....gently down the stream......etc etc
and so it was that after a very chaotic few weeks which saw the junior shepherd back in a hospital bed on a drip, one way of getting out of end of term exams I suppose. Ah well he has got them to look forward to when he gets back there in September - that's if he finds anywhere to live - you would never believe that there is a shortfall of student accomodation in Aberystwyth would you? So many empty and semi derelict properties that need doing up - so aggravating when there are in excess of 300 homeless students all chasing every property that comes up! So we emptied his flat brought him home let him rest then it was off on holiday. Even the dog came too!
We went down to Abergavenny to start our cruise leaving my faithful friend my blue Subaru at a garage on the way never to be seen again - hankies out - be brave it is only a lump of metal - but one that has served me faithfully without any problems for eight years - sob!
Ater a lovely welcome by boat owners and a thorough handover lesson we were off and headed southwards travelling through gorgeous scenery, the hay fields still uncut were stuffed with flowers all giving off a heady scent. Squirrels sat and watched us pass by making no move to dart away. The trees in full leaf made green secret tunnels for us to creep through. May flies flitted through the yellow flag iris that fringed the canal and the birdsong was unceasing - blackbirds, thrushes, chiff chaff, wrens, pigeons all clamouring to make most noise every inch of the way.
We reached the end of the canal in Cwmbran on Sunday teatime and went for a walk to find a shop for some necessities, the hills were huge, green and pricked with pylons, the rows houses nestling at the base. An ice cream van played tinny music and groups of raggedy children stood cluthing coins - I havent seen that for years and years - so poignant.
As dusk fell we would park up - sorry the word should be 'moor' shouldn't it? As galley slave if there was no canalside hostelry in view something had to be prepared, a couple of gins took the edge off cooking on holiday - and washing up! The novelty of no dishwasher began to pale after a week but my nails looked wonderful. The bed on board was luxury indeed and the bed linen was gorgeous and smelt of lavender - I feel asleep as the boat gently rocked, the owls hooted - hang on - what was that plopping sound? I lay there rigid listening for it - again and again - 'Wosssat? I hissed - 'RATZZZZZZ' replied dearly beloved who then proceeded to snore his head off as I lay there counting the plop noises and nearly expiring in panic. Next morning I sat clutching a mug of tea at 5:30am looking out as dawn painted the water silver - PLOP! It was fish not rats - I bloody hate him!
Every day was different, weatherwise, the views, the little villages and market towns to be explored. One evening as we were trying to park up for the night in the middle of nowhere - I had partaken of the gin allowance having been soaked to the skin earlier when yomping along the towpath walking the dog = not sure if the exercise was for her benefit or mine! Anyway there we were instructions being yelled by the captain - 'Just jump onto the bank with that rope...'
Who me? Dont be daft - I dont do jumping on a good day never mind a very wet day and a couple of gins! 'Go on quickly the gap is getting wider...' Errrr not on your nelly .....'Go On you can do it!' ..........'Err no I cant!'
'YES YOU CAN - JUST DO IT!'
'NO I CANT!
'YES YOU CAN'
No I couldnt - I landed up to my waist in muddy water and the shrieking hysterics that followed from all concerned could have been heard all over Wales! I still go of into gales of giggles at the thought of standing up to my middle in the canal whilst the men just stood there helpless in laughter!
It has to be the most relaxing way of spending a week, we read and played games and talked, we had no idea what was happening in the world, we never even bought a paper - reality could resume on Saturday with new smart wheels, a pile of washing and back to work...........
