ON LEAVING HENLEY

Mixed feelings on leaving Henley. The landlord of the Angel on the Bridge, Mark is so kind and hospitable that it is a pleasure to visit his lovely pub. We are allowed to moor up under the bridge in the centre of the town in the middle of the Regatta hullaballoo much to the irritation of passing fat cats in those little James Bond wooden speed boats. But on a hot evening the forecourt is packed with rowers and hoorays from the Regatta who have not come to watch a play about a Socialist Cycling Club but to down buckets of Pimms and go Ra Ra Ra at the tops of their voices all night long. We shouted the play into the milling crowd who crossed and re-crossed the stage staggering to the loo and the bar. There were three islands of spectators who tried to stay with us but to no avail. The level of noise and the level of happy indifference was just too great to overcome. We got to the end of the play - well done Rachel, Gemma and Rick for carrying on - but it was an unequal struggle and gave no pleasure to the audience - (both those interested and those not).
It was a welcome change to visit our long term friends at the Chichester Canal Society the next day and play to a very appreciative audience as part of the Chichester festival in Donnington Parish Hall.
We are now moored up at the Rowbarge in Woolhampton ready for tonights show having had a lovely days boating up the Thames and along the Kennet and Avon Canal which seems more calm and beautiful every time I do it. Like falling into a green tunnel past hay fields, little flint cottages and boiling weir streams.

HAPPY DAYS

Much refreshed by lovely day of rest in Marlow. Nothing to do but eat a nice lunch with a bottle of Pinot Grigio, snooze in the park and swim in the Thames. Yesterday a lovely evening at the Bounty in the independent republic of Cockmarsh with a large and appreciative audience. And today back up the Thames to Henley. Sun shining, plenty of keen scullers practising for the regatta I guess. You might think there is discord between coal boats and plastic boats (much exagerated in my opinion) but it is as nothing to the steadfast aloofness between narrow boats and scullers who inhabit a different planet altogether. Huge fat carp turning lazily in the weeds at Marlow Lock like a whale.

DAY OFF

What a long week. Last day off was on the 16th June and was spent in hospital world in Coventry. On the 17th we set off at 6am and boated all day arriving at Hillingdon about 12 hours later. The following day we went to HNBP for gas and water and life jackets and elsan and did the show in Uxbridge. Another early start and going through Camden lock bedlam (usual foul abuse from trip boats) and another show and then the travel to Limehouse and then the tidal Thames. Woke up with a hangover and full of curry from the night before and finished the journey to Walton on Thames. Did the show. Next day boated to Maidenhead setting off at 7 am again, dropped Gemma at the most expensive restaurant in the country at Bray and managed to ground the boat on the public jetty and worry adjacent gin palace owners. Then on to Maidenhead and loaded the set from the boat to the van, avoiding trip boats and did the show at Medmenham. Back to boat and next morning re loaded set from van to boat. Water pump leaking more each day - have to do something about it soon. A crazy lady jumped on the boat and informed us that Rick was an American thief who dyed his hair ginger. Chucked her off and set off, arriving at Marlow lock where the lock keeper was to provide moorings. No moorings. So we sat on the public slipway by the Two Brewers - beloved of Jerome K Jerome - and watched bits of the football (Englerland v Slovenia) and then did the show. Re loaded to boat and up to the public moorings beyond Marlow bridge in the dark. And so to bed. A great week, good fun, great shows lots of nice friends of Mikron - old and new - but I'm tired now. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

UP THE RIVER

A truly marvellous day’s boating up the tidal Thames. A nice morning’s journey down from Kings Cross to Limehouse basin meeting previous Tyseley boat captain, Dan Wexler as we went past his home mooring at Wenlock Basin with surprise guest, Mikron board member, Ruth Carter. Interesting and historical trip through East London on the canal and then waiting in Limehouse basin for the correct tide and left in our little flotilla at 5.45 pm which consisted of Tyseley with Mikron team and our guardian angel Ian Tuplin, for moral support and nautical know how. Midnight Rambler with Dan, Ruth and – another nice surprise – ex Mikron actors, Ruth Cateroche and Rob Took. Del Brenner and crew on Tug Boat ‘Major’ from the London region IWA. And little wooden launch, ‘Club Claret’ with Commodore Clive Evans and crew – friends of Gemma’s from the Brentford Cruising Club.
As the waters equalized the Thames crashed through the lock doors and we were off like a bucking bronco with a Thames Clipper immediately sweeping past at high speed and giving us plenty of wash to cope with. Tysleley never felt unbalanced though and ploughed through and over the waves with no difficulty whatever. It was great to pass all the famous London landmarks along the river – Tower Bridge, The Globe, The Wheel, The houses of Parliament. With working out which bridge arch to use and with so many large fast river craft behind, beside and before it was difficult to take in all the sights but the exhilaration of the sun, the churning water and the rocking boat was a superb experience. All too soon the river was less crowded and less choppy and we were up at Battersea on the long stretch up to Teddington. We made good time with no problems. Ian had brought a huge brie and this washed down with Pimms was an excellent fortifying combination for the crew until we managed at last to find haven at Teddington and finished the day with Cobra beer and curry. Thanks to all who helped on this exciting part of the trip – all of the above and not least the Hillingdon Narrow Boat Project for the loan of 5 excellent life jackets.

VIRTUAL RAIN

Discovered for the second time that when on the internet weather forecast it shows an icon with overcast skies but no rain it means steady rain all evening from the time the get in is completed, right through ‘Good evening ladies and gentlemen, we are Mikron Theatre Company’, ‘There will now be a short interval’, ‘Thank you very much for coming’...the get out etc. Fortunately at the Packet Boat Marina we had the Floating Classroom – ‘Elsdale’ to come to our rescue and we picked up all the kit off the jetty and forced it into the bar and had a great ‘Pedal Power’ to a very enthusiastic audience of 25 people packed into a small space. It must have gone down well because we sold five copies of ‘Fellowship is Life’ – the book on the Clarion Cycling Club on which the show is based. For those of a statistical bent that's 20% of the audience.

17th June - MOVING DAY

Had a glorious day’s boating down from Marsworth to Hillingdon. Set off at six am with swirls of mist on the canal and no one about. Past Cow Roast where we broke down for the first of many times last year. Tyseley in great form this year, running cool, riding high. Getting through the locks at a great pace – doing a journey that even according to Chris Clegg’s Canal Time Map should take 14 hours in only 11, very unusual for us to beat Mr Clegg. Seeing the clear waters and the water lilies of the lower Grand Union again and ending up at the Coy Carp opposite the Hillingdon Narrow Boat Project at 6 pm. We even had an hour for lunch. A perfect summer’s day.

HOSPITAL WORLD

Just sitting in McDonalds in Coventry with waterside acrobat Gemma who decided to do a somersault off the stern and broke her finger. Good news is that we have been back in Hospital World in Coventry - the largest Hospital in the world ever - and the fracture is healing well and she won't have to have an operation. Also being in McDonalds there is WIFI I wanted to upload some nice photos of the Clampit family on tour which Gemma took in the first week but the signal is not good enough so that will have to wait until I reach proper civilisation - if that ever happens - seems unlikely in HOSPITAL WORLD.

WET, WET, WET

Leaving Milton Keynes on a sunny morning heading towards the three locks at Soulbury I managed to fall in the canal poling off a mudbank that we had somehow got stuck on and landed in water up to my ankles. Only to fall over as I landed and soak myself thoroughly. Arriving at The Grand Union, a new venue, the sun was still shining and the weather forecast was light showers so we set up the gazebo just in case. Half way through the first half the heavens opened and bucketed down for the rest of the night. We struggled on with us under the gazebo and the audience under the pub’s large umberellas and a sheet of vertical water between us. Many thanks to Graham and Linda Cooper for taking our costumes to dry them. Continuing the theme we again got stuck fast on a mudbank approaching Church Lock at Grove the next day and Rick valiantly got in the water to push us out. The pictures of Rick changing his clothes on the bows wearing only a leather hat were interesting to say the least!
Luckily the rain left us alone at Marsworth although it was extremely chilly which fortunately didn’t deter a large and enthusiastic audience enjoying Striking the Balance. Thanks to our great friend, Beryl Hunter for feeding us, taking washing and doing so much to publicise the show and get a good house.

Great to see a large shoal of the Marsworth carp in the canal by the White Lion sucking the bread under the water like a lot of fat, bearded old men.

STOKE BRUERNE

Typical freezing wind at Stoke Bruerne but a good show with many friends of Mikron who braved the cold – fortunately the friends of the museum kindly put up a marquee for us, but even so it was more like November than June. Set off at seven this morning expecting to meet lots of boats coming up for the festival but all is quiet and we got through the seven Stoke Bruerne locks by ten past eight and on to MK.
Just passed my favourite lock, Cosgrove, which always seems so peaceful and tranquil with cows grazing, the defunct Stratford Cut going off through the trees and a man made of wire using a boating pole (well it is Milton Keynes after all) by the lock pool.
Approaching the aqueduct saw my first Heron, still and intent poised above the water. Ducklings beware!

WEDNESDAY 9TH JUNE 2010

Been a busy few days with great shows at the Admiral Nelson in Braunston and Badsey’s cafe at the Locks, Hilmorton. Our host Ian had known Mrs Thatcher in his time as a policeman and was particularly amused by ‘The Lady’s not for Turning’. On Monday we drove to Southwell for a new venue – The Hearty Goodfellow – and performed for a hundred jolly people in torrential rain in a marquee in their car park which was fun and we look forward to returning soon. Boating now to another new venue, The Narrowboat Inn at Weedon. Plenty of water in the canal due to heavy rain and not too long to queue at the Buckby flight.

Highlight of my day so far was seeing Rick try to chuck his coat back into the boat from the bank only to see it sail easily over the gunwhale and into the water. It amused me anyway.

RAIN AND SHINE

Been a busy few days with great shows at the Admiral Nelson in Braunston and Badsey’s cafe at the Locks, Hilmorton. Our host Ian had known Mrs Thatcher in his time as a policeman and was particularly amused by ‘The Lady’s not for Turning’. On Monday we drove to Southwell for a new venue – The Hearty Goodfellow – and performed for a hundred jolly people in torrential rain in a marquee in their car park which was fun and we look forward to returning soon. Boating now to another new venue, The Narrowboat Inn at Weedon. Plenty of water in the canal due to heavy rain and not too long to queue at the Buckby flight.

Highlight of my day so far was seeing Rick try to chuck his coat back into the boat from the bank only to see it sail easily over the gunwhale and into the water. It amused me anyway.

BACK ON THE WATER

The mikron blog is back. Just a very quick post to say we are back on the waterways at last. Tyseley is in great condition having been given a good going over by Paul Lorenz during the break and many little and not so little jobs sorted out. One example - Lots of brand new copper piping on the cooling system which is now (touch wood) working like a dream.

Also quite a few useful additions from Ian Tuplin on the move down, phone chargers (!), a 240v socket in the boater’s cabin run off the invertor and a beautiful new chimney with chunky brass bits and a new water can all done out in lovely traditional canal painting. Thanks Ian, Ruth and Paul.

Further good news, the bilges are dry and so Tyseley is bobbing about like a happy cork which is especially evident when Rick moves from one side of the boat to the other. This coupled with good water levels and dredging on the grand union means we have made excellent progress and boating is a joy.

More soon.