I was woken up at 1am by pecking on the hull. We haven’t had that for ages but I guess with
the boat having been left for over two months at Constables there must be some
rich pickings down there! I gave up
after a while, got up and went to have stern words. I opened the side hatch and found it wasn’t
ducks but two swans – I politely asked them to stop and go bother another
boat. They did! Ducks aren’t nearly as agreeable to stop
their pecking.
We didn’t wake up until gone 8am – which is late for us. We were lying in bed when I got a Viber message
to say we were leaving at 9.30am – it was 8.55am! It’s amazing how quickly you can get ready
when you try and we were just letting the ropes go as Ferndale came past –
phew!
I did a tidy up and then the ironing before we got to Mapledurham
Lock. There is something about the name
Mapledurham which I just love. This will
be one place which we will visit on our return trip. Apparently because of its
picturesque situation, and lack of through traffic, Mapledurham has been used
as a set for several films, including the The Eagle Has Landed. There is also the 12th Century Mapledurham
House and a watermill.
Whitchurch Lock was manned by two very pleasant lockies – such a change
to the other day!
Our goal today was Beale Park.
We moored up behind Festina Lente (from now on known as FL) and Ferndale
in a very awkward place with the bow tied to a tree and, what looked like,
giant hogweed invading the cratch. We
had lunch and decided to move down about 200 yards to a much nicer place. Diane, Sue and Andy walked to the National
Trust property, Basildon House, while Ray worked. Ray isn’t retired yet and works from the boat
for an Australian company. He is an
early riser so gets in a few hours before Diane is awake and then completes his
day once they are moored up. Ray did
offer to look after Muffin if we wanted to go to the house but we just know
that Muffin, as much as loves Ray, would only whine and disturb him.
 |
| One rather bored dog |
I took the opportunity to catch up on the mail that Richard had brought
back last Monday. Fortunately there was
nothing urgent! Richard adapted a drawer
under the bed for my sleep machine. I
have sleep apnoea and every night and morning for the last five years I have
had to move the machine on and off the floor – its jolly heavy to lift first
thing in the morning and each year it seems heavier! It will now just have to be pulled out at
night and pushed away in the morning. At
home it stays beside the bed all the time.
This is going to revolutionise my life!
6.24 miles
2 locks
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