Saturday BBQ

We had a good time in Bedford looking at the sights and of course some shopping, that’s one thing Sally loves her shopping, well window shopping anyway.

We left Bedford on Saturday morning to position ourselves and the boat ready for the BBQ, and to make it easier to be picked up by David and Jan on their cruiser, Morning Mist. Leaving our mooring we backed away from the quay. Passed the rowing club and entered the main river, then turning to go back down the Great Ouse and through the Town Bridge making for our one and only lock for the day.

 Passing the Swan Hotel we manoeuvred up to the landing stage for the lock and I got off, windlass and key in hand, leaving Sally to come in the lock once it was set.

She decided not to hold it there but to move slowly down the river, however with me not being ready and some rowers getting in the way she had to work at keeping the boat in position, and she did a great job and did it well. Guillotine up she started to move the boat in however the current was taking the back end downstream, so with a slight bump on the bow, she brought the stern around and brought it into the lock (well done Sally), especially with eight to ten people watching.

Once in the lock I dropped the guillotine and started to empty it ready to open the gates for our exit. As the water went down we could see that it would be tight getting under the lock bridge and had a small bet as to whether we would touch (I lost), With the chimney down it only left the cap on top of the boat and we knocked it over (or should I say, I did). It was very tight, and next was a small footbridge of about the same height; touched again, so it was a good job we left Bedford when we did, for if the river had gone up any more, we would have been stuck again.

Out of the town now we made for Priory marina and our free mooring there because of GOBA. With the river running with us now we fair sailed along, even on tick over and soon reached the entrance to the marina, turning in early we passed under the bridge and reached the still waters of the marina. Once in we made a call to the office and moored up before walking to see them and registering. Having done this Sally went back to the boat while I walked with the manager to see the pontoon where he wanted us (pontoon C, berth 20), so back to the boat and we manoeuvred over to our berth, job done it was time for a cup of tea.

With rain on and off all day we were expecting a wet BBQ, but got ourselves ready to be collected at around 4pm, this done all smart for the first time in ages, and with Sock’s bag packed we awaited their arrival. With the loud sound of a ships Claxton, Morning Mist came around the bend and into the marina under the bridge, I hailed back with the horn that Jacinta gave me and they spotted us and moved to a pontoon close to us to pick us up. On board was David, Jan, Pat (David’s Mother) and a friend of theirs called Phil, and once we were on board we set off for the Bedford Boat Club and the BBQ.

The club had a good set up and everything was ready for the days fun, with the meat on the BBQ’s cooking and a table set out with masses of salads and dressings. David had secured a large table for us all under the awning, so if it rained we wouldn’t get wet, and the beers came out. There must have been eighty people there all drinking and chatting whilst waiting for the food to be made ready (a good turnout especially because of the weather). Sally put Sock’s blanket down and he settled there, getting lots of fuss and attention from most everyone (I have to say he was as good as gold all evening). The BBQ went well with the usual assortments of meat all washed down with beer and wine, followed by a variety of puddings. I had one beer which lasted me all evening followed by several mugs of tea (light weight that I am), and Sally had several beers. It was a great time and we met some nice people, David and Jan were excellent hosts and we thing that we have made some lasting friends with them. Well at around ten it was time for Sock’s to go to bed, but try as we may he would not settle so it was back to the boat for us and David took us back, along with another dozen on the boat for the ride. Back at the boat, and once they saw that we had a narrowboat, well it was time for micky taking, calling it a steel can, and we all had a great laugh about plastic boats. As they set off back we walked back to the boat to settle down for the night, and I understand that the party went on till around 03.30 in the morning.

Thank you guys so very much we had a great time and look forward to catching up again soon, you are a lovely couple and deserve the best.