Day 19 and Onwards - An Ending

Henry Edward - An Ending

Click on above link and Brian Eno's 'An Ending' will open in a new window and play whilst you read the final entry in this debacle blog.

BORING BUT TRUE
Brian Eno's full name is Brian Peter George St John le Baptise De La Soul Umbongo Biscuit Barrel Eno

Of course we wanted to leave the boat here as it had a familiar feel. We asked them "do you see a lot of narrow boats" to wit he replied "It's Not Unusual"  (I'm not even sorry I did that)

As it turns out we still had some distance left to go. Tim managed to find a reasonable price for 'Hard Standing' which means out of the water on a patch of concrete making working on the boat not only easy but I suspect a joy.......

I  will never know this joy though because in true Pauly Cicero style, as he turned his back on Henry Hill I must now turn my back on Henry Edward and the Canals for ever.

I must say that whilst the back waters of Wolverhampton / Birmingham and the like were hard going, by the time we hit Oxford and then moved on to the Thames the trip became an absolute pleasure.

We had thrills

.....and spills

.........and seen heartache.....although laughed like drains at it all....






So here it is, Henry Edwards final home. There is a tradition or if you prefer superstition on the Canals that the 'Morelocks' observe that the boat must come out of the water before you can rename it. This will happen over the next few months so when the time comes to put her back onto the water she will be reborn as some thing/one else. 

.................Anyway if this trip has taught me anything at all, and I would like to think it has then it is this
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Day 17 - Isn't It Awfully Nice To Be In Windsor

Yes it Jolly well is. We dropped in to see Liz, Phil and the gang but were told on the door that if our names were not down we were not coming in.
We made our excuses and left...

There has been a slight revision to our plan and so instead of Basingstoke our final destination is now a boatyard / Marina in Chertsey which is some 17 navigable miles downstream of our current position which must be said is awfully nice!!

Current mooring

Day 16 - Windsor, The Long Walk

It was a very long walk but at least they had
company most of the way

Day 16 - Maidenhead Five Oh

We braved the 'Ring of Steel' around the Eton Dorney Olympic venue where persons of interest to the Police seemed to be young girls in tight shorts! Seeing this we figured we would be allowed to go on our way and headed for the bright lights of Windsor.

At the next lock down however the Police had adopted a strict 'Chat to Kill' policy.

So to avoid any further delays Tim decided to feel his own collar and we were once again on our way.

Day 15 - The Edge of Darkness

We sailed out of Marlow last night and into the £8.50 mooring zone of Maidenhead. In typical blokey "HOW MUCH!!" style we found the only free mooring in the area and tied up.
Our way forward is slightly hindered by a place called Eton Dorney which for anyone who has not been glued to the Olympics is where the Rowing is being held. Although not forbidden from traversing the Thames at this point it is being made very hard by armed police and a no mooring policy.........We shall resume Tuesday morning when they have all gone home.

"None shall pass!"

Day 14 - Henley On Thames

Between Reading and Marlow lies the town of Henley on Thames twinned with the towns of Che Rezessione and Los Amoney.

Day 14 - 'Did I Leave the Gas On!?'

No you didnt leave the gas on but you did set fire to your garden!!

Day 14 - Wouldn't You Simply Die Without Marlow!?

Medmenham doop do be doo do.....

Ya see.....You'll never go hungry appealing to the lowest common denominator.

Anyway I'm a bit lost time wise, it's Saturday August 4th and for the sake of argument I'm calling this day 14. We sailed out of Reading this morning and into Marlow this evening. Another town very much in the style of Abingdon / Walllingford and the like except this one has a suspension bridge and a Wimpy Bar.

Marlow Suspension Bridge

Marlow Wimpy Bar (actual Wimpy may vary!)


Paul in near foreground hands in pockets counting his change!!

Day 13 - Things We Learned This Week

1. Electrocuting fish under the cover of darkness is 'Conservation' and not torture (or cheating !).

2. Floppy white hats are not suitable attire for Toilet repairs.

3. Repeated use of the phrase 'Packing the grease nipple' should be avoided.

4. 'Swan Upping' is not the same things as 'Cow Tipping'.......not even close.

5. Full beards are required by anyone wishing to operate a Thames Lock.

6. All signs should be adhered to. 

Day 12 - Toilet Trader

A night of intense 'research'

Having bagged a very good FREEEEE mooring in Abingdon we are some what loathe to leave it straight away so have decided to stay a day or so. Tim is beautifying the bathroom fixtures and fittings whilst I am generally lounging about making occasional trips to the local Ice Cream Parlour. we had a brief visit from a passing local called Alice. A seemingly average but not unattractive lady in her 20's but with a strange far away look in her eyes. It was only when we spotted 'Blessed are those who trust in the Lord' printed on the back of her T-Shirt that it all made sense and she was told to 'JOG ON'

"Jebus I salute thee!"

FUN FACTS ABOUT ABINGDON

Update......

1. During times of national celebration local dignitaries throw sticky buns from the roof of the town hall to the hysterical masses below.
2. Radiohead are from here and not Oxford as most people think.
3. See 1

Clear water on all fronts

We shall be on the move again tomorrow so this has come as music to our eyes (eyes!!??!)