Kilter
Well-Known Member
Was to take a RIB in need of service and repair to deepest, darkest Anglesey where Kwackers, of this parish, has kindly agreed to sort it.
Unfortunately I couldn’t drive it there by sea so a trailer job it was. As Mrs Kilter was having her hair done (this is an all day job btw) I had Jack (age nearly 5) ‘helping’ me for the day.
My journey plan was pick up boat 07.30 and deliver it some 2 hours later. As I said, that was the plan!
Arrive at boat to find the cover has gone AWOL and the boat is covered in carp (anag) and full of rubbish. So I say the words under my breath and chuck out the worst of the debris before hitching up the trailer.
At this point my eye was taken by the lack of the small outboard; some thieving scrote had nicked it; must have cut the padlock off to do so too. I suppose it was same scrote that removed the cover. Have since found the cover; it now has two cuts in it and is covered in stinky green slime. Another job to do!
Off we go then. Not! The trailer brakes have seized on. After a bit of percussive maintenance one wheel is free and the other will go backwards but not forwards. Rain falls.
Remove wheel and hub and recalcitrant brake shoe. Reassemble. Rain falls. Climb damply in to Landrover and steam windows up. Did I mention the rain?
Eventually set off at 10.45. Rain still falling. Jack keeps my spirits up with an endless commentary on everything interspersed with bursts of tuneless whistling; his latest skill!
Stop start through Stockport and eventually hit the motorway, phew. Grind to a halt before Runcorn and then stop start for half an hour till we finally crawl past the burnt out pick-up truck.
It amazes me every time I tow something just how many people like to sit in the middle lane doing 49mph! Also amazes me that a Landrover 110 with a large RIB on a trailer, lights on is invisible to certain road (ab)users.
As we get to Colwyn Bay Kwackers calls to say he has been called out on to the straits to save the universe or some such and just drop the boat off at his gaff.
I duly overshoot the said gaff and have to turn around and go back. Managed to reverse the trailer in without clobbering anything at all...result!
As Kwackers was not around to entertain me set off back and as we crossed Britannia Bridge saw little ship blasting up the straits. Gave Tom a call to see if he noticed the bump as the Landie went over the top of him; apparently not!
After a while jack announced that he was a) starving and b) really, really needing a wee-wee. This led to me discovering that Little Chef is just as shiet (anag) as I remembered since the last time I used one about 15 years ago! They’re not cheap either!
Drove back, dropped off the Landie and was just sinking in to a cup of tea when Mrs Kilter rang to request a lift home from Manchester.
When I finally arrived back at Kilter Towers (some 13 hours after leaving) I found that I was chef de jour. Not sure how that one works but ho hum!
Sunday was meant to be spent on Kilter but a duty call put paid to that! As a special treat I was then allowed to move an electrical socket and a light switch and hang some tiles in the shower! Joy!
Anyway that’s me contribution to the request for more stories!
Unfortunately I couldn’t drive it there by sea so a trailer job it was. As Mrs Kilter was having her hair done (this is an all day job btw) I had Jack (age nearly 5) ‘helping’ me for the day.
My journey plan was pick up boat 07.30 and deliver it some 2 hours later. As I said, that was the plan!
Arrive at boat to find the cover has gone AWOL and the boat is covered in carp (anag) and full of rubbish. So I say the words under my breath and chuck out the worst of the debris before hitching up the trailer.
At this point my eye was taken by the lack of the small outboard; some thieving scrote had nicked it; must have cut the padlock off to do so too. I suppose it was same scrote that removed the cover. Have since found the cover; it now has two cuts in it and is covered in stinky green slime. Another job to do!
Off we go then. Not! The trailer brakes have seized on. After a bit of percussive maintenance one wheel is free and the other will go backwards but not forwards. Rain falls.
Remove wheel and hub and recalcitrant brake shoe. Reassemble. Rain falls. Climb damply in to Landrover and steam windows up. Did I mention the rain?
Eventually set off at 10.45. Rain still falling. Jack keeps my spirits up with an endless commentary on everything interspersed with bursts of tuneless whistling; his latest skill!
Stop start through Stockport and eventually hit the motorway, phew. Grind to a halt before Runcorn and then stop start for half an hour till we finally crawl past the burnt out pick-up truck.
It amazes me every time I tow something just how many people like to sit in the middle lane doing 49mph! Also amazes me that a Landrover 110 with a large RIB on a trailer, lights on is invisible to certain road (ab)users.
As we get to Colwyn Bay Kwackers calls to say he has been called out on to the straits to save the universe or some such and just drop the boat off at his gaff.
I duly overshoot the said gaff and have to turn around and go back. Managed to reverse the trailer in without clobbering anything at all...result!
As Kwackers was not around to entertain me set off back and as we crossed Britannia Bridge saw little ship blasting up the straits. Gave Tom a call to see if he noticed the bump as the Landie went over the top of him; apparently not!
After a while jack announced that he was a) starving and b) really, really needing a wee-wee. This led to me discovering that Little Chef is just as shiet (anag) as I remembered since the last time I used one about 15 years ago! They’re not cheap either!
Drove back, dropped off the Landie and was just sinking in to a cup of tea when Mrs Kilter rang to request a lift home from Manchester.
When I finally arrived back at Kilter Towers (some 13 hours after leaving) I found that I was chef de jour. Not sure how that one works but ho hum!
Sunday was meant to be spent on Kilter but a duty call put paid to that! As a special treat I was then allowed to move an electrical socket and a light switch and hang some tiles in the shower! Joy!
Anyway that’s me contribution to the request for more stories!
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Maybe I should invest in some of hlb's boat remover!
