Back to Wootton Rivers

OK so we failed to sort out the pix for the last cruise and also write up the last day! But it has been a pretty hectic week with commitments almost wall-to-wall. In addition we have both continued to suffer from the inherited cold which is hopefully now on its way out.

Mike had a meeting in Truro and the Royal Cornwall Show (just up the road from our house in Wadebridge) is on this week. It is notorious for creating traffic delays. So we planned that we would set off early this morning before the queues outside out road build, pack everything last night so that we could return to the boat direct from Truro.

Christine came down as well so that she could complete our larder re-stock at Sainsbury. Inevitably we were a little later getting off than hoped but we were on the road before 1 o'clock.

Apart from one short stretch where an earlier incident had caused the build up of traffic, we had a very smooth journey, no need to stop, and the weather was very pleasant.

We arrived at the boat before five - the most immediately obvious fact was the the boat was one boat length away from where we had left it and tied to the 24 hour visitor mooring.

A note had been left by the very kind Dean and Cara whose boat we had seen when we left as they also moored overnight at the same place. The had seen that the pound had dropped  considerably, leaving Take Five at an extreme angle, presumably because one side was grounded. After reporting it to CRT they moved the boat to a safer place on the VMs. Thanks guys - very much appreciated. The main impact on the boat was that the contents of one of our cupboards had been deposited on the floor - bowls and casserole dishes mainly. One or two had broken but all in all it could have been very much worse. Having found a sprinkling of tiny glass fragments, Christine had to wash everyting before putting it back in place.

A coupled of CCr's were also on the mooring and a chap from one saw Mike carrying the boxes from the car along the towpath and offered to help. Another young lad from a boat moored in the next pound up came along with his wheelbarrow (to collect his supplies from the road) and offered to take the heavy cool box the second part of the trip. Again, many thanks as Mike was finding it quite an effort. After we had finished, the crew from the other boat wandered along and asked if they could help with carrying anything else.

All in all, it was a wonderful reminder of the kind of spirit amongst committed boaters, whether liveaboards or more casual user like ourselves. If we help each other then life is so much easier! In a world all to prone to reporting the bad things in life, it is so encouraging to see the better side of human society.

A limited grass cut had taken place - but not around the lock which  is still as over grown as last time - but they had made no attempt to avoid moored boats (thought that was part of the specification for the sub contract?) The result was that the bank side out the boat was covered in grass cuttings which had by now had a chance to dry, solidly attached to the boat. Before finally preparing for dinner (which was made yesterday and only needed re-heating in the over) Mike managed to deploy the hosepipe to the nearby water point and use our brush attachment to clear the cabin sides.

Any plans to move off before nightfall had long ago been abandoned!