Is anybody out there?

Ok – so it’s been a while. My excuse, such as it is, is that I have been on holiday. Yes – we are actually allowed to have some time off, occasionally! So – just to keep you up to date – we are now tied up ready to do a show at the Tom o’ Wood, back on the Grand Union. We came back to the boat at Cropredy, where Mike had dropped her off the week before (having removed anything that he deemed out of date. Including a load of spices which were in RECYCLED jars. Honestly… (I know he reads this – so I’m just teasing…) But the boat was immaculate, and several things that had been meaning to be mended for ages were, at last. And we had some nice flowers!). Of course, the floods were just beginning – and our proposed venue had been under water just before we arrived, as I discovered when I finally managed to turn my phone back on after a week in the woods. Fortunately, Auntie Shirl had managed to book the village hall as a precaution – and we were very grateful to have an indoor venue. After the difficulties involved in getting four cast members and a van together after a week off, with the transport system on its knees, the last thing we wanted was to have to cancel our first show.

But by the time we got to the Wharf in Fenny Compton, the weather was starting to show signs that almost suggested improvement. In other words, we actually managed to do a show outside without getting drenched. Another bonus was that they fed us – which was very kind indeed!

The next day was a bit grimmer. But it started well: going across the summit of the Oxford is one of the best ways to start any day – and at wasn’t actually raining when I set off. So I was in high spirits. But seven and a half hours boating through rain that was almost solid, with just enough sunny spells to let you start to dry out and remember what dry feet might feel like – and a wind that seemed to be competing with it for attention starts to get a little wearing. However, the excitement of getting stuck in the second to last lock at Napton added a little something. Actually it was rather exciting in the end. When we got stuck, I had a look at the situation, and given that we appeared to have clear air down both sides of the lock, I figured we were actually caught on something on the bottom. I tried flushing us through with one of the top paddles – and we had plenty of movement up and down, but nothing forward. Or indeed backward, as we were now jammed just to far out of the lock to shut the gates and try to fill it up and drain it again to get rid of whatever was there. We tried ropes. We tried just about everything that I could think of. And then the men in blue sweatshirts turned up. Apparently the lock has a slight curve to the sides under the water line. We were sitting on that – and they knew just what to do. They opened the paddles of the lock above to flood the pound above us – and then with people on the bow rope – and me on the tiller with the engine hammering away, they whacked open both top paddles on our lock. And Tyseley shot out like a cork from a bottle. And we did manage to stop before meeting the next lock! I enjoyed myself, at least…

But the Boat at Birdingbury Wharf is well worth the trouble, and there was the prospect of more food there too – so we ploughed on! When we arrived, it was still looking bleak. So we decided to go inside, where we would at least be warm, if slightly cramped. But with a shift of the tables, the space transformed itself into something that really resembled a fringe venue. And we had a cracking evening. The place was rammed – we completely took over the entire pub, but the landpeople were pleased – Almost everyone there was there to see us, and they ate and drank just as you would expect any self respecting Mikron audience to do. So the evening was exactly what it should be – a mutually beneficial collaboration between us and the pub. I think the audience picked up on the supportive atmosphere – they certainly seemed to enjoy themselves. Of course – the weather cleared. Sod’s law, I guess…

And even better – we were brought a very kind bag of supplies to keep us going through the dearth of supermarkets. People are incredibly kind to us. And we really appreciate it! Even kinder was the offer to do some washing – something that is well beyond the call of duty! Thanks Mandy!

The next day was a day off – yes I know, it wasn’t long since our holiday, but I think that there is a slight gap in the available venues around there. If anyone has any ideas….

Actually – it turned into a moving day, in reality, because we had to get the boat up to the top of the Hatton flight. Ruth and Adrian were staying on the boat anyway, so we had plenty of hands available – for another wet day of boating. But we stopped off in Leamington Spa – dried off and set off to sample the nightlife. Well, have dinner, at any rate. And then played pool and set the world to rights whilst listening to the worst comedy club in the world through a curtain. We only knew it was a comedy club because it said so on the door. We didn’t hear a single laugh…

And the next day took us up Hatton – which I enjoy, even if it is hard work. It was particularly fun this time, as Anna was away for her day off, and Adrian had to cycle into town to meet his son, who was coming aboard for a visit. And was supposed to be arriving as we set off, but had failed to get out of bed…

So Ruth and I had to start us up the flight. And once we worked out a decent system, we made fairly light work of it. And it is fun; stepping off the back counter with the boat still moving forward, but the engine in reverse, to close the gates – and hoping that you have judged it right and she will come back to you to allow you to get back on again! It was much easier, though, when Adrian and Matthew turned up – and we also gathered another boat as we caught them up – and two are faster than one. So we weren’t too knackered when we got to the top. Actually – we never made it quite that far, because the Waterman pub is not accessible from the top. Fortunately, I realised this as we were passing the BW workshops. Unfortunately, there did not seem to be much access there either. SO a quick call to the lovely people that own the dry dock there, and we were trying to manoeuvre ourselves in. Which was difficult, as there was an enormous amount of silt – as well as what appeared to be concrete blocks (which I imagine is what the boats that are dry docked sit on?) in the way. And with the pound likely to fill and drain randomly with passing boats using the lock, I didn’t fancy getting us jammed. So we had to come back out and go in nose first.

Even though we had a mooring – the get in for the pub was up an enormous hill. Which is not easy with all our stuff. But again, it was absolutely worth the effort. Although the night turned cold – the weather held – and we had a beautiful evening in a stunning setting. The audience was great, especially for a new venue, and the show went down very well, I think. The venue seemed to be happy, too – and hopefully it will become a regular addition to our schedule.

So, off again the next afternoon for the short trip to Rowington – which was a lovely boat: the sun was out, and it started to really feel like the tour that it should be: boating in fine weather, through beautiful scenery, a good show behind you, and the prospect of a great venue ahead. However, first of all we had to get out of the dry dock, which seemed to have silted up all over again….

The worst thing was that the silt had not only silted up the canal – it had also filled up our impellor. This I realised when black smoke started to belch from the water outtake. Fortunately, a short swim and a coathanger later, we were on our way again none the worse for weat.

We arrived at the Tom o’ the Wood, and the weather was promising a fine evening. Faye, who’s garden we tie up in (or by, I suppose, really) came out to meet us with her two dogs – and introduced us to her show goats. And we settled ourselves down for a wonderful time.

Of course – just as we had finished setting up in the garden, the clouds started to gather.

By the time that we had had our dinner – and people were starting to arrive for the show, it was really and truly raining – and appeared to be set to continue for the rest of the evening. Fortunately, some of the first people to arrive were the Wurgies (I don’t know how you spell that – you know, the Waterways Recovery lot…). So we enlisted their support, and moved the show to the outside smoking area. Which was under cover.

The show was very damp – but great fun none the less, and with the help again of the Wurgies, we did one of the fastest get outs in history. Which gave us all the more time to sample the delights of the Tom, which has changed hands again – and for the better, I think. It’s less of a wine bar now.

And then back for port and cheese with the Wurgies. What a fantastic day.

The next morning I had arranged to milk the goats – and the idea of port seemed like slightly less of a sensible proposition than it had the night before. But I got up – and Ruth and I had a great time learning to milk. The things you get up to on a Mikron tour…

Come lunchtime, Adrian, Matthew and I started to take the boat up Lapworth locks – Anna and Ruth had gone off to a spa to celebrate yet another day off. Lapworth locks are fantastic – they are not to heavy, they are in a beautiful setting – and they are wonderfully bendy. So much so that you can’t get two full length boats past eachother on some of them – as we discovered last year when we had to help crowbar apart two wedged trip boats!

We moored up at the top, and walked back down to the pub for dinner – and met Rob who has come to visit for a few days. Another fine evening! And a wonderful moonlit walk back to the boat afterwards.

So, today we are making our way slowly along the very shallow Stratford – blowing all manner of bends, and narrowly missing the boat that we hit two years ago. How the memories come flooding back!

Well – since I wrote that last bit, we have removed several jumpers, yards of rope and about a dozen plastic bags from our prop, frightened some hire boaters in Wast Hills Tunnel and arrived at our mooring for the night. We were going to go on to Alvechurch – but we decided to stop for dinner at one of the most beautiful spots on the canal that I know – just by Lower Bittel Reservoir – and watch the start of the sunset. As we were struggling to get our stern in to the bank on the towpath side – someone from the private moorings asked if we wanted to stop off in an empty space there. So here we are – and after the offer of a lift to the village to restock our wine cellar, we are going to stay the night. I love this job.