We're off today! The boat is as ready as it will ever be, our goodbyes said and we will head up as far as Bath today and spend a day or so before plodding on to the inevitable
traffic jam that will be Caen Hill.
Bob

The party is over, the clean up is done. We had a great time over the last few days. Friday Cath went out with friends from her work, on Saturday the marina cruising club held a BBQ and as a surprise unfurled a banner saying farewell to us. What shock that was, but a lovely one!

On Sunday we held our 'official' goodbye BBQ for friends and family and we must say a huge thank you to all who came. Such a lot of lovely gifts, and wishes of good luck.

We will not be leaving the marina until tomorrow as there is no rush while Caen Hill is shut for repairs and it will be with mixed feelings, leaving friends behind but with a great adventure ahead of us.

Even worse news last night! The damage to Caen Hill locks is irreparable and requires a new set of gates which they think will take until the 9th. We don't know what we will do next, wait or maybe try going the other way out onto the estuary. Cath is dead against it so it isn't likely, but you never know.

Bad news today. Caen Hill flight of locks has been closed due to a boat hitting some lock gates and it has done some serious damage. Latest news is that it will be shut until the 5th of July. This will cause us some delay but hopefully not a lot. It is more serious for Jay who having left yesterday has now turned around and gone to Bristol for a few days before attempting the escape again. We'll no doubt be going up the flight at the same time now although we won't be able to share locks because they are a wide beam.

Time is moving fast! The painting is nearly done now thank goodness.

This morning another milestone was reached when John and Janet set off on their newly (almost) finished wide beam 'JAY'. We'll miss them and hope we come across them while travelling.

The sun is blazing down at the moment and I'm trying to polish our roof vents, I think a beer is called for!

One more step was taken yesterday, the bike has been sold on ebay and will go on Saturday. It's back to a push bike for me! The painting goes on, it feels like the Forth Bridge but that's just me.

The marina swans have finally hatched their eggs. Only two signets this year, let's hope she can keep them. She doesn't have a good track record on that score. Aren't they cute?

I've been painting on and off through the week. Every time I think I've found all the rust spots I find another! Through the day the sun has been too hot to paint, (good excuse) so have to do it morning and evening, but it's coming along slowly. Only two weeks to go now so must press on with it.

At last I've started the painting of our sides. When we got back from Leeds on Tuesday we discovered that the boat which had been lying along the quay next us had been sold and was gone. This gave us the chance to lie along side, so we no longer need to go down river to find somewhere to paint. I HATE PAINTING! but is must be done. One side is now virtually complete with just a few little spots of rust left to dig out and paint over. The name on our front has been re-done, but another coat will be needed. Last night we turned around to get to the other side and we'll start on that soon.

This morning I dismounted our Eberspacher heater and stripped it down for overhaul/cleaning. The combustion chamber was in a very clogged up state which accounts for the occasional very smoky or even failed startup. Once again it's purring into life and should last another year before needing that again.