Freedom of the Cut 2019 - 1.

To Little Venice and Cannie Cavalcade.

Tuesday 30^th April

Back on the River Thames on a very pleasant sunny windless day as far as Kingston for the night along with Brian and Margaret on nb Zavala, as is usual this time of year on our way to Cannie Cavalcade at Little Venice.

We let go at our moorings at 10am on Tuesday, well stocked up with victuals. Just before mooring at Kingston, we passed Thames Venturer with Dave Murray on board, volunteering with others to take out various disabled people on a day cruise. An evening meal was enjoyed at Cote Bistro, as always, but the moules were rather on the small side this year. I suppose that is a chance that has to be taken with these molluscs.

Although we passed through Sunbury, which was unmanned and Molesey Locks, which was, the lockie there asked us to get a licence at Teddington. An arrival the lock was already open and waiting for us to enter, whereby we requested a licence and were told, “Forget it.” The passage to Brentford was undertaken in an hour and twenty minutes, with a very gentle ebb tide running.

Hanwell Flight of seven locks was worked also with Alan on nb Webbies, who has been to Cavalcade every  year that I have been going. Another boat to share locks with him would have been useful for the first two, after which he was meeting his daughter at The Fox and staying there for the night. All the same, he volunteered to work the next few locks for us, which was appreciated. We both had a bladeful of rags and plastic by the time we got to Norwood Lock and both weed hatches were up to delve into the murky depths and clear the detritus. Much to our surprise, there was space to moor at Bulls Bridge, outside Tesco, where a visit or two were mandatory.

Thursday morning the crew of Zavala departed for Little Venice, as they were carrying a large supply of water in bottles for sale to raise money for a visit to the World Scout  Jamboree by their granddaughter Molly. It had to be unloaded at Stone Wharf early without intrusion into Cavalcade events and set up. Meanwhile I spent another night at Bulls Bridge with the intention of leaving on Friday about midday to arrive about 16.30 where there is always a long queue. I also allowed time for a pump out at Willotree Marina. Imagine my surprise on arrival at Little Venice to find only two other boats ahead of me waiting to get into the pool. It seems that they started arranging boats on their moorings at 14.30.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Paddington Arm from Bulls Bridge was far cleaner than it was last year, when I was constantly ‘chucking back’ by stopping and going into reverse to clear the blades. This year it only happened once or twice. I passed six boats adrift on one line and can only put this down to bad mooring practice by non-boaters, or speeding boats passing by, which is very unusual.

I got a few horn blasts of welcome as I entered Browning’s Pool from James on nb Gabriel and Jack Reay on Cumberland, just to name two friends. This raised my morale considerably.  After squeezing into the gap next to Augusta, owned by Helen Dobbie, who I moored next to on my first ever mooring in the pool, I needed a pint, so went to the nearest pub, The Bridge House. At £5.20 a pint, I must have been desperate! Needless to say, I only had one.

After a home cooked meal, I wandered over to the beer tent to sample the difficulty of the renown Martin Ludgate quiz. Standing at the bar, I was accosted by James who requested my pleasure at his table for the quiz, so the decision was made for me. I did acquit myself by getting a few of the canal pictures correct, but missed out on Hawksbury Junction taken from an unusual angle and I have been there so many times – bugger!

Saturday 4^th May

Not a lot going on today, so I did a tour of the stalls as usual, but nothing new of interest there. I also took the opportunity to visit the first aid tent and get my elbow redressed after five days of the previous dressing by Margaret after tripping over an uneven paving slab outside Brighton Station on the way here. A late lunch of Thai red curry was welcomed at one of the stalls and I ate in the company of James and Hazel with a pint of bitter to wash it down. At the time a band was playing in the beer tent, with Mike Askin on melodeon, so I squeezed in and got a seat for the remainder of the session. Great music and an impromptu lady dancer giving a great performance. Jack invited me to a group party on the towpath later, but it had turned very cold by then, so I presumed it was on board. Not wishing to intrude, I paid a visit to the Warwick Castle for a pint instead. The fire was kept alight all night with a forecast of 4°C, although it was definitely warmer by morning than normal.

Paddington Arm at Sunset.

Sunday 5^th May

Once again I had entered the boat handling competition, which started today. I had every intention of missing it out this year, having won the cup twice, but on registration in the Waterspace tent, I had my arm twisted to enter yet again. I opted for the first chance on Saturday morning, knowing that the wind is often less then than the rest of the day. Before I could even start, the bunting on the cabin top had to be removed entirely, as it can become a nuisance if it comes adrift during the competition. Once down, it would stay down for the remainder of the weekend.

The Boat Handling Route.

The course was one of the most difficult that I have ever done, with one 360° and two 180° turns and a great deal of reversing. There was also a buoy to pick up by the steerer, which mysteriously disappeared part way through Sunday, so to compensate it was discounted altogether for previous competitors. At the finish in the narrows beneath The Horse Bridge the boat picked up a blade-full of rubbish and despite trying to shake it off, I eventually had to stop in the narrows and lift the weed hatch, much to the amusement of two CRT guys from the adjacent office. Now with a clean propeller I took off down the Regents Canal through London Zoo to Cumberland Basin, where I could wind the boat in the turn and return to my mooring, which had closed up by now to 12 inches wide. I was widened with some help from adjacent moorers and I was back in and secured. Now with plenty of hot water, I had a shower, which was rather disappointing as it was down to little more than a dribble – something to investigate tomorrow.

After a light lunch, I was off to the beer tent and passed Brian and Margaret on Stone Wharf with Molly and stopped for a chat, before Brian accompanied me for a pint. He invited me to watch the snooker final on his boat later, which I did being plied with large measures of Scotch. Needless to say, I slept very well.