DD part 9 – 27th September 2019

Douglas Diary Autumn Hols

Part 9 – Etruria – Stoke in the rain

What a night that was, I will tell you about it in a moment but first a weather report: it is chucking it down as I write and I have just returned from my daily duty of taking my bearded one for his early morning walk. This was a fairly short trip around Etruria park where we moored yesterday. He was under an umbrella. I have just had my breakfast of dried biscuits and am about to catch up on some sleep.

Now the drama last night! I was fast asleep in my cabin which as you know is above the engine, the residual engine heat beneath my bed was keeping me warm and cozy. I was dreaming of happy things. It was about midnight and I was suddenly awake and alert in an instant as is my training. Something was afoot, my kennel was rocking and banging on its mooring. It started slowly but became more agitated. I could see out of my porthole lights flickering. This was very strange as otherwise, it was a still night and we were in a pitch black park and were no where near any lights. After a short while my porthole became fully illuminated bathing my cabin in bright light – this was too much – I immediately left my cabin to alert my sleeping pets. There was no need they were awake. The bright light then passed their window too and there was more rocking and noise! I was on their bed in an instant, this is something I never normally do. I had to keep them safe. Although I was frightened lying on them was the only option.

In the cold and wet light of a new dawn the upset last night or early this morning was clearly caused by a disrespectful kennel travelling in the middle of the night. This activity after dark is not only dangerous, it is seriously frowned upon.

We said goodbye to David and Mo who returned to their home in Oxford, my long haired one started doing some washing and my bearded one did some servicing on my kennel including but not exclusively, greasing my stern gland! It continued to rain.

We managed the Stoke five descent in a dry spell until the very last. It was lunch time anyway, we moored up for quite a while. My photo today is the Flint and Bone Mill mentioned a week ago, I see no bones,,,,,

Love Douglas. X