Retirement with No Problem

Goldington to  Bedford, River Great Ouse, 2 miles 1 lock

In the pot…

And in the jars…

All 11lbs of delicious blackberry and apple jam!

Some for the Christmas Hampers for the family, and some for us.. oh and some for our friends too!

It was quiet at Goldington and we had planned to spend the night there.  Today was glorious, or so we thought, sun and warmth and no wind.. that wasn’t actually the case though.

A garden shed boat joined us on the moorings, and out poured three dogs, one being a bull terrier.  The occupants of the boat I had seen earlier at Great Barford while we were moored there.  I have no worry about how people want to lead their lives, but these people drink continually the whole day long.

I wasn’t too comfortable with that, nor was I comfortable with the staffie bull terrier on the loose, it would mean that Lucy and Meg would have to be kept inside.. Meg is everso friendly and inquisitive, maybe enough so to annoy another dog.

We decided very late in the day to move on and leave the mooring to them, it was then that we discovered that we had been sheltered from a very strong wind.

The only lock was Cardington Lock, the exit of which is a 90 degree right turn against the howling wind.  As the nose of No Problem came out the wind did it’s job and the bow went to the left.. this was not going to be easy!

Mo of Balmaha taught me a really good trick when we met them at Ferry Meadows on the Nene.. So I did as he had shown me and tied the left stern rope to the last bollard in the lock and put the boat in reverse, this then swung the bow in the opposite direction looking like there is a bow thruster working.  It worked and the bow slowly but surely swung against the wind to the right.

Then at the optimum moment I let go of the stern and powered out neatly turning into the wind!!  Thanks Mo!!

BBQ tonight.. yummy, the a walk with the dogs near the pyramid that dominates this area..

Taken very late this evening on the camera phone.. still not got a decent camera yet!  But it is very windy here and No Problem is straining on the pins wanting to go to the other side of the river with the wind howling side on..

I do hope it calms by the morning..