Ahoy there
Extract from POW August 1998
For the last few years, Cheadle 18 Plus Group members have taken
a weeks cruise on a canal boat. In 1998 we thought we'd have a change, instead
of a narrow boat (7ft wide), we'd have a luxurious cabin cruiser (12ft wide and
45ft long), and cruise the Thames.
So on the final Saturday in June we
picked up our mini-liner at Wallingford in Oxfordshire and a merry crew of ten
set sail (hic!). Our first stop was at Goring and when we set sail again on
Sunday, we were buzzed by the Police helicopter, (damn keen those T.V. Police),
we were innocently flying our large Cheadle standard, aka the Union Jack, but
didn't realise the U.J. can only be flown by the Royal Navy. The only
connection we can claim to the Senior Service is our liking for rum.
The rest of the week didn't run quietly either, our steering broke down at
Maidenhead and we were marooned until a friendly crew towed us to safety. Dave
Ogden had to sleep with a large cooking pot (oo er) to catch the water from a
leaking window. An argument in a Thai restaurant regarding the overcharging of
rice resulted in our refusing to pay the service charge and a mass walk out.
After a cheese and wine party in the park alongside the river, where
ten bottles of wine were drunk, we played five a side football. Julie was the
star player, perhaps because she was the only one who could stand up straight.
To save messing up the galley, we ate out each evening, and one night
visited The Two Brewers in Marlow where we were treated to a different menu
than the usual pub grub one courtesy of our hostess from the southern
hemisphere.
Our last mention must go to Paul Mannion for his heroic
act in leaping overboard to push us off after we were grounded during the
night.
Captain Pugwash Cheadle 18 Plus Group |