Let Yellow be the Colour

Monday 18th July to Sunday 24th July 2011


7 Miles – for this week


Totals: 649 Miles, 591 Locks, 19 Tunnels, 18 Lift Bridges, 11 Swing Bridges

More work, less miles, but a few other things have dominated this week.

It has been an interesting study in the movements of boats, especially when you do not move yourself and just how many boats do not slow down.

When you are moving yourself and then moor up I believe the tendency is to think that a boat going past is going much faster than they should be – simply the change in your speed (down to zero) suggests that the other boat is going too fast.

Having had the chance over the last few weeks of not moving so much, I have observed the following

• Hirers do not speed by as much as we would believe – in fact they are most likely to slow down.

• Older people (over 70) in their own boats are less likely to slow down

• People do not understand that you need to slow down long before you actually reach a moored boat – many wait until they are actually at the moored boat before they slow.

• Day boats rarely slow down

I was actually hit twice by passing boats during this time – one was a hirer, going slow and before I had a chance to say anything they were apologising profusely; the other was a boat owner with a particularly smug looking better half – they couldn’t have cared less – I have your boat name.

Moved onto the Ashby Canal, so at least I made a decision on that one, but again I have moored up at a place where it is very peaceful, very tranquil and again has good TV reception.

There were two events this week that would normally be described as good news but which have a much greater impact.

The first is that the reason for Diane having to return home has finally been resolved and essentially in her favour; she now has a great weight taken off her shoulders and there is much relief in the household.

An agreement and significant settlement with the hospital (where she had been employed), 10 minutes before the case was to go into court, allowed them not to be told by the court that they were wrong and should have been ashamed of their treatment of her.

Now we only need to wait until the legal people finalise all of the paperwork and then she will be able to return to the boat.

But she can now start to plan her return and also arrange for our dog to make the trip – it will be a little while yet, but the end of this unnecessary saga is almost upon us all.

The second is that after a 20-year dream, Cadel Evans has finally won Le Tour de France with a performance of such magnitude in the individual time trial as well as two heroic performances on the previous two days on Galibier and Alpe d’Huez. For anyone who has followed this event for any time they will be aware of his struggle and seeing the two climbs will also know how good they were.

Let yellow be the colour.


One very piece of sad news has come from Al and Del on Derwent 6 – Del’s dad, Len, has now been diagnosed with a tumour on the brain and has limited time.

Our thoughts are with everyone there.

Late news: I know that there are a number of people that have followed the trials and tribulation of the build of NB Waiouru but for those who haven’t please have a look at their blog to see how badly things can go.