The first recollection was from the Captain from the Vessel Yes Dear 3 who we met at Benson lock.Talk about a boring git, this guy bent the First Mate’s and Captain’s ears for an hour on the subject and we learnt from him that there only 48 of these made and ,most of them are on the Ouse and Thames navigation systems. They were originally produced by a company Freeman had allegedly bought out and that they were destined to flood the American, European and English markets but this never materialised. Not surprising when you find out that these beasts are sea going vessels, like to be driven in speeds in excess of 25 knots and, have a huge Volva Penta petrol engine which costs a fortune to run.
When we broke down before the last breakdown ,if that sounds English!, the Captain of Taiwan II, which is moored at Purley Creek Marina, who had given us a tow to the a boatyard, told us that he used to own one and, the Captain of Mr.Moonlight ,who we met on our journey at Wallingford , now has a 55 foot Broom, also told us that he used to have one. The skipper of the Kasmir Poppy , also told us that used to have a Reflection and finally, the lock keeper at Abingdon lock used to have one. All these people seemed proud “used to own one”.
But when we walked around the moorings on the promenade at Henley, the Captain said to his crew “Talk about small worlds again ,look over there’s another two of them moored up at that jetty “.These boats were called Cue e Too and Cumulus.The Captain continued “Do you realise lads that if you include our vessel , we now know about 8 of the 48 Reflections which the Pace Boat Company built”. The First Mate said” You’re starting to sound just like that boring git we met at Benson a few weeks ago, time for a beer I reckon”.
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