On dry dock

After the late night last night, getting up at 6.30am was a bit of a shock. Ian knew that Mick and John could beckon us in at any time and he wanted to be ready. It was about 9.30am when the dock was free for us to enter, so the early start seemed a bit pointless really.  Within the hour Dave and Ian had started power washing both hulls. By the time both men had finished not only were they very wet and cold, but filthy as well. Still all done by lunch and after getting cleaned up, Ian unpacked the new prop to show me. What a lovely sight to behold, all gleaming and shinny and wonderful curves. We have high hopes for it because the shape of the blades is vastly different to the one we have on at the moment, as well as being a tad bigger at 20" ( the old one being 19"). Ian said that it is a  composite blade, has the blade area of a 22" (whatever that means) and so will help save diesel and is optamised for river work.

Lovely new prop.

Oid prop full of plastic bags

Water all gone

 The generator for the power wash is extremely noisy. In fact to noisy for Jade who looked decidedly nervous, so to make her less unhappy I took her for a walk. Below lock was a boat, blue on one side and green on the other. Before I continue let me show you these photos.

Initially the boat was right by the steps

Last Monday when Ian went to see Mick and John to see if the prop had arrived, he told me about the boat moored below lock on the lock landing. Well today is Thursday and the boat is still there!! Yesterday C&RT's men with the crane boat came past and because I happened to be at the lock, told them about the boat. Do you know what they said? "Do you think we can get past it"? Well I was astonished and said "don't you think you should do something about it"? "After all its not licensed and should be removed". "No" says they "we'll just move it further back out of our way". Good grief, what is it with C&RT. Sometimes I despair. Then this afternoon who should come up the lock but the boat with a lady at her helm. "So" thought I "C&RT have done something after all'. Would you believe she came onto the water point, tied up and then bold as brass walked away and left it! Another email to Steve Cropper is in order.