England - August 5, 2014

From now on Duchess will be pulled by Duke.  If one wants an electrical outlet, a table, or to have a clear view of what’s ahead, one must ride on Duke.  However, that means that one’s room, and possessions, are on Duchess and unreachable until we’re stopped and moored.  So planning and decision-making is required – first thing in the morning!

By 10 a.m. and the first lock (Swanley No. 2) the sun had begun to break through a bit.  Three of our passengers walked to the next lock so I had the chance to sit in the front of Duke for a while.  Looking back at Andy steering from the front.  

 Had a conversation with Rosie, daughter of the owner and chief cook, about her life and work in Kenya and about Tom’s Eco Lodge on the Kenyan coast.  Because an obstruction  at Baddily Lock prevented the gate from closing after Duke went through, there was a delay so we continued moving through lunch in order to make up time.

Went under two lift bridges (manual).  Cleverly, the same tool that operates the locks works on the bridges so the canal boat operators can raise them to get through.  The second left bridge required a sharp left hand turn; fortunately it was at a boat yard so there was a large basin – particularly since it appeared all the rental boats usually moored there were out.

For the first time rode in Duchess as it was pulled into and out of Marbury Lock.  Seemed very “Cleopatraish” with the “slave” pulling away.  Just after the lock Andy pulled over at Allison’s request.  Rosie had made a birthday cake for him which was brought to him at the tiller, candles lit (mostly).  He did seem surprised.  

 Immediately after the ceremonial singing of Happy Birthday, he started off again leaving Allison to deliver cake and coffee for “tea” to those of us riding in Duchess – by climbing out of Duke, pushing the tray along on the roof, and crossing from the stern of Duke to the bow of Duchess.  Truly amazing.

The cake was quite yummy as Sally and Tony are demonstrating.

About 5:40 p.m. we moored just short of Willeymoor Lock for the night.  Having gotten this far will make getting to and through the 4-lock staircase at  Grindley Brook Locks easier with less likelihood of getting caught in a traffic jam.  Willeymoor happens to have a pub right at the lock so a number of us made our way to imbibe in some adult beverages.

Allison and Andy were waiting for his parents, who were driving over (about 20 miles) to see him and celebrate his birthday.  The rest of us returned to Duke for dinner (curry) and good conversation.  At 8:45 the party disbanded, and we returned to our cabins for the night.