Shaun's Adventure on the River Wey July 2007

Shaun came to stay with us for a couple of nights on the 30th by himself as Caitlin was away on a boating trip with some school friends. She was gone for a week and so we had Shaun staying with us. It was great as Grandpa John decided that he should teach Shaun to drive a narrow boat. In order to do this he rented one for the day on the 30th. And we asked June and Paul Luck to come along as well as I wasn't really prepared to do the locks, not being very good at that etc. June and I did the food while the men did the driving.
The Jellies of course came as well.
Shaun took a few photos in the beginning with my camera, he is quite good at it as these will show: at first some other friends said they'd like to come as well, but there was no room on the boat! then some decided to go their way

this is a brilliant pix, well done Shaun I think I will nominate you as official blog photographer, look at this one

At first Shaun was a bit apprehensive 'cause he worried about the boat overturning. But we all assured him that a metal narrow boat could not do this. And pretty soon he was more at home especially after John and Paul showed him the ropes. Here are Skipper 1 and Skipper 2, soon Shaun was so good at it that John and Paul could take a coffee break although he found it a bit hairy especially when the riverbanks came too close!

Here is the skipper and his crewJed being Jed was in on things from the beginning.We all had a good time having coffee and all the lovely food brought along. John had ordered 2 plates of Hector's overlarge chips with his home made mayonnaise yum yum.

All too soon it was time to turn around and make back to the boathouse as we had to be there by 5.30 pm But before that there was the lock to be negotiated, and lo and behold a lock-pixy to help with this hard work.

When we finally got back there was a small flotilla of friends to wave us farewell. A super time on the river on a sunny summers day was enjoyed by all.

A big thank to Grandpa John and his crew

oh yes a sad thing this little fella was found inside my Kirby when the Kirby man came to maintain my machine; unfortunately he had not survived. How he got there the Lord only knows, I don't remember hoovering him up.

Phee I will now sign off and go to sunny Madeira for a week