More stress-free aspects
So back on the cut, and with our own escape ladder hanging over the bow (just in case we fall in and there happens to be an unexpected deep section which stops us climbing out), we're slowly easing ourselves once more back into the more stress-free aspects of boating, and even looking forward to the colder days of winter when the daily number of passing boats dwindles to single figures, and the number of speeding boats similarly falls.
Of course as the weather deteriorates, the predisposition to rushing to your next mooring rather than taking in the scenery en route tends to increase, so there is always someone in a rush at some point it seems (even when you discount the necessity for more power when battling the high winds at this time of year).
Spread their crap
One of the more saddening and frustrating elements of traversing the waterways once more, is the occasional and I suppose inevitable selfish b*****ds who spread their crap across the towpath and even into the hedges. I even saw one this week at Gifford Park, with the remnants of a meal (egg shells, food stuffs and empty cartons) discarded alongside the boat.
This boater had even climbed the tree overhanging the footpath and suspended a car tyre swing across the towpath/footpath! Of course the boat wasn't licensed (according to CaRT's Online Boat Checker). In the past when chatting to passers-by, one's admission that you live aboard your boat would be met with oohs and ahhs, perhaps some romantic notions and maybe a little envy. These days I think that some towpath visitors can't help but recall some of the crap (pun intended) that they have had to tiptoe through when passing some of the more selfish elements of the boating community—and so I for one am less inclined to declare myself as a continuous cruiser and liveaboard these days.
No consideration
And then there is the lock mooring and Services moorers, who tie up for long periods and sometimes for days on end without any consideration for their fellow boaters. At Gifford Park this week, over three days and two nights we have had boats blatantly moored on the services mooring. One was a hirer, who was heading off to the pub to eat—so after a polite conversation and my 62' boat bearing down on him he moved further along. This one we could put down to inexperience, but the other two private boat overnighters obviously knew better, but still decided they couldn't be bothered to move a hundred yards further along where there were legitimate moorings.
Leaping swiftly back to the 'up side' once more, it's great to see some old faces who, like us, are endeavouring to keep their noses and licenses clean by moving every 14 days and travelling sufficient distance to keep within the latest CaRT interpretation. It's also great to be walking with the dogs along some new towpaths (well they're new to our English Springer pup) and around some superb parkland where they can chase a ball, wrestle with a stick and launch themselves into the canal at every available opportunity.
Finally it's great to see our friendly coal boat (Jules Fuels), where you get a text advising of its location over the coming days and the hassle free service of diesel, coal and gas delivered directly to your boat, without the need to get dirty or wrestle dirty coal bags along the towpath and up onto the roof of the boat. Lovely people.
So, keep your stoves well stoked, your cupboards well stocked, your kettles always on the boil and a ready smile and a helping hand to your fellow boater. This should go quite some way to us all having a happy and relaxing winter out here on the cut!