Family fun

Lottie

It was hot before 9.00. We arranged to meet some family that live on the Wirral at a bridge in a small village. Our family thought it would take over an hour to get there as the traffic is awful and we worked out it would take us 1 ½ hours. The race was on!

It was a pleasant cruise and we arrived at our destination an hour and a half later. We found a mooring within sight of the pub and bridge. The car park was between the boat and the bridge. Fifteen minutes later Ben’s classic car rolled into the tiny car park. Lottie was excited to have visitors and dashed up and down the tow path. She soon calmed down and consented to share one dinette sofa with Ben.

splash landing



coot

Ben and Vera admired our boat and shared news over a coffee before we headed to the pub for lunch. Lottie whipped the lead out of my hand as we walked into the garden and scampered after the Captain who had entered the pub to get drinks and menus. A quick witted waiter grabbed the lead and handed Lottie to me now red faced with embarrassment. As we joined Ben and Vera she spotted several ducks resting on the grass and charged. The extending lead unravelled and I took off after her like a water skier. Somehow Lottie stopped short of the water wagging her tail as she had put the ducks in the place she thought they belonged. By the time her beloved Captain had returned Lottie was sitting quietly by my bench. She waited quietly throughout lunch hoping for titbits then got restless and took me for a walk down the towpath while the others finished their drinks.



flat surroundings

Finally it was time to cruise. We had already decided to turn round today but would have gone as far as Aintree or beyond if we hadn’t met Vera and Ben. However we had been told that we had to give CaRT 5 days notice if we wanted to go to Liverpool so that had become impossible. 5 days seems an incredibly long time for boaters who delight in not knowing how far they will get each day or even which direction they will take that day. We would have needed to inform CaRT before we realised we were going to Liverpool- Crazy!



King of the canal

Anyway Vera settled in the bow and Ben took the helm as soon as the Captain had it out of our mooring. He seemed a natural helmsman even though he had never steered a narrow boat before. He winded the boat in the winding hole following the Captains instructions but a strong gust of wind sent him sideways. Vera and I were sent into the deep reed bed before Ben reversed up and completed the turn.

Although the wild life only consisted of coots, ducks and a stately heron and the view consisted of flat fields our guests enjoyed their short cruise. After reuniting them with their car we cruised on to find a mooring for the night.

“The weather’s been lovely,” the Captain said. “Ben said it would rain at 5.00.” Within minutes the wind got up, the sky darkened and it began to rain – at exactly 5.00.

Laughing I handed the Captain his waterproof and ducked inside to close the front doors and windows as the rain grew heavy. After 25 minutes the Captain found a mooring and the days cruise was over. We were on our way home.