Out. Believe it or not. It's lovely!

We need Bella's hull blacked. Otherwise know as covered with waterproof paint to protect the hull. Bella is too long to be blacked at Weltonfields, so we're now moored up at Welford, waiting to go into sheds on Wednesday.  As the rain pelts the roof now, it is fabulous to report that we had delightful sunshine and blue skies for the travelling.

It was great to float under the A5 instead of whiz on it to get to a train. Then - under both the mainline rail and then the branch line. We certainly prefer the view up to the rails than the one where we wistfully look down from carriage windows. A giggle through the woods to the lorries parked at Watford services told us we were in our favourite transport today.

The very dark photo is from inside Crick tunnel. For the first time ever, we couldn't see the light at the end! A traditional engine had come out just before we went in, and the fumes simply filled the space. The beam from our light was amazing to see, working through the haze to the tunnel roof. Just about 200 metres from the north end, we finally saw the light.

A good day! Most of the time P and M were on deck and E at the desk. Working whilst the trees glide by is amazing.

Bank Holiday DIY

We have a new entry mat! Well, and floor. Many years ago when our Bella was built, some things didn't turn out as well as they could have done. Pete has changed the water pump three times, two of them after leaks. The water decided to seep between the marine ply base floor and the oak installed at Bella's refit. Over time, this curled the top layer. So we changed that today.

With a special electric saw, the only name Bosch gives it is tool, Pete cut out a swathe of the oak. Then he installed moulding. Then Elizabeth was back to floor laying, this time, thick coir on a solid rubber base. Of course Maxwell had to check out the new mat before it could be cut 😆

New kitchen floor

Well, we needed an off-cut for the bathroom, so we got a new galley floor. This one took no time at all compared to the bathroom. If we don't include the time it took to lift the old floor, drive to the studio, lay the old floor on the new one as a pattern, cut it out, and drive back home. Elizabeth did the cut and fit, Pete suggested the we also refloor the plinth under the cooker. Yes!

A new bathroom!

A new bathroom! We're delighted. It was needed, as the old one wasn't installed so well and the floor rotted below the shower. And into the cross beams below... Our lovely marina staff think that it was the capping off of the old pump-out tank pipes which were the problem.  One day whilst standing in the old shower and having the shower tray sink into the corner gave us a clue.

So here we are. There's a larger shower tray, a porcelain toilet (yes!!! No more plastic!!!), a new sink and taps and a new unit. There is also new wall covering with more to come on the window wall.

We also have a new kitchen floor, which took about 30 minutes to lay. This floor? Grrrrr.  One start revealed that the cushion vinyl tears. Grr. Paper pattern made, re-cut around the loo, then refit. Only 2.5 hours for the smallest room. The result is nice 

In the middle of somewhere

Eight miles and Seven locks today - a record for this cruise so far. We have been smugly moored next to Elkington weir for a snooze for Elizabeth and to catch some rays to finish off bread baking since 3pm. Got to see a water vole swimming earlier in the afternoon (arvo for those down under). Maxwell has been severely brushed post kennel ringlets and is now chilling on deck. Elizabeth has been reading about poaching eggs in cling film and Pete has been receiving refreshment.

A stupendous day.

One of the reasons we do this

This is what summer mornings can be like. How stupendous to come back through all that international travel and then wake to this.   Mmm.

Small summer cruise after a flight for Freddy

Here we are out for this summer's cruise, the third week of our three week holiday.  We began the time away in Melbourne (Australia) to meet the newest member of our family, our gorgeous grandson Freddy.  We arrived home last night, had a lazy morning (only one load of laundry before we set out), went food shopping, collected Mr Well from his very country kennels only 10 minutes from home, got home and untied the lines. Maxwell was very happy to see us and equally happy to be back aboard. We're out for a few more days and much enjoying that we arrived home to a summer!!!