Dank, Dark, Deluged Days.

20 May 2006

 

Just why is the weather so unkind to the Batchworth Festival at Rickmansworth? This is something I asked myself as I sheltered miserably beneath the bridge carrying the Rickmansworth Road over the canal near to Batchworth Lock. The last time I wrote of this event [see: The Rickmansworth Canal Festival 2003 - elsewhere] it was pouring down and this year was no different. The déja vu was stronger than ever as Star and Spirit vied for the handful of customers throughout the day, but, as usual, those souls that braved the conditions thoroughly enjoyed themselves once away from the lock, cruising almost silently through the residential moorings up to Lot Mead Lock and returning to the mêlée that was the winding hole near Tesco's thence back to a disembarkation outside the Canal Centre. John Boswell and his son Brian took care of Star whilst myself, Laurie Clark and Deirdre Kilfeather manned the tiller on Spirit. By deft manipulation of steering duties we managed to avoid looking like wrinkled prunes in the relentless rain. The only saving grace was the temperature. 

Tim Snowden made sporadic appearances in a supervisory capacity throughout the day, indeed I was walking with him to have lunch at "The White Bear" when a phone call from Laurie brought us up short. Spirit has been damaged by "Hayley" a short narrowboat that had just been used for a "Boat-handling" competition{!} All the entrants had completed their respective courses involving manoeuvring the boat between various points both in forward and reverse gears, shaking hands with marshalls posted there to complete each leg.     All the competitors acquitted themselves admirably with their handling skills and the boat was handed back to Chris Bennett, the owner, who then had a rush of blood to the head, and careered into Spirit's starboard side putting his nose through the rear window!!!  An embarrassed and apologetic Chris later presented Deirdre, who was steering at the time, with a badge that bore the legend "I've been Hayled!" whilst he sported one that read "I've had a smashing time at Rickmansworth!"

Luckily, nothing and nobody was hurt only Chris' pride. No members of the public were on board as Deirdre and Laurie were just setting out to pick up their first customers of the day at the Canal Centre. The floor was swept clean of broken glass and being the rearmost window, there was no risk to those that subsequently boarded as they all move to the front of the boat for the best view!    

                         

Three trips each saw us reach 17:00, some cancellations during the day owing to lack of customers! My brother Phil and his wife Di had joined us for the last run of the day and with the boats safely tied and secured  under Batchworth Bridge, it was to the beer tent that we set our sights with hopes of an improvement to the weather on the morrow!

 

 

21 May 2006 

 

No wonder Thames water have decided to hang fire on a drought -- restriction order! Sunday dawned to rain, rain and more precipitation, making a nonsense of such a thought. Reaching the boats snugly tied under the bridge. I was amazed when Andy of the Rickmansworth Trust who was selling the trip tickets informed me that we had a full house [twelve customers] for the first trip of the day!

I did see one man suitably dressed for the occasion, he was a diver in a complete frogman's outfit, inspecting a propellor of a boat. That'll teach the owners to have a weedhatch installed, I wouldn't have thought the diver would come cheap!

 

So, just after 11:00 Spirit nosed into Batchworth Lock where trust volunteers were manning the paddles and gates and we made our measured way north. Barry Holt, another H.N.A steerer had joined me today in place of Laurie so we alternated on the tiller to save drowning and to ensure that the folks were enjoying themselves.  

 

Our full load enthusiastically oohed and aahed their way to Lot Mead and back. On our return there were very few people about, consequently our next trip was cancelled due to lack of interest, but we did manage to fill the water tank before our next trip which consisted of four people and two dogs!

 

Bravely, some singers [Keeper's Lock] had set up by the waterpoint and were performing by the time of our return which brightened the proceedings somewhat. Turning Spirit about by Tesco's was made more difficult by a wide boat moored in the winding hole and a tug-o-war competition taking place simultaneously but I was gratified to get a round of applause on successfully doing so! I think on occasions like this, people are determined to enjoy themselves come what may.  It's an English trait, joy through adversity, as amply demonstrated during the "blitz" of WW11.

 

Our last trip of the festival had two passengers but we needed to turn anyway for the eventual return to Coppermill. Our customers certainly enjoyed their ride and I received a text from Deirdre who had been otherwise engaged for the day, that the lock would be closing at 16:00 so we'd meet above the lock for a drink to celebrate the fact that nobody drowned!  The then celebrated "Lock Jam" took place as we clinked glasses to signify the end of a wet, very wet, but ultimately enjoyable weekend. On repairing to " The White Bear" the sun came out ----- d'ohhhh!!!

 

Let's hope that next weekend, The [All New] Brentford Basin Festival will be drier.