Kurt spends his time trotting the world seeking the finest. He’s a respected reviewer with over 20 years experience, so knows a thing or two about it and isn’t shy to give his opinion – Ed.
Following on from part one of Kurt’s tales on the water yesterday, read on for part two of his adventures.
All good things “¦
All too soon, the merry ride was over””it was never an hour! – and, as we clambered ashore, I made a ghastly discovery.
The Wicked Witch had had her revenge. She had sufficiently unnerved me, that I had locked my car with the keys still in the ignition!
My White Knights!
But Ian and Matt are not just marine engineers, cruise directors and lively lads, they are equal to even such dire emergencies as this.
A mobile phone call (I guess I am going to have to get one of those things one day), some businesslike conversation, and in no more than ten minutes – yes! read my lips, ten minutes and on a Sunday, too – Darren, the AA Man pulled up on the Dock. Five minutes more and Red Fred was free.
Never on a Sunday?
The tempting sound of Sunday ice in a glass was mighty near, and the roar of a speedboat motor hovered, but I thought ‘enough is the day unto itself’, elderly gentlemen need to know their limits, and even if the valiant Darren on his dashing white steed has vanquished the curse of the Wicked Witch, time to get back to my nest on the downs. And my writing-machine “¦
Another time, guys? Soon?
Coda
There is a sad coda to this story.
Matt and Ian have other ‘serious’ careers to follow, so they will soon no longer be here to paddle the PS Monarch out of Newport Harbour.
She is being put up for sale. Matt told me that they would dearly love her to stay on her ‘home waters’. So, any takers? Before the rest of the world catches on, and ‘the world’s smallest commercial paddle streamer’ gets snapped up by Disney or exported to Florida Keys.
