The Wansdyke & District Forums

WE DID IT. Clive took his retirement in the spring and we have just come off six weeks on the cut, the whole K&A end to end and back, no more week-a-year pretending, the real thing at last. I am writing this tired and brown and absolutely brimming. We worked down the Devizes flight in the rain and laughed like idiots. We saw kingfishers. Clive cried at Crofton watching the old beam engine work, the great soft article. Pat we looked for you the whole way and missed you, where were you hiding.

Knew you'd do it in the end, Dawn. Knew it the year Clive stopped saying you say that every year. I was up the Bristol end when you came through, of all the rotten luck, must have passed you on the water somewhere and neither of us any the wiser. Next time. There will be a next time now, thats the thing about the cut, it doesnt go anywhere. Welcome to it properly. Youre one of us now, God help you.

Oh this has cheered me up no end. Six weeks! And Clive crying at an engine, bless him, that is the loveliest thing I have read all year. You hold onto that feeling Dawn. The good days are for keeping.

Already planning the next one Pat, dont you worry. Clive says we'll do the Thames next year, I say one cut at a time. Either way we will be back. You cant get this out of your blood once its in. See you on the water.