Let loose

Wednesday 4th June 2003

This was it, I finally had a boat and passengers to myself. Tim had phoned last night to confirm details. I arrived a little after 09:00 and opened up Spirit, switched switches, drew bolts, slid back hatches and watched the Rain fall steadily! Not many brave souls on the towpath opposite--even the ducks only numbered three and they soon lost interest in me when no "staff of life" was dispatched from the side-opening doors onto the swift-moving surface.

At Coppermill the canal is river-fed and the unwary boater can easily be sucked onto the weir when preparing to drop down through the lock. The resultant mill-race powered the copper mill that once supplied the copper bottoms to boats of old.

If HNA's boats are leaving H.Q. and going downstream it is necessary to reverse for a distance and then take a run at the lock in order to tie up at the bollards on the owpath side above it. A stout system of chains and red floats prevent any bigger disaster than getting stuck against the mill stream -- but it still requires a lot of revving and snatching to escape its clutches. Today however, Spirit was facing upstream and when the community group from Cranford were all safely aboard thanks to Spirit's wheelchair lift (all the people were in fact ambulatory but several were none too steady on their feet) it was just a matter of letting go for and aft and pottering up towards the Stink 'Ole to wind and head for the delights of Denham and its environs. Coppermill, Black Jack's, Widewater, and Denham Deep all knew our custom as the rain fell steadily. Ken, one of the two old boys on board was an old hand at this steering lark and was quite happy to take the tiller for long stretches, ensconced under his umbrella. This enabled me to stroll occasionally through the boat enquiring if all were having a good time? They were, and were slowly warming to this young whippersnapper who was replacing "that nice captain with the beard (Tim) who was there last time." Not only did the whippersnapper appear to be capable but he was imparting little nuggets of information that were germane to the surroundings as Spirit made her watery way.

I have to say that I was as well looked after by them as I hope they were by me. Only ten minutes into the trip a coffee was placed into my eager hands and at lunchtime, Quiche, new potatoes and beans was very welcome indeed. This plus various glasses of red/white wine throughout the trip--lovely! Lyn, was the group leader. She is an old hand and very experienced--as Tim had warned me, we only had to get within sniffing distance of a lock and she was off like a rocket, windlass twirling in hand, gates duly opened and closed.

Nature reared its ugly head just before we winded for the return trip. I'd enquired of a fisherman if he'd had any luck and he told me that about ten minutes before we hove into view a pike had taken a duck just in front of him leaving five, week-old ducklings to fend for themselves! I suppose if they stick together they have a chance, after all they don't have to be shown how to eat! Let's hope they make it, understandably, as we went past the murder site they were suitably animated. In an effort to cheer us up God had allowed the sun to shyly peek out from the mantle of grey. By the time we had got back to the Horse and Barge at Widewater, blue skies made the pint of ale slip down very easily. A few of the party got off to stretch their legs and enjoy the warm spell.

Pints duly finished, it was a slow potter back with a few more ladies trying their hands at steering -- the weather being more conducive than on the trip down. Perhaps the pints gave them Dutch courage, in any event a safe return to Coppermill ensued, passengers disembarked, their community bus off in a puff of smoke, leaving yours truly, thanks ringing in my ears for a wonderful day, to put Spirit to bed.

Barry Holland