A farewell to friends and a job done...or maybe not!

Went for a walk-a-bout yesterday with Keith and Jo. T'was an ideal opportunity to show them the pump house, the end of the Cromford navigation with the work that had been done and Tollhouse. All the right noises were made so I assume they were suitably impressed. It also gave me the chance to take some photos. Although Ian regularly helps in the pump house I have hardly ever been in and certainly have never taken photos. I was amazed at how clean and well looked after it was. All of that credit goes to ECP&DA

With the weather almost perfect Ian armed himself with the angle grinder to ground out the small areas of rust spots on the cabin top. Fertan (rust eater) was then painted on with the hope it would dry and a coat of red oxide could go on. But socialising, drinking tea and coffee with Jo and Keith was a much more enjoyable occupation and scuppered that idea completely.  Also, the carvery at the Great Northern had been arranged for 5.30/5.45pm so painting gear had to be taken off and decent clobber put on. All takes time and once Ian gets started on a job, he usually wants to finish it. Changing would have been a rushed affair so that red oxide would have to wait until the 'morrow. The carvery was delicious and 3 hours of enjoyment, two rounds of drinks later and almost the last to leave the pub, we walked back to our boats feeling comfortably full having thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

So today it was time to say farewell to Keith and Jo. First, they had to wind (turn) Hadar. Now usually without boats moored opposite the winding hole, a 71ft boat can just about get around. With all those boats moored though, winding Hadar at 70 ft would have been impossible. Yesterday we had a word with Vickie, owner of Langley Boat Yard, to see if Hadar could go through their moorings and wind at the end. Vickie was a bit concerned about a Swan that had decided to nest in the narrows and would be disturbed if a boat went by too quickly but an assurance that Hadar would creep past reassured her.

  On their return, the swan's nest was discussed and I was dismayed to hear there were only two eggs to be seen. The Swan had left the nest as Hadar approached but soon returned to sit again once Hadar had inched past. My earlier worry of the eggs not hatching may well be justified as six had been laid back in April and most of the time she hadn't sat on them at all. It seems now that, with only two left, these may not be viable. Many a night the temperature had dropped to well below 10 degrees and without the mum to keep those eggs warm, well stands to reason the eggs will chill rapidly. Only time will tell I suppose and I can only hope that Cygnets will appear sometime this month.

April 22nd

The Swan just didn't want to sit.

What a shame that Keiths and Jo's stay had come to an end. Still so much to talk and laugh about it would have been lovely for them to stay for a few more days.  Both of us can't remember the last time we enjoyed a visit so much so it was with sadness as we helped them down the lock to say a final farewell and then with a look back and last wave they were gone. It could be a year or more before we meet again but it's all part of the cruising lifestyle that we just have had to accept.

So it was time to get back to FS's makeover. Ian finally got the paintbrush out to red oxide those treated spots. I cut up copious amounts of sandpaper to fit onto the handheld sander and with the red oxide dry, Ian was ready to start. But then the heavens opened and boy did it rain! What a shame for Keith and Jo. I do hope they managed to stop and shelter before getting too wet. Of course, it meant stopping work again so with Ian never one to remain static for too long, he started a job that had been put on hold because of the nature of it and that was changing the toilet cassettes seals. Not the most attractive of jobs to do but a necessary evil nevertheless. With the weather deteriorating (well it would, wouldn't it, seeing as another Bank Holiday was looming) the sanding of the cabin top had to wait.  But all was not quite lost as a break later in the afternoon allowed for some sanding to be done. Hopefully the rest will be finished tomorrow.

And the wildlife,