insideKENT Magazine Issue 39 - June 2015 | Page 124

GETAWAYS

All aboard!
A

N A R R O W B O A T

M I N I B R E A K

Driving from Kent to Oxford, the car stuffed with enough food to feed an army for a
fortnight, and excitement fluttering in everyone’s stomachs, it was Creedence Clearwater
Revival’s "Proud Mary" that we heard on the radio just as we pulled into the boatyard
belonging to Anglo Welsh Waterway Holidays. How apt. BY LISAMARIE LAMB

Romney

Oxford University Museum of Natural History

After unloading the car, we were introduced to
our boat, Romney. Romney is a narrowboat that
has everything anyone could need for a short
break away; a fully stocked kitchen that includes
a full-sized gas oven, a microwave, sink, kettle,
pots, pans, plates, mugs, glasses, and even a
tablecloth and napkins. There is also a seating
area, which turns into a bedroom containing two
single beds. During the day, however, a small
table can be placed in between the beds/benches
to create a dining area. There is a bathroom with
a sink, toilet, and excellent shower, and another
bed at the rear of the boat, although this one is
a double.
Learning to drive her was something that was
left to my husband, Dean. He had been very
keen to get behind the rudder, and, having tried
to steer boats in the past knowing that it wasn’t
a skill I possessed, I was not. The thing with a
narrowboat, though, is that no one gets to duck
out of the work!
After some expert guidance, we were soon
chugging along. Time was ticking on, and the
locks are only manned from 9am until 6pm –
after that it’s all self service. The idea did not
appeal, at least not on our first night, so we were
keen to keep moving. The lock loomed up at us,
and I had a job to do now, and that job, although
it sounded simple, required nerves of steel. I had

Godstow Lock

Godstow Nunnery

to throw a rope over a post from the front of the
boat before we reached the lock gate. Dean had
to do the same at the back, whilst also cutting
the engine and steering to the bank.
By the end of the four days, we became experts
at locks. We passed through four of them on the
way to and from Oxford, and the wonderful lock
keepers were there to help us, taking the ropes,
giving clear instructions, and chatting.
Oxford was a fascinating place, full of interesting
things to do but, not having that much time befor
e
we needed to head back (bear in mind that,
although Oxford is only five miles or so from
Eynsham, narrowboats move at around 1 mph).
We visited the Ashmolean, the Oxford University
Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers,
the highlight of which was the witch in the bottle.
After a wonderful time in Oxford, we somewhat
reluctantly said goodbye to our moorings and
set off.
We spotted the ruins of an old building just by
the river, and were keen to investigate, so this
was where we moored up, on a seemingly gentle
stretch of the Thames. However, the current was
strong, and although I had leapt nimbly off the
boat to tie us up, the back end started to drift
off, leaving me holding a rope attached to a few
tons of metal and wood, and Dean desperately

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trying to get Romney back to the bank without
dragging me into the water.
Thankfully, a couple who had already moored a
little way upriver ran swiftly to our aid, instruct