Redemption is close at hand. There is a perceptible sense of anticipation along the towpath and, if I can be permitted to mix sports and activities, owners and boats are preparing to move into the starting stalls.
This week, the government decided that it’s time to get things moving again, and the Canal and River Trust, the overseers of the canal system, has advised that this relates to all narrowboat liveaboards. Therefore, from the 23rd May, the mooring exemptions that have been in place for eight weeks will come to an end and boats will again be free to begin navigations. Given that this has been a much-longed-for proclamation, we should be over-joyed; however, the excitement is tempered with a degree of nervousness. The announcement, you see, is actually an order, and we have been told that we must move off our moorings by the 6th June, or face a fine for over-staying.
Time to dry out!
This is despite the fact that, to date, no businesses have been permitted to re-open, and most marinas, the only source of our fuel, are still closed. It is despite the fact that, in the last fortnight, there have been 148,000 new cases of coronavirus reported in this country; and, it is also despite the fact that, international flights, principally from Spain, France and the US, continue to arrive into the UK daily, with no health checks conducted on incoming passengers and no requirement for them to self-isolate. There have been unconfirmed estimates of up to 15,000 passengers arriving here each week. It is into this uncertain state of affairs that we have been cast.
Our Original Plan had been to travel from Banbury through to Oxford but that had been stymied by the lockdown order. The Amended Plan was now to head back from whence we'd come, turning off the Oxford Canal at Napton Junction to make our way towards Birmingham.
Some of the crew are, however, not so keen on this route. Birmingham has a bit of a “bovver-boy” reputation but the thrill of being able to cruise through the centre of a city is pretty strong so we may just have to “man-up”.
About now I was regretting my decision to leave my eight-hole Docs in Brisbane although the cherry red colour might not have cut any ice with a Brummie.
But perhaps I may not need my Docs after all. Our destination is Aqueduct Marina near Nantwich on the Middlewich branch of the Shropshire Union canal – the Shroppie – a mere 140 miles or so from here. My canal guide cautiously informs me that, along that route, there are 153 locks, 46 of which are of the broad locks variety that can accommodate two boats. There are also four lift bridges to manipulate, so I reason that that by the time I've done all of that, I should be fit enough to deal with the toughest bovver boy.
In preparation for our departure, we’ve been finalising a lot of little jobs. We’ve re-painted the front doors, and the back deck and steps are also in line for a colour-change. Someone who’s familiar with The Wallaby House wryly asked if we’d taken the paint tins from Dayboro. All I can say is that the doors and locker lids look much better now that they’re gloss black!
Black is a good colour and too often maligned I think
Matanuska also needed to be readied and The Captain took it upon himself to give her a good wash in readiness for the journey ahead.
It will be something of a wrench to leave Banbury – we’ve been here for nine weeks now and we seem to have put down roots.
Matanuska has certainly settled here and is now sporting both a furry growth and mussels on her underneath parts. However, we came to cruise and discover and to learn, so we’d best cast off with a purpose if we’re to reach Birmingham.
As Roosevelt observed, "to reach a port we must set sail; sail, not tie at anchor, sail, not drift." And so the journey continues.
The Captain, The Commodore, and The Cat
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