Sunny Friday

At last the sun is shining. It was almost warm enough to have breakfast outside but, let's not rush things just yet. Eggs, bacon and toast, tea and coffee, fire still giving off a bit of warmth. 

Over the winter months the poor old boat has become dirty with green bits appearing all over the place. Too much rain! So we thought that as it was sunny we would start the big tidy up. 

Off came the cratch cover and, with the aid of the canalside bench, the Captain set to work with scrubbing brush and hot soapy water. In the meantime, the Mate, brandishing sponges, brushes, knives and other instruments of torture, set to work cleaning out all the lichen growing out of the window runners and cleaning the windows themselves. We were so busy that we didn't take any photos! Sorry. 

At around midday we set off.

I know most of you have seen this before but here's another picture of the Glamping for Adults site. Still a tad cold for outside bathing.

And here we are approaching the Welford Arm. As you can see it has clouded over a bit but it's still warm.

This is a very pretty stretch of canal and this bridge in particular caught my eye. 

And here we are at the entrance to our new home at North Kilworth Marina.

What we didn't know was that just as we were turning to come in, two hireboats were just about to come out! 

We gallantly withdrew and the wind promptly blew us across the canal, pinning us against the opposite bank. 

After waiting for the nervous novices to exit the marina, a hefty shove by the Mate, full astern and then left hand down a bit, full ahead and in we went. Next, where's the mooring? Do we go left, sorry, to port? Is our mooring in section C or E? Is that jetty 3? And so on. 

It's amazing how your whole life flashes before your eyes in moments like that. 

But we got there. 

We had quite an experience setting up the electric but that was because of a problem at the suppliers end. Talked to the people in the office and got it all sorted. Also, everything here works on a keypad and fob. Automatic gates, laundry, toilets, water, electricity, you name it, we can fob it. 

Harvey and Helen came to see the marina and take us back to Bugbrooke to collect the car. On the way back we stopped at the Red Lion Inn, Crick for a bite to eat. It was really good there, very friendly, good menu and, even though the car park was crowded, there were still tables available for us. 

Got back to the marina OK and managed to open the gates to get back in. 

A busy day, all a bit hectic but still a good day after all's said and done.