Last year when I received the Itinerary 2009 for this year's "President's" Centenary and saw that there was to be a Fly Run I thought that sounds a bit different and perhaps a little challenging, why don't I put my name down for that trip! I did and many thanks Richard for making me one of the team.

As the date for the trip approached I decided that I would come up from Kent on the train and on the day it really was very quick and easy, and having previously arranged with Captain Nick that I would meet the boats at the top of the Farmers Bridge flight I was there on the afternoon of the 25"' waiting, when Richard Burke who had walked from Aston arrived. We had time for a quick coffee outside the BWB office and then at approximately 15-00 hrs the rest of the crew arrived on "President" and "Kildare".

We were quickly off down the flight, there is nothing better than a drop of bow hauling to liven one up after sitting on a train for a couple of hours or so! We reached Warwick Bar about an hour before the Fly Run was to commence, so time for a cuppa and a briefing from the Captain. Nick had decided to abort the Teams A and B plan as unfortunately two of the original crew members had been forced to pull out, and so instead we had three teams of two steerers and two drivers Bob and Simon. Each team of steerers would do a two hour shift and then in theory have four hours off and each driver four hours on and then four hours off. However when locking or whenever it was necessary the whole crew was to be involved, and so very often the two hour shift would have to be almost immediately, or if not shortly afterwards followed by an hour or two or more working the locks.

At 19-00 hrs as scheduled we left the FMC Warehouse, Fazeley Street en route to Braunston. Nick had earlier prepared and put into the oven a chicken chasseur that we would eat later in the evening on the move (and very good it was too complemented by Malcolm's rice). It was somewhere around theTyseley area that it became clear that "President" had collected a "proper" blade full of rubbish and this was beginning to affect things. By the time we were close to Acocks Green a decision was made to stop in a suitable bridge hole, before it became too dark, to see what the score was. It was impossible to take off the rubbish with the hook and so Brian gamely attacked the problem via the weed hatch with Bob and others working the hook in tandem from the towpath. Slowly and a little at a time the majority of what appeared to be a form of rubber tubing plus the usual assortment of clothing came free, not all of it, but sufficient for us to get on our way. We had lost close to an hour, but thanks to Brian's efforts we were on the move again!

Soon it was dark the sky full of brilliant stars and save for any sound made by "President' there was almost complete silence. Nick and I who were paired together had run the first shift, and after eating and then the rubbish problems I had thought that an hour or so on the bunk might give me forty winks before the next shift. But no it was an abortive attempt, no sleep at all and as 01-00 hrs approached we got ready for our next stint as the four Knowle Locks beckoned. There was certainly plenty of water available here and yours truly had a real drenching in the bottom lock on the back of "President" as water from the pound above cascaded over the top of the gates. At 03-00 hrs I handed over to Richard and Nick to Malcolm and once again tried to nod off (in wet trousers) but to no avail!

Less than two hours later we were all up and about again as we approached the top of Hatton Locks. By now it was approaching 05-00 hrs, it was broad daylight, and two hours later we had cleared the flight and made up a little of the time lost with the "rubbish stop". Down through Cape Locks and on to Leamington we ran, once again steering "President" as Nick and I were on the third of our shifts. Unfortunately we lost several minutes at the turn before Tescos, "President" having grounded as a result of my having taken a line that was a tad too tight through the bridge! Soon afterwards our early morning shift was completed and we all tucked into Nick's breakfast sausage sandwiches, they both smelled and tasted good.

It had been arranged that at Radford Locks we would meet up with Tim Coghlan and his friend Tom Grasso. Tom hails from Rochester, New York and is a Council Member of Inland Waterways International as well as being President of the Canal Society of New York State. Tom came on board and travelled with us to Braunston, where next day as one of the dignitaries he officially opened the Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally from the counter of "President" as she entered the marina under the horse bridge. Tom who was much interested in all that went on, tried his hand at steering and locking, and asked us lots of questions.

At Stockton Locks we were met by our Chairman Dave Powell and his wife Jan. Dave had with him two banners which were affixed to "President" highlighting this year's "President" 1909 - 2009 Centenary Tour. As we reached the top of the locks Dave and Jan left us and I finished my last two hour session steering "President". It is impossible to even guess how many folk photographed the boats during the run, but as we cleared Calcutt Locks then Napton Junction there seemed ever more of them, boaters, and walkers all keen to take a shot.

Unfortunately for the steerers the next couple of miles or so from here were run in some heavy thundery showers. As the rain eased and with no more than an hour left to run to Braunston there was however one final hurdle to be overcome. As a consequence of boating around one the many very tight bends on this section and with moored boats to close in attendance "President" ran aground, and in the ensuing freeing of her the rudder was unshipped. During the course of the next twenty minutes or so (it must have felt like hours to him) Bob almost single handedly attempted to relocate the rudder, and after several very close attempts he managed to do so. It was a real Herculean effort and one that enabled us to continue on our way to Braunston where we arrived at approximately 19-15 hrs.

We were greeted by boaters and folk on the towpath from the Turn right up to the marina entrance, Happy Birthday in honour of "President" was being played and sung,

and as we stepped off to be met once again by our Chairman Dave and Jan and also by marina owner and FOP Tim Coghlan, who quickly produced a beer for each of the crew, I for one felt a sense of achievement. I was glad to have been a part of something which for me had been very different and also to have been part of a great team.

Tony Greenwood