We had learnt from the previous week and so Graham was keeping an eye on the weather and mid week made the decision to change the start place to Thwaite Mills, enabling us to use the relatively safe waters of the Aire and Calder Navigation.
Friday arrived and a look towards Kostrop Lock showed a flashing red light indicating the water level was still too high for navigation following Storm Ciara. The weather forecast indicated that storm Dennis was imminent but as we sat on the visitor moorings of Thwaite Mills it was peaceful and sunny. Was this the calm before the storm ?
Another major plus was everybody had arrived after Day 1, Toren perhaps summing it up for all of us;
“I couldn’t wait to come back today. I loved last week.”
It was decided to stay close to home and develop boat handling and rope work.
We traveled only ½ a mile and Peter asked Toren to turn the boat round. He advised him to check the wind direction and use it to help turn the boat around, relating to early sail boats and “winding” holes.
I went into the galley and saw Jack with a piece of rope.
”What are you doing? I asked.
“Making a mooring rope but it must be the smallest boat ever!!”
He was learning the technique before moving onto life size ropes under the watchful eye of Katrina.
Toren came into the warmth to allow Jack to develop his boat handling, and was quickly preparing the lunch, again under the watchful eye of Katrina.
I seized the opportunity to speak with Peter and Gary.
“There are a couple of young people who I would like to invite onto the boat next week but I do not want to disrupt your training. What do you think?”
Gary bowed to Peter as the instructor but stated that it would be an ideal opportunity for Toren and Jack to demonstrate their learning by instructing the visitors. Peter immediately agreed;
“What better way for them to show what they have learnt.”
We moored up for lunch and Peter explained how to guide the boat in without exertion using the rudder, engine and ropes.
