Deciding whether to give Best Toy award to our magnetic letters or to GPS speed trackers all comes down to what mood we're in I guess. Well folks it's been a tough year for all of us, and in these grey days of winter we all need cheering up so for the sheer fun of it we're going for the Magnetic Letters. Actually I thoroughly recommend everybody gets a set. Wouldn't it be fun if we all cheered each other up next year by displaying a cheery message on our boats. According to the label on the jar, we got ours from Wedgewhiteboards.co.uk (actually Kath bought them for me last Christmas). Go on, you know you want some.
Speaking of being cheered up, what can beat one of those moments when you say to yourself "How perfect is this? How lucky we are to be here."
I have to admit there are odd moments when I think "Have we had enough boating?" although funnily enough those moments rarely happen when we're actually aboard. Set against that, there are times when I think "Wow, there's nowhere else I'd rather be right now" and this year I had such a moment on our Best Cruising Stretch. It was a beautiful sunny morning in August and we reaching the furthest point of a leisurely weeks cruise, turning at Stretton Stop on the North Oxford. Before and after turning we chugged very slowly, taking in the peace and the wonderfully dappled sunlight as we passed through All Oaks Wood. Looking back from the tiller I managed to snap this picture.
Later that day I walked back along there and took this photo of someone else enjoying the same experience which I think sums it up well.
Even at our crawling pace it only took about 20 minutes each way to get through the wood, but it's lodged in my memory now as a moment when I knew why we go boating.
So the Award for Best Cruising Stretch 2020 goes to All Oaks Wood.
I'd really like to know other people's best moments too. A bit of shared happiness spread amongst friends wouldn't go amiss. right now.
More awards next time - how about Best Locks - not all that many to choose from this year but there are good contenders.
2 comments:
I know it so well too. All Oaks Wood is a favourite place to moor by Derwent 6, although they moor just north of the wood and in the open. Personally, my favourite stretch is between Braunston and Napton, knowing that The Folly is at the far end, but also because there are so few houses, pylons, roads and other signs of civilisation. It is always good for a mooring almost anywhere along there, as so many other boaters know.
I've got one of our photos of All Oaks wood as my laptop wallpaper! Excellent choice Neil. As for the magnetic letters, our kids are always moaning about our boring Christmas requests so maybe they'll like this suggestion!
Debby
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