From Narrowboat to Horsebox

Tuesday 12th June, 2012
The rain finally stopped about 9:00am, the radio reported that some parts of the country had one month's rainfall in a single day.
Overnight, the canal had risen about 6 inches and shortly after we set off there was a quarter mile section of river (as opposed to canal), this was running so fast that even going much faster than normal we were only just moving relative to the bank. It was quite difficult to make headway against the current. Once back on a canal section (which only moves very slowly) we paired up with Jean and Garth on nb "Sycnamore". No, that's not mis-spelt! We originally though she was named after the tree but not so. Apparently they use to sail but Jean suffered from sea-sickness so they sold the yacht and bought a narrowboat, then Jean was, wait for it... syc-no-more! Hmm!! They have owned their boat for seven years and had a previous narrowboat with the same strange name. When they sold the first one, to their surprise, the new owners kept the name and a few years ago they met them by chance and the two "Sycnamore" narrowboats shared a lock side by side on the Leeds and Liverpool canal! Another example of the strange coincidences on the "cut".

We shared three locks and three swing bridges.  The second lock entrance was partially blocked by a fallen tree so "Sycnamore" just disappeared into the foliage and R followed blindly through the greenery to find that the lock gates were only a few feet the other side. Thankfully they were open with "Sycnamore" already in the lock!

Below Froud Bridge, we turned into the Froud Bridge Marina to fill up with water and diesel and to empty the "Poo"Tank. The people there were very helpful, the owner was the same man who had built Pyrford Marina; he said it had taken him 10 years to get planning permssion for Froud Bridge - apparently one of the local councillors had lodged an objection on the grounds that the masts of the narrowboats would be visible from the river!  What????
The entrance to the Marina was again on a fast flowing river part, which made manoevering interesting. (er - actually, we ran aground!)

We sailed back up to Froud Bridge where we moored up to wait for Peter and Nicole (although we were now facing in the wrong direction).  Peter is a distant cousin of Robin's and lives close by.

Peter called to say that he was just passing near by in their horsebox so he picked us up and took us back to the house. After unloading the horse he was carrying and being introduced to their very friendly newest two-week old foal, we went to pick up their seven year old daughter Emelia from school - a beautiful Elizabethan style house in a lovely park setting. After a cuppa in the house we drove back to MM and took them down to Aldermaston where we went through the lock, turned and then went back through the lock and so back to Frouds Bridge (this time facing in the right direction).

It was delightful to see Peter and Nicole again and to meet their daughter and we have promised to call them again when we go by on our way back.

They very kindly gave us some of their new-laid eggs, what a treat for tomorrow's breakfast!
Today: 5 miles, 5 locks and 5.2 hours (including an hour of battery charging).
Trip:  101 miles, 47 locks and 56.8 hours (200.1 total). 108 litres of Diesel = 2 litres/hour.