Before breakfast and almost anything else, there was the small matter of turning the ship around - literally.
We found the Llangollen Marina was the place to be and in front of 15 other narrowboats and a duckling, of course, Mark performed beautifully. Then came my much anticipated hair wash (the engine had warmed the water by then) and finally, breakfast in the village - complete with scone and jam.
I guess I thought (hoped) I'd be driving through "the narrows" on the way back while Mark walked it but in the end we found ourselves suddenly narrowing and with no idea if anyone was oncoming, I just needed to quickly head downstream and report back. Both of these things being more my wheelhouse than Marks and at this point him being the more experienced and confident captain, it just happened that I missed my chance... and I don't think Cap'n Mark was too sad about this.
He is referring to himself at Pilot In Command or PIC and seems to believe his role now offers a greater breadth of authority than Captain of a narrowboat on the Llangollen Canal really should! And now that find my authority limited to the galley, I realize mistakes were made when I listed Mark as our captain on the booking form. Equality is an uphill battle that never seems to end. Ask any woman!
Anyway, I took us the rest of the way to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and then Mark took his turn driving over it today. It was busy and the sun was high.
We moored and spent some time on foot for the afternoon. It was warm but mostly cloudy and humid. Hot when the sun peaked out though. Wales was really turning it on for us!
Tomorrow is my 50th birthday - it's already my birthday in NZ, in fact. I'm feeling super grateful that I'm not afraid to treat myself, celebrate myself, cherish myself. I'm "half way" and this one does feel special. I've made no secret of that. As I circle the sun again this year I'm promising to work on not comparing myself to others and how they might or might not choose to celebrate me too. It simply doesn't serve me.
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