Cathouse Bridge

Cathouse Bridge / Morning Walker, originally uploaded by Bay Photographic.

Taken on a calm morning earlier this year, this picture is but a distant memory. Driving Henry down the canal in the wind last week was rather like sailing a Mirror Dinghy with the centreboard up.
I recall that particular feeling from my youth as a cadet at the Essex Yacht Club. Returning to the jetty at the end of a race, we would lift the centreboard up completely so that we could sail straight up the slipway and step ashore without getting our feet wet. Guaranteed to impress female cadets if you got it right (probably) but a complete disaster if you lifted too late (always surprising how quickly a sailing dinghy will stop if the keel hits the end of the slipway) or too early (sideslip ruins your aim completely and crashing into the sea wall was never good for your image).
I might have improved Henry's steering recently, but controlling a flat bottomed canal cruiser in a confined space when it is blowing a gale is more a matter of luck than judgement.
That's my excuse anyway.
And I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to the helmsman of the big green narrowboat I met at Bridge 73 on Tuesday.
You're right. I should be able to make my boat stay still in the water while I wait.
All I need is a centreboard and lots of ballast.