In this year, 11 of us spent a week in a 12–berth narrow boat. And very cosy it was too. We started from Rugby and cruised down the Grand Union Canal. This was a year when there was a drought and passage through the locks was restricted to certain hours of the day.
There were a number of memorable moments. When we arrived at the boat yard to pick up our boat called Greylag, Fiona decided to sit on top of the boat while we were waiting for the boat–staff to show up. Of course, we now know that you should not hang your legs over the side of these boats, as there is a real risk of putting your foot through the window; which is what happened here. Ooops! So we had aready damaged the boat before we had even taken it over!
The staff eventually showed up, we loaded our things onto the boat and set off with one of the boatman steering to start with to show us the ropes, as it were. One of the things he had to do was to turn the boat round for us at the nearby winding hole, so we were pointing in the right direction. During this manoeuvre he managed to hit the bank and the boat tilted. This was not good for the person inside preparing some drinks, as the glasses slid off the work–top and smashed on the floor. So we now had broken one window and a number of glasses before we had even left the boat yard!
Things did not improve. Because of the restricted lock operating hours, we had to get moving fairly promptly each morning to make sure we reached each planned over–night berth. We had a rota for the various tasks on the boat. On this specific morning, it was Steve and Jean's turn to get up early to get the boat moving. The rest of us were still in bed when there was an almighty jolt and the sound of breaking glass, again. Oh dear, seems like we have hit a bridge at a rather a high speed, and, ooops, there goes another window.
Memory does not recall when we also broke a jug, but the copy of the week's account (included below) shows we had to pay £6.50 for the 2 windows and £0.75 for a jug. Presumably, the boat yard accepted responsibility for the glasses.
Another interesting point from the account, is the record of auctioning off the left over food and raising the princely sum of £1.46. Also from the accounts, you can see that in 1976, a week on a barge including some of the food cost about £25 each.
At the end of the week, a trophy for World's Worst Drivers was presented to Steve and Jean.
