Boat-man II "The Return of the Fox!"

Sequals are generally at least only half as good as the original, but this is the next installment of the story......

Rob and Julie got back from their holiday in Bilbao on Sunday. The Fox was finished and ready for collection on Monday, but was stuck firmly up Brandon Creek without a paddle, or any other means of propulsion for that matter........

I was off on Tuesday.....

As our American cousins are wont to say, 'do the math.......'

So t'was on a bright and early 07:30hrs Tuesday morning that a rather pasty looking Rob made rendezvous with The Mighty Pippin at The Parish moorings.

(Pasty on account of the fact he'd got some 'getting our home back home' style celebrating in early...........)

We traversed the lock by 07:50 then made all plain sail.

To Ely and beyond!.!.!

Rob took the tiller while I messed about in the galley.

There is no question about it, he's a poser all right.... Welcome aboard, friend! (But you'll have to bring you own spandex, and capes are not provided.....)

Food time:

There is nothing, nothing , half so good for a hangover as......

.....a fry-up in The Mess on a boat.....

(In case you're wondering why we were eating off the fold-down bureau, Pippin's dining table was otherwise engaged......

Look, I've been really busy, okay?)

Thus fortified, we sped alond at 2000rpm, "top o' the green" for Pippin, arriving at Brandon Creek at about noon.

There are some interesting boats moored up along there:

James tells me this is a 1960's built BW Inspection Launch. What a lovely looking thing! I especially like its clerestorey roof......

I really liked the look of this one, but there is not world enough or time......

.....or money, for that matter........

Anyway, we met with Natalie and Darren who run The Little Ouse Moorings and the floating dry dock. They'd done a fine job on The Fox's hull which was pronounced not merely sound, but in extremely good order. This was of course a huge relief to Rob and Julie......

We chatted for a bit, about this and that, and the likely identity of the unspeakable scrub who had half-inched The Fox's anchor.... (be afraid, be very afraid, you thieving git, for The Boat-man cometh.......).... so after putting the world to rights for a bit, I bought some diesel, we cross-strapped The Fox to Pippin, and off we jolly well trolled......

Rob took first trick at the helm....

.....still posing like a b@st@rd.....

One hundred-odd feet of articulated boat:

Soon after leaving Brandon Creek, I announced it was 'beer o'clock'. (For the record, 'soon' meant six inches from the dock and twenty seconds into our five and a half hour return trip....)

However, an adequate supply of refreshments went a long way toward taking the edge off the unremmitting boredom of The Queen Adelaide stretch......

At last, The Blessed Isle hove into site:

.....so we knew we were about half way there......

Still, you know you're nearing home waters when you run into (not literally, I hasten to add), one of these......

I had hoped to pump out either on the way there or back but was thwarted by a plastic sitting on the mooring in the morning and by tempus fugit on the return trip....

We could have moored up quite comfortably if some wally hadn't left their rowing boat in the winding hole......but we had a rendezvous to make and there really wasn't time to lark about.

So on we pressed.......

Past the forlorn and lonely spot were The Fox's engine breathed it's last.....

Past boats that lie beyond even The Boat-man's redemptive powers......

Past 'Swallows and Amazons' hideaways.......

Through Bottisham Lock, Pippin first, then The Fox, then re-strap the tow and on to the rendezvous at The Bridge at Clayhithe where Julie was waiting with James and Amy on Lucky Duck to complete the tow to Cambridge......

The Buoy Wonder was quickly on the case......

Owners Rob and Julie......

........the former looking like he's spent the afternoon boating, drinking and belching with The Boat-man, the latter looking looking her usual delightful, if slightly bemused, self.......

And off they go, into the now setting sun.......

In the Gotham City control room, a tired River Commissioner Gordon looks down at the plot table.

The IFF transponder symbol for nb 'Friendly Fox' flickers from red 'EMERG!' to a simple green symbol of a narrowboat cruising peacefully along.

The janitor empties the ashtray of chewed cheroots and clears away polystyrene cups of long cold coffee.

All is right with the world.

The janitor leaves. Gordon turns off the lights and closes the door.

In the beer garden of a riverside hostelry on the outskirts of Gotham, a shabby, nondescript and rather paunchy middle-aged man contemplates a full pint of Guinness.......

The Mighty Pippin's Beta 50 has ceased it's song.

Her bow-wave is down.

The waters subside and coalesce into the mirror of the dawn's early light....

And the river is at peace, and none who go there shall come to harm.