A few days out and about

 24th June, Monday

We were going to be on the boat earlier this month but it decide to rain and bluster so we put off our planned visit. But today, we have finally made it. 

We haven't done much more than transfer everything from the car to the boat and, as a treat, have supper at The Red Lion in Crick. They do a lovely Steak and Kidney Pudding and the Fishcakes aren't bad either. 

25th June, Tuesday

One of the reasons for coming up to the boat was to get some painting done. Obviously, when it's raining you can't paint, hence our cancelling the visit earlier in the month. However, this week the temperature is going through the roof and it's probably going to be too hot to paint. You can't win, can you? 

Anyway, we set off, sun shining and turned right toward Crick. Well, it was hot. We did a thing unheard of for us, we found a place to stop with a bit of shade where we could ride out the hottest part of the day.

The shade was such a success that out came the tools.

And I started attacking a patch of rust that had appeared around the starboard (right hand) navigation light. 

Rubbed it down and here is the first coat of a rust inhibitor. Also, although it won't be evident from the picture what I'm talking about, I removed a whole load of tar stain that had leaked from the chimney down the side of the boat using Revive stain remover. It's main claim to fame is as an oven cleaner but it's a wonder at shifting tar. 

When the day had cooled off a bit we then moved further along the canal to our favoured mooring place and, would you believe it, table and chairs on the bank for afternoon tea. How many years have we waited for this moment!?

Even the captain looks happy. 

We sat out quite late into the evening and discovered, using the Merlin App., that there were Reed Buntings, Blackcaps, Wrens, Robins, Blue Tits, Nightingales, Blackbirds all around us. Get the App., it's wonderful.