We got to Welford on Monday, which feels like ages ago. We stayed put on Tuesday, simply enjoying being out of our own marina. By Wednesday, all the plans came together. All packing for three days went into Reg for a wait, we handed Bella over to Les, then P&E went off to work, Maxwell going with E.
In the day, Bella was moved into the dry dock, the water drained, and she sat on the floor. The worked queued for her was - pressure wash all the muck since her last blacking, change the sacrificial anodes (another tale), repair any hull rust, and service the engine.
At the end of the day, we checked into the Wharf Inn, a supremely handy B&B with real food and real ale, positioned at the very same wharf area as Les' sheds and workshop. And they allow dogs. It was such a treat of location and accommodation for the three of us! We had a side dining room to ourselves, there were staff who treated us wonderfully and who treated Maxwell like royalty, and truly delicious real food.
This morning, after a good brekkie, we discovered by 10am that Bella was completed and floating again. P brought her out of the sheds, backed her into the mooring at the head of the Welford Arm, and we were ready to go. One more happy coincidence was that Mark, on Callisto our coal boat, was just coming up to the head of the Arm. We took on coal and headed out.
Today was a fine warm day and the journey was lovely. Slow, because of so very many day trippers moored for lunch, but it made us appreciate the cruise and the scenery all the more. We stopped in Crick, put up the stubby TV aerial and settled in for Strictly Come Dancing.
What a good week!
