Last night we went to bed earliyish, people were sitting at the Waterfront cafe/bar and it was all very lively, but boy was I tired. Slept really well and couldn’t hear those dreadful squawkers . We heard them early doors but managed to shut them out of our heads and I had a long lie in till well after 8, bliss. Derek walked the dogs and got the paper. My first job before breakfast was to water and tidy the planters whilst we were in the shade, its looking like a scorcher again today. Canal Trust lockie came to check boats for how long we were all stopping, NB at the side of us as gone through the bridge and up the canal first thing. Derek is being fidgety today, he decided we were moving, to another pontoon, he simply pulled us over to the pontoon with the rope. ??? Once settled I did a bit of painting on my plaques on the back doors, it looks rubbish at first, but they will get better. I have to keep telling myself this as its a bit daunting getting started. We went out for lunch, burgerking, its through the Quays shopping mall, its really hot here but with a little breeze. Setting off, planning to cross the swing bridge which is over the entrance to the permanent mooring, there he was? Old man in NB Clea (the one who came up in the lock with us ? Captain Disaster) He had opened the bridge to come out into the Dock and had crowds of people at either side of the bridge waiting to go across. What a performance, tripped over his rope, threw it to a stranger to hold it for him, didn’t take his engine out of gear so still going forward, he needed to get off to shut the bridge. A man on our side of the bridge was moaning, he only wanted to get to the other side to his home, then he had an appointment. We told him about the farce in the lock with us, he then said we would have to go the long way round but he did now a short cut, through the properties. Round at the moorings Captain was off the boat but the gate wasn’t shut? He tripped up over his rope and got back into the boat for something and we carried on our way as he was climbing back on to the dockside. We assume he had to do the workings of the bridge to get a key back, heaven help us, I think people should have health and safety check the same as the boat. When we got through to the other side of the Quays Mall it was even hotter, no breeze from the water. We crossed to Burger King, had our meal in air conditioned quite cosy comfort and called at HobbyCraft for a look see, of course I got some bits and bobs and we then went back through the mall to the Docks, Captain Disaster had gone, where we may never know!!?? Stanton Rose (Dutch Barge) has moved from her moorings and is on the (no time restriction) moorings at the wall side of the dock. I did wonder if they were picking up a party of people, as we believe it can be chartered as a hotel. Back at the boat Derek did some bill sorting on the internet and I did a bit more of my plaques. On this pontoon we can get all channels on the TV and were going to have tea in, so I will be doing some more craft work. Oh about the pesky gulls? Derek spoke to a lady off a NB this morning and she said that there were more yearlings (the grey ones) because of the late spring and they get into trouble on the water. We had seen a man and woman with a big net on a very long pole walking round on an evening and we were wondering what he was up to. He lifts the wet yearlings out on to the dock side to dry off. Derek and the lady picked one out of the water whilst they were chatting. As we watched Captain Disaster and got talking to the man who lived here, we met long pole man, told him about a bird we had just seen struggling in the water. He explained that the birds are unprepared for the washing they copy from the older birds and as they haven’t got enough oil in their feathers, they cant dry properly!!! He had lifted 40 or more birds out of the water in the last few really hot days. The things you find out on the waterways, weird and wonderful people, full of surprises?? Derek was sitting in the cratch before tea, watching the very busy waterway, boats coming and going, mostly coming today, low and behold long pole man was fishing some birds out of the water.
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