
As you may have read in an earlier Newsletter the club paid for the fireworks and ace dealer Gary (T) have secured a super range all in one huge box which we threatened to put Ronnie in if she mentioned quiz. What a show they were, with pyromaniac Gary running his socks off setting them off. Other than the 40 odd club members (some who had come by car) we were joined by two footpath walkers - the mind boggles as to how they found the footpath 8 o'clock at night - indeed as to what they were up to!!. We also found two girls who were camping in one of Rogers fields in the tent enjoying the fun. All our thanks to Gary for such a splendid display.
Once the fireworks were over, mulled wine, hot soup and hotdogs were most welcome as the evening was turning chilly. Our thanks also to Dick (Sixpence) his son David, and daughter in law Angie for the terrific entertainment on two guitars and vocal, we have hidden talent in the club, you don't know what you missed. Bob and Lyn Price (Champagne Lady) provided an interior tube heater thingy which was most welcome, as was their provision of "canned" music, all helping to make the evening go with a swing...
Sunday morning just as we were dismantling the gazebo it started to rain, as we finished so it stopped and the sun came out, ah well you can't win them all. Our thanks to the committee members who made it all happen, particularly Gary for his efforts, just a pity that as appears to be normal these days, (and not only in our club), committee members outnumbered others, what a shame you missed a great weekend.
The raffle for the Mayors charity raised £200 well done all. Fed and watered we moved on and soon arrived at the renown Cannon Bridge which always seems lower than the last time, we had to take on additional passengers totalling eleven bodies in all to get through. On going into reverse at this point the port engine stalled two more attempts same result, once in Tunbridge lock Gary T pointed out a coat of sorts wrapped around the prop, unable to remove it we moved from the lock and moored up. Removing the obstruction later showed the coat had pulled the anode ring out which the prop blades had a go at cutting, with lumps out of all three blades and a non streamlined profile it looked more like a work of art.
We made our way to the canoe club in the pouring rain but all enjoyed a cracking buffet Thank you`s all round and a couple of speeches brought the day to an end.
Part 2 "The Return" to follow
The rest of the crew were helmed into various positions, The boat that is) by the Captain, for example Bow first as directed into the river bank trees, bushes and shrubbery to collect all sorts of plastic bags, bottles, polystyrene cups, take away containers, hats trainers and the inevitable doggy bags.
For seven hours Brushwood did exactly that, all along both sides of the river from Hampstead to Teston Lock. I was very impressed with Bobs Piloting skills particularly when at the lunch stop we moored in Teston car park? Our thanks to the galley for the excellent Cuisine and constant supply of coffee.
Our thanks to Bob & Margaret Harvey of "Brushwood II"
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