The last year (2006).

At the time of buying Ten Bob Note from abnb, we managed to get a winter mooring on the tow path opposite Crick marina. We weren't too happy about leaving her unattended on the tow path but as things turned out, it was fine. There were a few livea-boards moored along the tow path so I guess that helped a bit security wise.

We visited the boat for long weekends a few times over the winter for trips up to Welford and Foxton. Looking back, we had some very enjoyable times around the Crick area. We spent a very enjoyable Christmas of 2005 up at Welford with family coming to visit for Boxing Day.

As soon as we knew Ten Bob Note was going to be ours, we started the hunt for a marina in the area. Crick was full with no sign of any vacancies coming along and the same was true for most of the other marinas in the area. Wigrams turn had some spaces but after a visit, we decided we would keep it as a last resort. It is not possible to get a car near to the moorings at Wigram's which can be a real pain if loading or unloading in the rain.

Eventually, we found Ventnor Farm – they had no18 May, 2007 3:57 PM reservations. We went along one cold and wet Saturday morning to meet Paul and to take a look around the marina. The marina was everything we wanted. Nice and peaceful. Secure with harbor master. Varied cruising in the area. The price was competitive for the area. We signed up for a place in the new marina and also requested that if any 60ft moorings came up in the current marina, we would jump at it.

We were due to leave our winter mooring at Crick at the end of March and were frantically looking for a marina to move into. A few days before the end of March, we received a call from Paul at Ventnor advising us that a boat was leaving and that a 60ft spot would be available as of the 14th April if were interested. Needless to say, we jumped at it. On the 14th of April, we moved from Crick to Ventnor. What a great feeling it was to know that the boat was safely moored up in a secure marina after nearly 4 months on the tow path.

We have had a very enjoyable year at Ventnor and would be very happy to moor there again. We leave Ventnor on 14th May to head off continuously cruising.

In the year that we have been at Ventnor, we have had many trips out on the boat – as much time as my holidays would permit. Most trips being down to Braunston then up to Hillmorton or Rugby or down to Stoke Bruerne. The only thing I would like to add is that it does get a bit boring after a year as you very soon get to know every twist and turn of the local canal and you see the same scenery over and over again. We are looking forward to continuous cruising and visiting new places every few days or so. I am not sure that we would like to stay moored in one place for much more than a year as we like to have a change of scenery to look at on a regular basis.

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Material Copyright © 2007 Ernie Williams
This page last modified on: 18 May, 2007 3:57 PM