Inland Port Festival

 Sept 7th/8th

The day of the Shardlow Inland Port Festival dawned dull and drizzly, not what we wanted at all! The plan was to meet Norman and Shirley at Pentland, set up the stall and hope for lots of interest in our offerings. By 10 am the site opened and what a surprise. In spite of the weather, the public came, first in dribs and drabs and then in hordes. We found out later 3 coaches had turned up and all from Yorkshire. Strange to think an excursion would take those on holiday to a canal festival. Anyway, there was plenty of interest in ECP&DA as a society, and the stall was busy with various bric-a-brac bits selling fast. Shirley had purchased a Husky dog stuffed toy from Ikea and made a list of 70 popular dog names for people to pick from, charging £1 for a go. This proved popular, especially when Eric, (his Tug No 2 was moored next to Pentland) came to add his voice by pulling in the crowds and directing them to the gazebo. All 70 names taken by the end of day 1 and with day 2 still to come, Ian printed another sheet while I looked through the internet for more doggy names.

 

 

Day 2

It rained throughout the night, didn't bode well for the day ahead. We were first to arrive and while I started to set up, Ian decided to pump out the hold of Pentland. There was quite an accumulation of water, proving just how much rain had fallen overnight. He went to start the engine, turned the key, and nothing happened. The battery was completely flat! It suddenly dawned on him that he forgot to switch the battery isolator off on Tuesday and even with help from other boaters by giving all manner of advice, she refused to start. A battery will have to be brought down from the Mill, which isn't the best outcome. The water still needed getting out, so one of our volunteers grabbed a dustpan and used that to bale out the water.  

The day did dry up, in fact the sun shone later in the afternoon. Strange though that not many people were about. In fact, yesterday, with all the drizzle during the day, seemed to attract more of the public. Eric was once more persuaded to do his bit to bring folk to choose a doggy name, gosh he was good. 

Today I managed to get away for a short while and see the shire horses, in days gone by these magnificent beasts pulled the barges. A few still take tourists in horse drown boats today, mainly on the Llangollen canal in Wales, Tiverton in Devon and on the K&A.

Flies were a real nuisance, both horses were getting restless, so the owner decided to take Ebony (black shire) for a walk. Right by our stall, she raised her tail and deposited a decent amount of poo. No 'doggy do' bags would pick that lot up, so Norman rushed to Pentland, grabbed the spade and shovelled the droppings under a convenient tree!

Later in the afternoon, Richard Parry, CEO of CRT, paid us a visit. I think he was very surprised when we  collared him to pick the winning name from a hat, it had been moments before that the last doggy name had been picked from the list, the time had come to chose the winner.

Of all the names he could have picked, Sky was the dog's name and the lucky winner? One of those ladies on the coach yesterday that came from Barnsley! So it looks like she will be receiving the Husky by post!

4 pm, and we started to pack up, it had been another long day and I must say my feet were killing me. Not used to standing solidly for 7 hours, both throbbed continually. Shame we have no bath to soak the feet in, I could use the washing up bowl instead I suppose. Anyway the two days were extremely successful, more cash taken than last year and the 'pick a dog's name' will be something to adopt for next year.

We leave Shardlow tomorrow. I expect there will be a wait at the locks as the traders start their exit too. Hmm, we might try for an early start. We may then beat the mad exodus.