4th Feb. Walked down to the Old Lock this morning to help move the ASTER back to her mooring. It seems that her current berth in the lock is supposed to be kept clear as an emergency mooring for any boats in trouble on the river that need a safe haven. I was lucky enough, at last, to find the 110m, over 3 ton, barge “Bounty” being filled with grain from the silo.
Moving the ASTER was quite a challenge. It was freezing so handling wet ropes soon meant frozen fingers and because the engine had been winterised we were manhandling her by the ropes from one boat to another along the channel. Add to this a the boat cover acting as a huge sail; a cross wind that gusted and threatened to blow the boat into other moored boats where the overhanging scaffold could potentially cause a lot of damage and you have an extra layer of frission!
7th Feb. This evening there was another event at Sauconna. Erik had enclosed the first floor terrace with a tent and installed a stage and gas heaters. There was a percussionist and a guitarist with a good voice.
8th Feb. A lovely sunny day that makes one feel that spring is on the way. Although the locks are still closed to pleasure cruisers the crane boat was making its way through the lock onto the river: the paint crew were busy getting the Hotel Boats ready and freshened up for the new season. However there was a thin layer of ice on the canal pound just to remind one that summer had not yet arrived.
10th Feb, Today was Germain’s 93rd birthday and there was a small dinner party for her out at Charles and Patricia’s house at the Old Lock. Most of us contributed a course, mine was a parsnip and pear soup. It was a lovely evening and Germaine, who never ceases to amaze. enjoyed a lovely meal among her friends.
capetocarpe 