And it all started so well.......

So before I get into the saga hinted at by the title, an update on yesterday.

I was expecting a visit from my brother Dave and his wife Jo around lunchtime so before they arrived I pottered about a bit, did the washing up, swept the floor, all the things you do when guests are arriving, it took me all of 30minutes. It was a nice morning so I sat out on the bow deck reading my Kindle and about 11:45 a shout from the other side of the canal alerted me to their arrival, I walked up to meet them at the bridge and we were soon aboard chatting and catching up, we have both just become grandparents for the first time and the timings are similar, I was told by my son about his daughter just before I set of on my life afloat, and Dave and Jo are setting off on their own adventure moving to live in France. Anyway we went over to the Great Western Arms and had a superb meal, I would recommend this to you if you are ever in or near Aynho, a lovely meal, pleasant staff and Hook Norton ales, go on you know you should. 

Back to the boat and a cup of tea before Dave and Jo had to leave to avoid the Friday evening M40 traffic, I hope it was ok, so for now, thank you for a lovely visit and, ‘au revoir et bonne chance à vous deux’.

The soon to be French speaking couple.

Today I had to move off the 48 hour moorings and it was quite bright so looked like a pleasant cruise ahead, I had no real destination in mind just head south and stop when I saw somewhere nice. I started the engine at 9:30 and put a load of washing in the machine, then I moved across to the water point opposite for a top up, and bought some bread and milk in the store,  about 10am with the water finished I set off through bridge 190 and past all the long term moorings, some 15 to 20 minutes later I had just gone through bridge 192 when the main battery (the engine starter battery) warning light came on along with the shrill warning tone, ‘ that’s not good, better find a sensible place to stop and investigate’, two or three minutes later the engine overheat warning light came on, ‘this will do then, stop here’. I was about midway between bridge 192 and 193. So being an Englishman I keep calm and put the kettle on and switch off the washing machine. After tea, I lift the engine cover and find this.

A not very happy looking fanbelt

That’s a relief, I have a spare, ‘now how do these go back on’ a simple enough job, down the very hot engine hole with my head wedged in the smallest gap I begin, 2^nd nut won’t budge, heave grunt, curse, put the kettle on. Tea finished, more heave, more grunt, more curse, ‘B***er this, I have paid to have River Canal Rescue cover, they can sort it. 

So at 11:45 the call is made and I await the engineer, it’s not as bad as breaking down on the M1, it’s very pleasant and I have a lot of nothing to do, so I read on my Kindle, a bacon sandwich at lunchtime, a tiny bit of painting, a bit more reading and at 3:45 a call from the engineer to say he is just walking along the towpath to find me. About 30 minutes later all done, no hassle. It’s too late to bother moving isn’t it, so I restart then engine and switch on the inverter and the washing machine goes back on.

And then I have this moment ‘it’s sunnier just 50 yards ahead, I’ll move up’, No Alan, Alan no, NO ALAN, ALAN  NO!!!,  go with your first instinct, it’s too late to bother moving;

So in short, I move forward, I run aground (first time for a while), I struggle to get off the bottom, I twist my knee, a passing cyclist comes to my aid, between us we eventually, with a heck of a lot of effort, get the boat off the bottom and I move on until I find a nice clear open area.

Now every cloud has a silver lining;

Here’s where I was broken down.

There's the sunny spot, just ahead

Here’s where I am now.

My washing, having been soaking most of the day, is cleaner than the cleanest thing in the clean part of clean town.

Because I was 'cheesed off' and could not be bothered I just cooked an emergency packet mix curry and threw in some prawns.

I also opened an emergency bottle of red wine.

The sun is on the solar panel, my knee is getting more numb and pain free as I drink the wine.

I have a nice new fanbelt, professionally fitted.

And I have tomorrow to try moving again.

So it finished ok after all.

Todays totals : not worth mentioning, twas a little move.