Frustrating delays but finally on our way.

Well, it's finally here. Retirement has arrived. My last 'working' day was last Thursday and at 5pm tomorrow it will be official. In all honesty the last day was quite underwhelming and it all feels very strange knowing that the routines of the last thirty years are going to alter considerably. Louise has her 'to do' list waiting for any spare moments I may get over the coming months, although I'm struggling to see the words golf and fishing on it at the minute. Maybe they've slipped her mind

Anyway, enough of this 'work' talk. We're back on the water after spending Easter at home with the family which was nice as both boys were home. However, the boating has been a little frustrating so far this week. Folks always say 'There's always something' with a boat, and so it's proving to be. 

We are planning to get the boat to Cropredy this week in readyness for our Thames trip later in the summer. I have recently noticed the stern gear starting to drip. Ours is the Vetus water lubricated type and it shouldn't drip, so I booked a slot in the dry dock at Fradley first thing Tuesday morning for a seal to be replaced. 

Whilst waiting to play musical chairs with boats to get into the dock, we were really pleased to see one of our old shared ownership boats 'Marbury' coming up through Junction Lock with Julie & Graham on board who were original owners with us way back in 2008. 

                                             

Of course, nothing is ever as simple as it sounds, a one hour job and three hours later we're still in there....blood pressure rising. Eventually the new seal is fitted and yes, you've guessed it, it still flippin' drips. Bugger it we say, we'll have to live with it, and get it sorted later in the year if it gets worse. It could be a whole host of reasons as to why, but the situation is more than manageable, and so that's that for now. 

                                            

So, with a much lighter wallet and a few hours behind schedule, we depart Fradley towards Fazeley on a lovely summers afternoon. We caught a glimpse of Blue Moon at Kings Orchard Marina as we passed. Nothing much to report really other than a steady stream of boats towards. As we approach a bridge beyond Whittington, with a row of moored boats on the approach, the customary oncoming boat appears. Into reverse I go and to keep the boat straight, just a blip of the bow thruster....blip of the bow thruster ?? Nothing, not a bloody peep. It worked perfectly well when we came out of the dry dock. Damn you Vetus I now hate you !! Blood pressure now back on the rise and Louise decides it's a good time to walk the dogs. 

We decide to carry on through Fazeley despite there being plenty of room to moor and get through Glascote Locks. These are notoriously slow to fill, and the added problem today of one of the top paddles being taped off due to a tyre being wedged in the sluice. The best part of fifteen minutes to fill the bottom lock using just the one paddle. It gave a bit of time to reflect though as we looked out across the almost empty basin that used to be the home of Hudson boats. How tragic that a life can be taken so suddenly and so early. It made me realise that a dripping stern gear and a dodgy bow thruster aren't really problems at all...just inconveniences.

How very sad.          

We moored for the night approaching Alvecote. Out of curiosity I try the bow thruster again and it works !! Can't explain it but at least it's an inconvenience less to worry about.

Today has been glorious. We set off about 8am through Alvecote and Polesworth. Following a bit of inspiration from Nev on nb Percy, I've gone and bought a GoPro camera to capture some our Thames trip and so today it had its first outing / trial. I've not downloaded it all yet, but the signs are encouraging. Boys and their toys !! 

Half way up Atherstone locks we met nb Nuneaton and butty Brighton with folks from the Narrowboat Trust. I had a chat with some of the team of lock monkeys about the trust and it may well be a way of spending some of my 'spare time' but keep it quiet as it's not on the 'list'....yet. Although not really busy, there were some very low pounds in the flight which made navigation a bit tricky in places.

Louise at the helm

Jasper making use of the bollards

Tonight we have moored near to Springwood Haven before the assault on Nuneaton tomorrow morning.