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HOT on the heels of Ralph Freeman's clash with all male booze cruisers, another boater has had a narrow escape, suffering obscenities from the crew.
Amy Dickerson, in Black Bryony, met two day boats on the Macclesfield Canal, and had a near miss with them, and writes:
I came across two day boats out from Heritage Narrowboats on the Macc last Wednesday, prior to some boring football game later that day. The occupants were decked out in red and white football shirts.
Ground to a halt in the silt
I was approaching a bridge when I saw the first boat listing from side to side coming through the bridge hole with numerous males hanging on the sides—how one didn't fall in the canal still remains a mystery. I had stopped alongside a moored boat and gave them plenty of space to pass. This boat gave me too wide a berth and ground to a halt in the silt.
Then the second boat which was following too close to the first and travelling too fast, made no attempt to slow down, and narrowly missed slamming into the stern of the first boat. It then veered towards me so I took avoiding action. The crew were hurling obscenities at me and shouting "It's only a boat." But mine is my home. I am certain they would not appreciate me driving my van at speed into the side of their house?
Foresaw problems
The next day having moored near Heritage Narrowboats I spoke to the employee who had let them out on the canal. He admitted to me that he foresaw problems from them. I asked him why he let them out when he clearly knew they were a danger to themselves and others. He just shrugged his shoulders. Clearly in this case money speaks loudest.
In my opinion someone needs to crack down on these boat companies hard. BW has the power to refuse to licence boats. They do it to private boaters so why not irresponsible hire boat companies? |
