Surviving a chilly night on The Lady and waking to a drizzly start to the day which thankfully gave way to a dry cruise from Coneygear to moor at the St Ives Waites Quay where we enjoyed sausage and chips at Floods Wine Bar before taking the family swimming at the St Ivo Centre and then back to the boats for the night
Slept very well with my new sleeping bag, but was woken at 2am by Di, because the calor gas had run out and the automatic igniter from the fridge was cycling. More sleep until a premature awakening at the hands of Debbie and Della coming in, hand-in-hand, and demanding attention and morning drinks. The temperature seemed milder this morning (or we are getting more used to it) and we were quicker washed, dressed, and ready for breakfast. A nice meal of melon, then cereal and toast, until we got the girls wiped and decided to set off. A drizzly start to the day, with showers greeting those that ventured forth, but it had stopped by the time we cast off. Straight in to Godmanchester lock, though we jumped in front of one boat (incorrectly moored facing the wrong way) and rather upset another boater by refusing his help as we manoeuvred into the lock. A strong breeze had sprung up today and it was causing all sorts of trouble to the lighter boats, though Daniel drove Little Lady straight in to the lock. Cruised on apace through Houghton (where the boat ahead failed to wait for us) and then Hemingford (where the electric guillotine mechanism is always welcome). Managed to moor up at The Waits Quay in St Ives and then moved down to an even better mooring space.
It was close to lunchtime and so we walked along to Floods bar and ordered sausage and chips for the girls and buffet salads for us to eat in the riverside garden sunshine. Unfortunately, by now the wind was so strong that the experience was quite uncomfortable, but funny. Our things from The Lady, then off on foot to the Ivo Centre for swimming. We all took a dip together and then I went into the hall next door to visit the collectors fair, but found a miserable range of lots and rubbish there. Back together for an afternoon drink at the pool bar, before a walk back to The Lady. Di and the girls went to the nearby children’s playground on the way and Daniel and I went back to the boat. A chance for me to read today’s Observer newspaper and then I joined two hoses together and filled up The Lady’s water tanks from the tap at Waits Quay. Di made us a ham and cheese salad tea (with takeaway hamburger and chips for the children) and then my reading progressed to my conservatory books again, as she bathed and bedded the girls. This evening Di and Dan took a walk around St Ives, window shopping, and I put The Lady’s heating on and combated the chill of a cold, clear evening. Did not bother tussling with the TV again over the boat’s low voltage winning and the TV’s extreme sensitivity to voltage drops