Anyone seen spring?

Wait until the weather is better in Spring we said back in January. Should be warmer by mid March we all agreed. And so it was that we invited four friends to join us on Maria Jessie on Sunday 12th March. The central heating had been on for hours so at least it was snug and warm inside but no-one seemed hugely enthusiastic about joining me out on the stern in this resurgence of mid winter. As we left Wigrams Turn heading for Braunston Chris and Graham did join me. After a while the back door opened, just a crack, and three coffees were passed out, very welcome, but the elements seemed to take the heat out of them in seconds. Through the snow flurries we reached Braunston, moored up and went for a very welcome lunch and a chat at the Millhouse which helped the thawing out process.

Then back on the boat, turned by the Braunston marina and headed for home. Chris manfully stayed the course with me, Graham went back inside “to check the girls are OK”. Polly and Maureen each appeared for five minutes, declared it was great fun, then went back inside again. Val’s head kept popping up from time to time offering me cups of tea. Almost back to base, frozen to the bone again, at a bridge with a right angled bend. Almost at the bridge entrance when a hire boat came through, full throttle, and on seeing us made not a single change of course or speed – Maria Jessie went hard astern missing him by a cats whisker. “You’ve got good brakes” said its helmsman as he belted by with throttle full forward!.

It was good to see our friends on Sunday, but I think I’m going to wait for Spring now