From boat to caravan - wot no log fire?

I spent a few days opposite and then outside Swanley Marina, packing ready to leave the boat.  Yesterday I saw it swiftly pulled out of the water on a trailer and pulled along the road, jet washed and backed into the paintshed - for a full (much needed) repaint - I won't recognise it when it comes out.  Am now spending 3 weeks in a caravan, just 5 min walk from the boat.  It is a bit strange but yesterday there was plenty of wind rocking it so I felt I was still on the water!  This morning I really did miss cleaning and stoking the fire, just turning up the heat felt like cheating.  This afternoon went over to the marina to see where I will moor after painting and then went to see the boat - already the roof  and half sides stripped - can't wait to see it naked!  No more travels to report this year - but may post a picture when painting is completed!

Hovering north and south of Nantwich

After spending a week with my daughter and family now with new baby, trying to be useful, I returned to the boat at Barbridge and moved both boat and car to Calveley.  Waited almost an hour for one bus which whizzed past me and then another came along 5 minutes later.  Needed to take Ebony to the vet in Ellesmere for a check up, following her diagnosis with Cushing's Syndrome (an overproduction of Cortisol) last December.  She is constantly thirsty and I have to control her intake of water or she will drink the canal dry and have accidents in her sleep - poor thing.    At least the expensive tablets seem to be working but she has to have 3-monthly tests to monitor the drugs.  The trip to Ellesmere did give me a change to catch up with a few friends.

After spending a few days at Calveley I set off south, through Nantwich - must be the first time I have never stopped here - and went on to Audlem for a lovely hot and sunny weekend.  Time to do a few jobs on board as well as plenty of walks.  Strongs winds forecast for Wednesday so I returned to Nantwich on Tuesday and waited outside the basin, ready to go in for a booked service.  Wednesday wasn't too bad after all and that evening I took up a place in the basin.  I love it in this boatyard - have been coming here whenever I can for the past 12 years - they do look after you well and will sort all your problems.  Ian did my service in the afternoon but suggested I stayed another night to test the immersion heater - seemed it only needed to be reset!  That night in pouring rain I let Ebony out at 11.20 but the back deck was very wet, the rubber mat had blown off in the wind, and due to car tyre fenders it is a bit of a gap to jump - plus she is a wuss when leaping off the back.  She slipped, fell backwards into the water with a loud splash and, being a black dog, dissappeared altogether.  Luckily I had made her wear her harness all evening, as she makes frequent wee outings, so I was able to grab hold of that.  But she was heavy and I was lying on the back deck struggling to get her out when the chap on the next boat came and helped me haul a very wet dog out - what a hero!

Next day I, with immersion working fine (I very rarely use it but it is a back-up) I went down to Marsh Lane and spent a few days there.  Yesterday was able to meet up with old boating friends Graham and Lyn (formerly of Betjemin) and we had a lovely meal in the Residence Restaurant in town.  That evening I moved the boat back to the embankment and this morning walked along the moored boats - only to find Graham and Kath on Stougham Hall, friends of Graham and Lyn also - they had passed my boat while we were out at lunch - what a shame they missed a gettogether.

Probably tomorrow, I will move the boat onto the Llangollen and then to Swanley Marina - where I have arranged to have the boat painted (totally!) next week - and I will be staying nearby in a caravan for 3 weeks - keeping my fingers crossed the mild weather continues!