We got there! We had telephoned ahead a few days before to see if we needed to book a mooring and were told that there was always room. With the wind hugely against us, we went through Little Venice and into Paddington Basin, running parallel with the station. No mooring to be seen. Elizabeth used every muscle possible to try to hold the 20 tonnes of Bella to the bollards as Pete went to see if there were moorings further ahead. Nowt.
We boarded again, went to the end of the basin and turned against the wind. Foul!! And Pete lost his hat, which we later regained. We then went out of the Basin to Little Venice Basin and moored lightly in a ‘no unauthorised mooring’ slot, with Elizabeth going to the canal office (moored broad beam) to get authorisation. No way. Luckily the receptionist remembered Elizabeth’s voice (the only time she has been grateful for her accent) and made waves. We were able to find anywhere we could and moor – proper visitor moorings or not. While in the canal office boat, Elizabeth spotted a space near a railing, under a pedestrian bridge and not far from a park for Josie. We turned in Little Venice basin, travelled back into Paddington Basin and moored next to said railing. Interesting!
