Memories oh the memories...

Looking forward to seeing those of you who can make it tonight at the Lock Inn from 7pm.

Things we are going to miss about the K&A Canal (apologies if we have missed anything off):

• All the really colourful characters this part of the world has to offer.
• Chatting to the Posties when picking the mail up.
• The check out team at Sainsburys.
• Jackie’s bacon butties at Bradford Bread Shop that come with a whacking big smile and a good sense of humour.
• The dog walkers with all the time in the world to talk, but know when to move on before my head explodes.
• Receiving the food parcel at Christmas from the local church in Bath (came with a note ‘helping the needy’!).
• Limpey Stoke Hotel’s superb afternoon lunches served with a wonderful view from their back terrace and the lovely team from Lithuania.
• The bench under the shady tree at Easter Spot which is dedicated to the memory of Joseph Rigby.
• All the folk at The Somerset Arms that treated us like locals when we spent Halloween there.
• Cycling along the towpath to catch the train early in the morning.
• Being guilt-tripped into giving the last piece of bread by the ducks at Sally Boats.
• Watching the free fireworks display courtesy of the Beehive.
• Sitting on top of the hill at Bath on New Years Eve and watching all the Chinese lanterns like slow moving comets in the night sky.
• Skinny-dipping in the river hoping nobody will catch us.
• Putting your hand out to flag the train at Avoncliff and reminiscing about the Railway Children (where it was filmed).
• The theatre boat and their dramatic, surreal productions especially when joggers are insisting on jogging through the fight scenes dodging the muskets and smoke.
• Wild deer, badgers, foxes and countless other wildlife.
• The homemade soup at Southwick Country Park.
• Stepping into Grace Brother’s department store at HJ Knees in Trowbridge, the haberdashers still where tape measures around their neck and their glasses on gold chains and all the staff provide old school service.
• All the inspirational poets, artists and musicians, especially our fellow-boaters Calico Jack (a must see).

Things we won’t miss:

• Hire boats driven in anything but a straight line.
• Waking up on a angle (CRT sort out that sill).
• Walking miles to where the van is parked only to realise you have forgotten something.
• Crap beer (you know who).
• Crap food (same place).
• Tourists asking ‘is it cold in winter” (the answer is yes, put a coat on)
• Cycling along the towpath from the train station on dark winter nights.
• Inquisitive crowds that gather whilst pumping the toilet out, a shit job made shitter.
• Being looked at blankly when asking for a steak and kidney pudding.
• Horror at being served peas in me curry at the local chippy.
• Drinking tea with crispy bits in it (limescale).

Some pictures from the beautiful K&A and a short clip from Bradford to Avoncliff.