Nature delivers in a few ways

Well we pit stopped and literally withdrew from the race - to carry on the motor racing metaphors. 

Back last Wednesday the plan was to go home, me visit my mum Rachel visit the grandkids, me have another go at the boiler - return Friday to carry on cruising for a few more days.

Not the best of visits to my old ma, while there and talking to her with all my news booked a blood bike shift as they were short of evening riders. 

12 strangers helped in a small way on the blood bike shift and the boiler got going again. But the weather forecast was northerly winds and rain.... so we decided to visit Percy on the Saturday to have a day and do a few bits while we emptied from the cruise. 

That went to plan and we managed to give the boat a wash and a polish while there, so she's protected for the winter in a small way. I want to go back and fit the rear stove now I have my stove fitting experience. Then we can do more cold weather cruising. It is when a trad stern and a rear cabin really do work well and Percy has both.

While packing up nature gave us a show of her overt beauty ....

I can't draw a line under a year of boating as we may well get aboard again and do some more up and downs, or just loiter on board in the warm .... we will see. 

The boiler burner was replaced yesterday so all good there, hopefully it'll give us 10 more years or however long we stay in the cottage .... we have plans of course, maybe dreams but Percy might be a short medium or long term part of those plans. When it's right they may get detailed here, for now it's catch up time on my blog from May where I think I left off  .....