisible?

 I had a feeling it was going to be one of those days, and I was not wrong. 

Setting of at the respectable time of 9am and cruising along quite happily in the glorious autumn sunshine, the first encounter was due to those overhanging willows. Coming up to a bridge, we could just about see through and noticed a boat coming toward us. Debatable whose bridge it was, Ian decided to hang back. Good job too as I'm assuming this chap had no idea we were there judging by the speed he was coming at us and the fact his hand was up to the eyes trying to stop the glare, rather gave it away. Anyway, he came through, realised a boat was in the way and ploughed straight through those overhanging willows, nudging FS as he did so. No harm done, we know ourselves how hard it is to see ahead when the sun and glare from the water is directly in front of you.

Then at Glascote locks. Yea...a boat coming towards us. Great the lock would be ours. Dropping Ian off just before the entrance to Glascote Basin, I was taking my usual photos when suddenly a chap appeared at the bottom gate. Well blow me down! No surely not... He blooming well was, turning the lock right in front of me! Straight on the horn and gave three long blasts. Not so much as a look but carried on regardless. Ian was by now racing toward him but with both paddles lifted, stood to reason the lock would empty quickly. Ian gave him what for when he arrived but that chap said "I looked but didn't see you" What a bloody liar! I was so close to the lock that unless FS had suddenly become invisible, there would have been no way he could have missed seeing her! Look at the second photo to see how close to the lock I was.

And then having looked closely after I placed the photos on the computor, I noticed him doing this to the awaiting boat. Now Ian reckons he may have been beckoning for the boat to come forward. I on the other hand reckon he was telling them a boat was at the top. Note the paddles hadn't been lifted by then.

Ian telling the chap what he thought of him.

Up he came, out of the lock and tried to pass pleasantries with me. Not having that was I. After all I was furious. So no acknowledgement came from me. But would he leave it? No, he called me a sour puss for not replying to his good morning. Bloody hell...for me that was like a red rag to a bull! I was incensed and shouted back that, "Seeing as you are deaf as well as blind there would be no point." I pushed FS away from the bank with his abusive mutterings steadily fading from my hearing!

Made it eventually to Hopwas without another incident so pleased about that. I had just started fishing when the Renshaws came past on their boat Alice and pulled in onto the mooring. Now we know them of old, first time we met was at ECP&DA's 2008 rally. He happened to be on Percy his first boat then. So it had to happen didn't it, the pub Tame Otter was right next to the moorings. Plenty of tables to be had about and for 4 hours we sat, nattered and drank. No meal, just drinks and after one large glass of Shiraz and 4 medium glasses, I think it would have been cheaper to have bought the bottle! Ian, Tony and Gill on the other hand, were on pints of Doombar. Quite how we all staggered back to our respective  boat is a complete blur. I do know that I was in bed by 8.45pm and awake at 2am with a raging thirst!

So some photos of the journey to Hopwas.

Now why couldn't C&RT cut this right back?

Obscured bridge!

Fertilising the field. Glad the wind was in the opposite direction.

Love the gates on this linear mooring.

Never seen a pure white spider before