On the boat at last

 .... and we have earnt it having washed and polished all but the port side of the boat today 18th June. 

We arrived yesterday and cleaned the inside, or rather rachel did while I drove back to Eccleshall for food. ( I did clean the cottage the day before so we we will go back to a clean cottage - but I have a reason for that.... more on the blog later !) 

So cleaned inside, provisioned and all but one side outside cleaned for the summer we set off to wind and moor up away from the mooring. We are on the Knighton visitor moorings for the night and will be back on the mooring with the port side to land so we can finish the boat external clean. It's given heavy rain Sunday so that'll be a cabin ( reading and relaxing day) 

Below is the difference between a wash with car shampoo and the sacrificial wax we applied. It brings up the paint but critically provides that barrier to bird poo and acid rain.

All done  ( apart from the port side cabin) 

We then set off for a mini of mini cruises to wind and moor up for the football and fish'n chips (plus beer) 

Yesterday Dover passed us.... might not mean much to most but some might remember Alan Herd ( I think) hosting a TV series about the restoration and refit at great expense of Dover.... I think she has has a few owners since. A quick boat passing chat had me complimenting the steerer on the engine who told me it didn't sound like that yesterday having developed a squeak. He tracked it down to two impeller blades in the water pump but no blades were missing off the impeller - no doubt like Percy in the past someone  ( me in Percy's case) did not check the impeller on a routine service, which is a reminder to me to do just that this winter. When did you last check yours ?? 

See here for my experience