The calm before the storm

Day 8, Cropredy

Well, we did get here yesterday at lunchtime, and the rain eased up long enough for us to tie up alongside Alnwick as we’d arranged some time ago at the Napton CWF banter. We’re greatly indebted to Graham and Jane for their very kind offer, as moorings are already in very short supply here. In fact, the boat behind them is moving later and we have been promised his place on the towpath, so that will be even better. We went and socialised on Alnwick last night until mdnight too, so getting into the festival mood already.

We went into the village this morning and it was very, very quiet – almost unnaturally so. But I’m assured that this really is the calm before the storm, and that by tomorrow the towpath will be heaving. Already this afternoon we have seen more festival goers. Something tells me that this will be a good place for stocking up on patchwork trousers and hippy accoutrements various. Particularly useful for Baz, who took the injunction to travel light very seriously and brought only two pairs of shorts and no other trouserings whatsoever. As he had rather rashly washed one pair (not so’s you’d notice) on Monday night, and getting the others soaked yesterday, it was a case of weighing up which were marginally less damp.

I went for a walk down the towpath as far as the next lock earlier, and there are some marvellously hippyish boats here. I also saw Invicta and chatted to its owner, whom I met once in Huddersfield through admiring his Kelvin. Alnwick also has a K3; I think Jim is still a bit jealous…

Mike has visited us this afternoon. Zulu Warrior is moored up beyond the lock. I was mortified that we hadn’t noticed it on our way down, but of course, Baz and I were hiding away inside out od the rain at that point, just squinting through the hinges for the sight of a lock up ahead.

After dinner we are off to the pub(s).