David and Angela on nb Norfolk Belle, following us as we travelled from Rickmansworth to Cassiobury park last week.
In my never ending quest to amuse you - here is an unusual sight! A car stuck into the rear of a narrow boat. We know no more than you so no questions please!
It has been VERY hot this week and Paddy discovered a nice cool pool and he insisted on laying down in it every time we went past (daily).
When we arrived, we were much earlier than most other visitors and here we are basking in the sunshine and the relative solitude.
These were the two boats who came to moor ahead of us - the one on the outside won both the decorated boat and the best flower show on a boat, the one on the inside had EVERYTHING on it apart from their Christmas tree - every time we went past something else had sprung up, including lights and a bubble machine!
This is how we were moored by Friday - the middle of two other boats. We were slightly miffed as the one on the inside didn't have access for us across the front which is what we'd asked for and so poor Paddy was stuck with having to be carried down the back for the whole festival.
Three of the beautiful old working boats on show. They were cleaning the brass fittings right up to the last minute, but they do look stunning.
I finally spotted a Rhoda while I had my camera, to add to the family names.
Here's Roger from Rickmansworth. They decided that rather than go up to turn him (it was a few locks before anywhere was wide enough for him) they'd attach him to another boat and reverse him. Judging by how long it took them to get past us, they probably aren't there yet! They got stuck in the bank and then lurched over very close to the boats moored for the festival and continued to make their slow and unsteady progress down the canal. The locks must have been fun!
Anyway the show itself was a real let-down. Believe it or not there was no chandlers there, so most of the stuff we'd planned to buy was just simply unavailable. We did manage to arrange to have solar panels fitted so future journeys should be less traumatic as far as power goes, and we've also investigated having different batteries fitted to help as well. We've looked at double glazing for the boat but need to wait for a lottery win for that I think!
What we DID get though was.....
The A.P. Herbert Challenge Trophy for travelling the longest distance to the show and having a good log book to support it. We were delighted. It's one of the original trophies from the 1950 show which was the start of the whole Waterways Movement and is engraved with several names that are well known in boating circles. A proud moment for us both, and walking back to the boat was wonderful with people asking us what we'd done to win it and congratulating us. We loved every minute.
We also enjoyed our time volunteering. We spent a couple of hours on Saturday in the Information Tent and then another couple on Sunday clearing tables in the eating area. It's nice to get to talk to people and everyone was very complementary.
Today we got away at 8.20am as we were both awake and it was very quiet then. We are on the outskirts of Hemel Hempstead after 7 hours cruising. Nice to feel the water moving again.
A rather attractive bridge we passed this morning.
The M25 from the best place - a distance! This is a bit north of Watford, I'm not sure which junction but we were glad not to be on it, especially in the heat we've had today.
Now I must read some of the other blogs I follow before walking Paddy.
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