February 2019 – Narrowboat Adagio

This is Steve & Viv Carter's log of the trips and travails on the narrowboat Adagio – liveaboards from October 2015. Then back to the shore, in Trefin, Wales from November 2019. "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." (Mark Twain)” narrowboatadagio@gmail.com cranog5@gmail.com

Valentine’s Day

Thirty nine years ago, we got engaged. Italian restaurant, Southampton. So today, we chugged on, to bridge 37 – only an hour and a half but chance to have a pub lunch.

A very foggy start – with an evil looking, post-apocalyptic sun

It soon brightened up into a gloriously sunny day & deserted

We moored just past bridge 37 and sauntered up to South Kilworth

We were very lucky, they are normally closed lunchtimes, in winter, but a walking party had booked in, so yes, we could eat . . 2 x lasagnes and beer! Happy Anniversary!

We decided to chug onwards to the Welford junction (to swing the boat) and then go back past bridge 37 and on to bridge 33 for the night.

It was a good day for photography, so clear & bright – you could see the Death Star quite clearly

She looks really professional! Calm & relaxed (ish),

Steve, hmm, the right caption would be “Plonker”

“Better out than in” would be this caption – my perfect bridge for reflections. Is this really February? Sun hat on and coat off!!

Don’t often get his photo – Steve putting up the aerials and his weather station – always asking, where the hell is North?? See the website weather.vivatek.co.uk

Beautiful mooring spot by bridge 33. Spot the very tired doggie?

I did try and wait for them to pose in their “heart” position, well, it is Valentine’s Day.

And here’s my Valentine – feeding those swans . .

Out on the boat

We always said we’d go out if the weather was agreeable and lo, it came to pass! After days of icy cold and high winds – the Met Office relented and said, “Oh, alright, if you must, here’s some sunshine!”. With the forecast of low winds, full sun and rising temperatures, we gaily slipped our moorings and crept out of the marina for the first time this year. Heading for bridge 27 and maybe beyond for a few days . . .