Yesterday my brain was not in gear and I forgot to stop at Wolverton to visit Tesco, you know when you think back on a trip you always think something you passed was actually closer than it is in reality, I do that all the time, just a short walk, well last night I looked on the map and it's about 2 miles, not a problem if you are just walking but carrying two full shopping bags, no, I think not, I'll take the boat for a little jolly tomorrow.
So I decided that today regardless of the weather I would go early and get back early, hopefully ensuring a mooring here again,
8 am and I'm off, it's very lightly drizzling, more mist than rain, first I have to wind (turn around) there's a winding hole just by the Cosgrove lock (21) so on tickover all the way to the hole and wind, then tickover all the way back passing all the moored boats considerately. I decide I will go past Wolverton, wind by the New Inn at New Bradwell and then return to Wolverton and moor up for Tesco. By now it's raining a little heavier but it's ok, I put my raingear on, now on the journey here I was sure the winding hole was just before the pub, so now it will be just after it, you know that saying 'there's none so blind as those that will not see' don't ask me how but I went past it without seeing it, it was in fact on the other side of the pub to what I thought so I was either daydreaming, taking in some sight, or just plain blind, but when I started looking for it, it never appeared, until it dawned on me that I had past it somehow, so a longer journey, not a problem (apart from the rain), another 2 miles to the next one, found it this time, winded, 2 miles back and spotted the elusive one J
On to Wolverton and quickly moored up leaving a space between me and another moored boat as it was nearer where I wanted to be, as I was finishing tying up another boat decided to utilise the space and when I looked up he was heading in too fast, he messed up and decided to abort and moor after me, again he was too fast but leapt of the back of his boat as his bow started to head back out across the canal, mooring is not easy, I struggle often, it's all about the speed, slow, very slow, too fast, too many revs forward or reverse means lots of water disturbance pushing your boat where you don't want it to go, anyway he looked like he was in trouble so I ran over and between us we got it sorted, he blamed the strong wind, I did not dispute it J
Shopping done and back to Cosgrove, raining quite heavily at this point, moored up and kettle on.
Total time 5 hours, 'just nipping to the shops'.
Of course the sun came out after I moored, but I actually enjoyed myself, it was all stupid but fun.
Total Today: 9 miles
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