Well, today I have come to Bandoneon and Peter's going to do a water run. We were
debating whether to cruise forward or backwards and in fact he's decided to go to the nearest
point which is behind him, so therefore he's got to reverse the length of canal,
go past...
this line of moored boats,
round a bend and up onto the water point
and then he will do the whole thing in reverse this time cruising forward...
and come back here.
He's just putting rags around the pins and a sign saying
that we're going on a water run so hopefully the space will be here for him when he comes back...
and there we go!
Let's hope it's not going to be too windy because that really does make
reversing very difficult. There's no steering when you're in reverse!
So, the wind has an effect
and any current...
and welcome to this week's video.
We are going on a water run!
Reversing along the canal is really quite difficult.
You literally put the gear in reverse...
and then go backwards. It's a series of forward and backwards motions to keep the boat straight...
and if there is a wind it makes it really difficult.
There's quite a few branches and things in the way and that's not going to help his new paintwork.
It's a slow process
and he's managed to avoid all those branches on the side there so the new paintwork is safe!
In the distance, near where Peter was moored, are two canoes coming down this way.
I think there's a canoe club in Leighton Buzzard...
and on a Saturday, which is today, they go out and practise
and that's what these two are doing by the looks of it...
and this is a nice bit of reversing here
[Music]
and Peter's straightened the boat up nicely...
and now has to go all the way up to that bend, that you can see, for the water point.
Okay, so we've reached the water point and there happens to be another boat on the
water point so Peter's just having to do a bit of hovering, which is difficult to get in the wind...
but he's doing a good job of it again!
So, the other boat, and the water point,
are there.
So once they've finished, then Peter can get onto the water point and fill up with water.
So we think they've just finished and so Peter will be able to take their place.
Ironically, no other boats were moving on the canal so Peter had
a straight run without encountering any other moving boats, which was a blessing...
and then to come down here and find there's a boat on the water point, well it's just coincidence.
So, here we have a bit of manoeuvring going on.
The boat that was on the water point is turning round...
and once they get into position, Peter will come straight in and moor up for the water
and then they can swing the back end round and then head back to their mooring.
Being locked down, we're only allowed to move for things like water, food, elsan, pump out, things like that,
essentials, and Peter's got off the boat and he is pulling it in with the centre line...
and he'll pull it back to the water point so that they can actually
turn around easily and then he can tie up and fill up with water.
Now Peter's moored up with the centre line and the front line and just to our left here you can see
the water point where he has to connect his hose. He's just getting it out from the front locker
and there it is.
Thank you...
and there's the other boat going.
Now Peter's connected the hose and we've got an expanding hose.
Some people have the more firm, plastic ones.
Both do the job. It's just pure preference.
Water point all done and here we go away from the water point.
[Meeow!]
Yeaah.
That's Flann, mewling in the background.
[Meeow!]
[Meeow!] Mmhmm.
[Meeow]
Hello!
Well, this is us, cruising back to our mooring spot and it is a lot smoother, I have to say!
Peter can control the boat going forward, even with this wind going,
though it is still blowing us!
I don't know, just lately we seem to have been plagued by wind...
but on the plus side it is not raining...
and here we are back at the footbridge and just beyond is our mooring hotspot.
So we are almost back to where we started.
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