Dreamcatcher

We kept on meeting the same people as we travelled between Avoncliff and Seend today, leapfrogging each other as we stopped at different places along the canal. One couple, David and Jenny on their boat Deamcatcher were particularly helpful and very interesting to talk to.

They've owned Dreamcatcher for some 12 years, spending between 3 to 5 months a year aboard as they cruise the waterways of England. They helped us through a couple of locks, at the same time explaining how things are done and describing their journeys.

Dreamcatcher is by far the most beautiful boat we've seen this week and as David explained it is a testament to Phil Speight, one of the country's leading canal artists. Some of the artwork is 17 years old and has been lovingly looked after by David and Jenny. So rather than another blip of a canal scene today's blip shows off the work of Phil Speight.

Boats come in all ranges of conditions. We've seen some sights along the canal from derelict to immaculate, tidy to a cluttered jumble where people live surrounded by mounds of objects and bits and pieces. You cannot imagine what it must be like to live inside such a boat.

We had some trouble mooring for the night as we kept on going aground on the bank and had to be helped to get off the mud and back into deeper water. We eventually refloated and found a more suitable location.

A quick shower then off to the Barge Inn at Seend for a restorative beer which was interrupted by a woman shouting that they were stuck in the lock and were sinking and could the emergency services be called. By the time I got to the lock to help all was under control apart from some choice language by the man. It appeared that the stern of his boat was caught underneath a beam on the rear lock gate causing the bow to rise threatening to capsize the boat. Closing the top paddles and opening the bottom paddles to let the water out solved the problem, ended the panic leaving their pride sorely wounded.