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@Jacqui
*@steadlocks - erm, called my dad the other day to tell him I bought the boat, he said i was turning into a gypsy... it doesn't hold any negative connotations for those born in Canadia... lol *
Ok. So this morning I realized I didn't' know how to flush the portipoti and stood there reading the manual..like a muppet - but that was just the start of my day. I got up and out the doors to find my neighbour out washing his boat for potential buyers and started chatting. They were going up the river freeing up their mooring behind me and this being an hour into the day, I was already wondering what to do with myself!
Erm, pause, on boat... lets go down river!! So, I cast off (mental note - there are three THREE ropes tying me to the mooring must remember to release all three before setting out. EHEM.
With all three cast off and a mid rope secured for potential tying to bank I set off. I managed to nearly miss all the boats by crawling at about 1mile per hour after several accidental panic moments where i "gunned it" out of terror. (reminding me of being 6 years old in a snow banked parking lot where I was being taught the fundamentals of driving and I successfully embedded my fathers Datsun into a 7ft snow bank!)
One boater on the moorings came out of his boat to watch, his name is Tommy. If i was to guess I would say Tommy is 80 odd. The sight of someone more experienced flew me into panic, I immediately lost it and the boat went 45 degrees - less than 2ft from the boats at either side. I begged him for help.
He cocked his head and smiled a toothy grin, ran his hand through his long floppy grey locks and just said, "you're fine, everyone panics the first time. Just go slow."
Proud to say I made it out..without hitting anything.
I have to admit I had some moments of smugness today. NONE of which came from:
a) missing the mooring at the pub and then in embarrassment cruising on by.
b) Getting to the lock and realising I'd only put on one rope and it was on the wrong side of the boat to tie up to get in the 5 boat queue for the lock. (always tie two mid ropes one each side)
c) realising I can not do the lock alone - and shall be begging someone to come help me.* Ps. this is me begging for someone to help me with any of the 8 locks down to my mooring in london*
d) in a panic swinging the boat around so hard that the cat, his cat carrier and my new boat doors (to be attached) flew to the other side of the boat in a crashing heap. (cat is fine)
On the plus side...
I can turn my boat around mid river successfully
I can flush the portipoti
I have learned one knot
I can do a quick 180
AND I got back to my mooring without crashing (albeit with some help)
Today = success.
Now before my laptop dies I need to order my solar panel.