The point of no return.

 30th Dec

Oh dear, the day did not start well. A plan had been formed yesterday about how long we would cruise  today. The end of the Ashby was roughly a couple of hours from Limekiln so we would turn onto the Coventry and stop at bridge 17. The canal there, is wide and open with loads of good moorings, and we have always had good TV, Wi-Fi and phone reception. Anyway we got up late, had a leisurely breakfast and then, before we set off, Ian thought he would get the tar marks off the paintwork where it had run down from the chimney. I was in charge of putting the tiller on, but my usual job of untying the stern rope, in readiness for the off, was taken over by Ian. So he has only himself to blame for what happened next! 

Ian still had the cloth in his hand and decided to remove the pigeon poo splattered on the back deck and rope. Unfortunately, having already loosened the stern rope, as he lent over the deck, FS started to move out. In an instant he got up but in doing so over balanced, teetered on the edge and with the cry of "Oh no" went feet first into the water! I was beside myself, how was he going to get out! Only yesterday we took our safety ladder from around the seat as one of the straps was in need of repair and a good clean was in order. Blooming typical! 

He's strong, even at his age, and managed to pull himself out. He stood onto the small 'wing bit' that sticks out from the hull, grasped the seat leg and with me also heaving on his arm, got himself out. There was he, lower half covered in mud, water pouring off him all over the back counter and wondering how he was going to strip off without showing everything to all and sunder! Anyway, strip off he did with me holding a towel to protect his modesty. Everything was dumped on the deck and off he went to have a warming shower. 

Meanwhile, I placed his clothes in a bucket, got everything rinsed the best I could and put the machine on for a hot wash to remove the rest of the mud. Once Ian was out of the shower, in I went with his boots to deal with them later. Our eventual getaway, then, was late morning. I worried about him being cold, but this man never feels the cold, and all I could do was insist he stayed inside in the warm. But this man of mine is also very stubborn and insisted that he was okay to steer the boat, so who was I to argue and left him too it. I instead went to do something with his boots, took loads of scrubbing inside and out and plenty of rinsing. A tap will have to be found sooner rather than later now, to top up the tank.

Nothing more untoward happened today, thank goodness. We did make it to Marston Junction, turned right onto the Coventry canal and stopped where we had planned at bridge 17.  

And seen on route

Sparrow Hawk?