Visited the Boat Show today

12th and 13th Jan – Moored Ivinghoe, Grand Union Canal

Well the floor is finished and it looks just great.  I just couldn’t wait to get the brush out and sweep merrily the whole boat from end to end in less than 2 minutes, and just to make sure, I did it all again!  Wonderful!

So an early start this morning with a taxi ride from the bridge here to Cheddington Station about a mile and a quarter away to catch the train to London.  A couple of changes in London and the Boat Show was in view.  It wasn’t overly busy, and noted quite a few on the stands moaning about slow trade.  Although it was very much geared for the Yachting World as I had expected there was a nice area of narrowboat type stuff. 

Grabbed the Official Show Handbook, and made a beline for The Fox @ Waterside pub to have a large coffee and a browse.  This pub feature was incredibly good, looking just as you would want a canalside pub to look like both inside and out.  If you are reading this blog before going to the show, nip over to the ‘Canal Boat’ stand just opposite and pick up one of their free brochures.  Inside you will find a coupon for a free half pint at the Fox pub.  Or pick up a few and have a very merry time!!

Popped into the East Hal to see the Watersport Arena and watch some action…. windsurfing indoors is quite a spectacle.  I had seen it on the tele before and knew it would be noisy, but live not only was it very noisy with all those wind machines, but spray was whipped up into the Arena as well!  It was obviously very much more difficult for the competitors than in their normal surroundings of the wide open sea.  I was pleased I went for the experience, but it soon got quite boring as each competitor couldn’t make the top turn without falling off… not one managed to complete the course..

Very little time spent in the East Hall, it was all geared for watersports…. having said that it seemed busier there than anywhere else..

I was absolutely amazed at the amount of electrical gadgets available now for gps, it is very big business, yet the prices are still sky high for this equipment.  I would have liked to have spent longer browsing around the many stands that specialised in them, but the day was moving on, and still so much more I wanted to see.

Narrowboats next then…… well not right now, will tell you about those tomorrow.  

Well I have tried and tried to post this, my internet connection is so bad this evening, have taken the pics out for now, … trying again to post