At last…and not before time !

boatone

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Joined
29 Jul 2001
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Just a few cables from Boulters Lock
www.tmba.org.uk
Finally had a nice day that wasn't freezing the proverbials and worth a trip to the marina to wake the boat up. Glorious sunshine and the temperature just made it above 10C.

Haven't been down since we put her to bed a week or so before xmas buit all was well. Remembered to open the sea cocks before running both engines which started in seconds. Starter battery was showing a healthy 12.6v and domestics 12.3v and they haven't been on charge. Min temperature in engine bay over the winter was 1.3C and no leccy used for heater.

Cockpit hood now back from a full valet by CJ Marine in Chichester and looking great so will swap over from winter hood next tine I go down.

Only an hour but a great feeling of things to come.

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Yup... Lovely day.

I had a choice: several hours of cleaning her or a couple out on the river for the first day this season.

No choice: couple of hours pottering up and down..... Barely any others out.... Engine purring....light breeze blowing out the cobwebs..... Loverly!

Had she been able to speak, she'd have said 'thank you, Daddy.... That was lovely...even if I AM a bit grubby!'
 
Yup... Lovely day.

I had a choice: several hours of cleaning her or a couple out on the river for the first day this season.

No choice: couple of hours pottering up and down..... Barely any others out.... Engine purring....light breeze blowing out the cobwebs..... Loverly!

Had she been able to speak, she'd have said 'thank you, Daddy.... That was lovely...even if I AM a bit grubby!'

If you had crept down as far as Wargrave I would have bought you a drink...cheers!

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Same for me yesterday clean the boat or go out, guess which won!

Amazing number of boats out on the Windsor/Bray stretch with happy smiling owners.

It was Archie's first trip out on the boat, as you can see he looks traumatised!

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Brilliant.....
When they were puppies and before they were able to go out to the park, our labs came with us on the boat and just fell fast asleep once the engine started. Now, when they come on, they must associate it with rest because after a few minutes with their ears flapping in the wind, they just lie down and snore.. As you say, Sulley: Archie looks so distressed LOL
 
He has been coming to the boat since he was a small puppy and slept on it a number of times so he's used to that now. We got him in the winter so first trip out yesterday and he seemed very happy, I have told him the best bits are to come with BBQs and nice fields to run around in!
 
Dogs and boats go together. Years ago the Oxford Ditch Cruising Club seemed to have at least one dog on every boat so much so it was jokingly referred to as the Oxford Dogs Cruising Club.
 
Same for me yesterday clean the boat or go out, guess which won!

Amazing number of boats out on the Windsor/Bray stretch with happy smiling owners.

It was Archie's first trip out on the boat, as you can see he looks traumatised!

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I did a double take with your pic of Archie! Does he look anything like this?

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"my" thread seems to have been hijacked by the canine defence league so, as it is peeing down with rain again, forgive me for restoring the sense of joy and anticipation that it was initially intended to create …. weather is looking half way decent for this weekend but I shall be locked up in London deliberating over matters photographical.

"Only an hour but a great feeling of things to come." This was last day afloat last year - September 22nd approaching PH.


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