Monday 15 August 2016

The Basin


Since running around like a daft one trying to fix the lock, fixed now thanks for asking and by me yet it actually works, so there is something, I have been trying to sleep it off.  My slight migraine appears when I am overtired so instead of joining the museum staff for a get together I lie here asleep writing this. 


Luckily it means I can reveal the last few shots, what's that?...oh!
Anyway I noticed these two barges had foreign names, 'Volharding' and 'Dieu la Voulu.'  The latter means, as you will know, 'God Wanted,' so that tells us something about them.  'Volharding' is a Dutch sailing barge no longer trading as she once did but instead instructs the 'disadvantaged' re the coast, the waterways and life on such vessels.  Two decent craft put to good use for differing reasons but not allowed to rot away as rusting hulks.  'Dieu la Voulu' is set up for living on board and that sounds a decent way of life to me.  Sailing barges are turned into homes, many still equipped with motors to allow them to cross the channel if required or move along the coats to a more favourable berth.


This however might suit you and I better!
A line of such craft are stabled in the Basin, however I get the impression some of them do not move far from here at any time.  At one time I fancied being rich and having such an escape from the world.  Spending your time messing about in a gentle movement of water, sun above, a decent view around, an escape from the world.  Of course when they are lined up like this there is not much escape as either folks live here full time or they also are escaping the world and will annoy you just as they did back home!  Bah!  Still, once I am rich...


Sadly there are no more pics from this tiring day out.  Stop that giggling at the back!  No more to annoy you people of little taste.  However, I could get on the bus and go back again on Wednesday...

What's that....?




                                                                                   oh!



7 comments:

Mo said...

That first photo is a damn fine photo, makes one want to go and board and explore.

Lee said...

I've heard of sleep-walking and talking in one's sleep, but sleep-writing...that is something new! You are a marvel, Mr. Ad-Man! (Watch out for Marvel Comic writers...they'll be after you)!

And now I know why junks are called "junks"! A lot of junk on board those...hmmmmmm....barges.

There is no way I could live on a boat of any description...the constant movement would drive me insane...more than I already am!! ;)

carol in cairns said...

I am a bit unclear ... are these pics from the zimmer express tour or the tour of London?
Like Lee I am impressed with the sleep-blogging.

Adullamite said...

Mo, Indeed I would have liked to go aboard! I doubt they would let me...

Lee, I thought it was obvious that much of my writing is done while asleep.

Carol, This is Heybridge, just along from Maldon on the Zimmer express.
Sleep blogging is easy.

Jenny Woolf said...

One of those seems to have a full sized garden on board. I think one would need to be very tolerant to live in a houseboat community although theres something very attractive about it, there would always be something to see (and no doubt moan about) and i always find the more hippie style houseboats one of the most interesting aspects of my cycling trips along canals. In fact, i think canals are among the the last refuges in London these days for individualists.

the fly in the web said...

There are expensive marinas where the yachts get little exercise....except at weekends when the owner arrives with the regulation bimbos and to judge by the movement of the hulls at night you would think that a small hurricane was on its way...

Much more peaceful with the houseboat community...

Adullamite said...

Jenny, Aye there are lots in London but I would rather have one in a more distant part.

Fly, A shortage of said bimbos that Friday. The houseboats look more habitable and have character.