BCN ruise 2008
This year's cruise around parts of the BCN that boaters who are not used to the area are rather anxious about, was really wonderful. The quality of the boaters was excellent and we had a great time. Eric Firth conjurers it up in his very amusing poem:
We saw your invitation to explore the BCN
So we thought we'd come and join you in our little Jenny Wren
We met and had instructions on the steps in Ouzells Loop,
We were total strangers, and were put in the first group
We were made to feel quite welcome from the outset, I must say,
And were anxious not to sleep in on the start of our first day.
We didn't do the loops, as we had already been,
So we cruised along the main line and turned up at Pudding Green.
Up the technicolour Ridgeacre we ploughed our weary way
Catching plastic, tyres and wires, really made our day.
We went around the system meeting lots of charming folk
Saw lots and lots of anglers, but not many of them spoke.
Up the locks, down the locks, and on the straight and narrow.
The rubbish we collected would have filled a good sized barrow.
Saturday night, we all met up, in a stable of all places,
It was the first time we were able to put some names to faces,
The fish and chips went down well with a quantity of grog,
And we were ably entered with Peter's monologue.
Another smashing night was had at Titford (Society's HQ)
A special brew of real ale and a smashing Bar B Q
They have a smashing shower there and we didn't have to book'
You had to go in partially clothed, as there only was one hook.
I could go on, but I can hear you sighing from here. We had a thoroughly good week and would not have missed it for anything. We got to know a lot of the crowd, and I am sure that if the weather had been better in the evenings (bank side) we would have been able to mix a lot more. Thank you for having the idea of the "Cruise" and for all the hard work hat you and the rest of the helpers put in to make it the resounding success that it obviously was. We would not have done the BCN on our own. I had been cruising since the end of April and this certainly provided the highlight. The last evening at Windmill End was magical.
Thank you very much, hope to see you again in the not too distant future.
