The Heat Wave and the Boat Trip

 Today as I begin this post it is Monday, July 18 at about 3:00 PM the temperature outside is 98 degrees. Trains are not running for fear the rails might bend and road folks are watch to see if some roads begin to get soft.This is what the heat wave and travel have done to 75% of the people in this house. Bill has been outside twice-

 once to get cumin and once to return something to Amazon. Bruce's jet lag got to him and he is managing to nap along. Jim is entertaining himself with his iPad. It was just announced that the British Museum is closing early because it is too hot to be out and about. 

Bruce has planned out an interesting walk but right now it is just too hot to be outside. He has great hopes that in a few hours it will cool off just a bit. 

For lunch Bill put together a marvelous tray of cheese, cold cuts, sliced fruit, fruit salad  and veggie salad. Perfect lunch for 4 hungry people on a very hot day. 

Wonderful conversation around the table as we talked politics and bemoaned the state of both this country and the US. At least we all nodded our heads in agreement with each other. 

The afternoon was quiet with reading and naps. Bill cooked a fabulous dinner with small pieces of marinated chicken that had a bit of a bite it, pita bread, hummus with carrots and cakes, tzatziki  sauce with fried falafel, raisins and dried apricots. We had wonderful dates for dessert. A feast pleasing to the taste buds, the nose and the eyes.

After dinner we have a wonderful time with Bill and Bruce playing guitars together. Bruce is pretty much self taught and he has a terrific voice. 

First Bruce showed Bill his graphite guitar and after the wishing for time was over the music began. Bruce sang a beautiful song he wrote about his family and his hopes for life. Sang about his family and home sometimes being like. Rockwell painting and sometimes not. He did even add in a verse about Kathryn. Brought tears to my eyes for sure. 

They sang music from a variety of musicians. Several duets were just wonderful. Now all we needed was the two Kathryn/Katherine's playing flute to complete our little ensemble.  

We went to bed about 11:00. Everybody was weary from the extreme heat. We were so fortunate to be in the room where Bill had left the small AC unit. We were up about 8:00, got coffee and waited for our driver. Freddie was right on time.

The luggage was placed aboard and we all settled in for our journey. We made several stops along the way, making the trip take almost 4 hours. Kathryn kept texting that because of the hot weather much of their train planned scheduling was not working out. The trains kept being canceled.

Bruce got some chardonnay correctly name Voyage.  The trip was pleasant, cool and featured good conversation as we rode for 3 hours in the large Mercedes van.
We got to the Blackwater Meadow Marina and the boat was right there. Freddie helped Bruce take our luggage aboard and Jim went to use the facilities in the Marina.

    The heat was getting to all of us but we soldiered on to get settled in. Kathryn, Olli and Christopher arrived by Taxi and the three of them took the brief training about the boat and how to handle it. AND we were off!

The Dartford Warbler

Christopher arrives

The boat is well appointed and clean. Lots of dishes and glasses. Compact kitchen, small bed space and bathrooms. 

We settled in and got luggage sort of stowed away. 

At the end of the evening Olli entertained us all trying to catch and release a yellow jacket as we all had a yellow jacket story to tell.