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| Alan Nimmo getting into his stride |
Shame about the rain but once you're wet you can't get any wetter. We met up with Andy who goes to my "blues local" in Northampton.
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| Cheers - from me and Andy |
Next on, Wamma Jamma (who I have also seen in Northampton). Good stuff and again they were struggling with the rain - only the most stalwart in the audience stayed - even we had to run for the bar a couple of times when the skies opened. We went back to the boat to dry off and I could have been tempted to stay in - as we could hear the main festival from the mooring - but the others wanted to go back to the Brase. It was a bit of a bizarre evening as the act, Simon Kempston, was a really quiet person and the drinkers in the bar were easily able to talk over him. He would probably do better at a folk club or a dedicated acoustic venue. Andy drove home and Lynn and I went back to Olivia.
Friday we had a chilled out morning and browsed some of the stalls in the village. Then it was back to the pub for Bryana Hardyman. She sang some good songs and has a really nice voice. She did a version of Richard Thompson's Dimming of the Day which was well received. Next up, Blair Dunlop, son of Ashley Hutchings and a very good (and young) guitarist/songwriter - expect great things from him - he has strong fairport/albion roots. Then Ashley's Rainbow Chasers came on and did a more than competent set. What can I say about Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges, an excellent musician and a set that went down really well with the crowd. It is great that the Brase is putting on acts of this calibre and, at this point, I should comment that the sound system was absolutely brilliant too. Once again, all acts were in competition with the rain but today everyone was better prepared. Andy brought us all a picnic, which was really thoughtful of him. Thanks so much, Andy.
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| Lynn applauds Andy for the picnic :-) |
At about 2pm, Luke and Jane arrived on their bikes from Banbury, and were joined later by Jane's sister, Annie, who had cycled from Cheltenham! They were all camping in the field opposite the boat, which was convenient, to say the least. The three of them organised a BBQ back at the boat and we would happily have stayed there chatting and drinking some mighty fine wine but we received a text from another of our Northampton friends to say he was in the Brase watching Dave Onions, so we cleared up the barbie and went back along the muddy towpath to the pub. Dave had brought a carload of the Northamptonians with him and there was a great atmosphere with dancing, chatting and both Andy and one of the Daves being chatted up by festival goers. I'd like to thank my boat neighbours, whose names I never did get, for taking my water butt up to the water point for me and returning it full, a lifesaver.
Saturday started with rain, although rather lighter showers (either that or I am becoming immune). Luke, Jane and Annie had been off to the car boot and came back for breakfast and to show us their purchases. They claim that they knocked us up but we didn't hear them. Back to the pub for Spank the Monkey, The Producers and Letherat. All good although I have to admit that Letherat are not "my thing". The younger contingent loved them though. During the afternoon, I started to get a more and more throbbing toothache which did detract a bit from my enjoyment. Annie had to leave early afternoon (working Sunday) and Andy disappeared after the afternoon sets, I think the rain finally got to him. I popped down to the Red Lion for half an hour as my neighbour (the one who fetched my water) was playing in a band of samba drummers. There were about thirty of them, all dressed in black and gold, and VERY VERY noisy. I wish I had thought to get my camera out at that point. We went back to the boat and made ourselves a vegetable curry. (Actually Luke and Jane made it as my toothache was giving me gip and I couldn't concentrate). We spent the evening listening to Rick Wakeman and Fairport from the comfort of our own (dry) home.
Sunday morning the weather was really fine and we went for breakfast before Lynn packed up for home. Got a call from boater friends who said they were popping over so Luke and Jane packed up all their stuff while we had a cup of tea with Rick, Tim and Carole. At about 1.30 we started out for Banbury and at 2.30 we were still in the queue for the first lock. Why did I not learn from last year? Anyway, Luke & Jane had to cycle off to Banbury to meet their commitments, rather than the planned leisurely cruise down. I gave up after the first lock and moored up. Chillaxed for the rest of the day. Think I'm a bit "out of it" due to painkillers for the toothache.
Monday was another fine day, so back as a single hander, I cruised down the next two locks, winded at Banbury and came back up through Cropredy - stopping to use the facilties - and mooring between Broadmoor and Varneys locks. It gets a bit choppy between the locks so in the evening I moved up below Claydon locks.
Tuesday had been forecast persistent rain but turned out to be rather better than that. I took off through the locks and cruised up to Fenny Compton where I found a decent spot on the 14 day moorings. Walked back to Claydon to get the car and then packed up for home. Got to work for a few days and get this tooth sorted!
