Tuesday 23^rd June 2020

 

It was a funny morning with the weather undecided which way to turn. The day though, became very hot, too hot for me, and Harvey and myself spent most of the afternoon inside.

Harvey has not been quite right these last few days. He has always suffered with his belly in the summer heat and he has been having runny poo’s, normal in the hot weather, but with a touch of blood, although he is bright enough himself.

The morning, and into the afternoon, became busy with jobs that we had got materials for while in Middlewich. The side doors were removed and the hinge pins cleaned and greased, the brassware on one being repositioned evenly. Wedges were made for the galley and dinette windows, to enable them to be just partly open, an idea we came up with during the winter cold. The front cratch and back end locker covers were given another coat of paint and felt pads were fitted to protect the paintwork when opening and closing.

Then the engine room, again, had to be baled out. This is a nuisance. After heavy rain the guttering drain of the weed hatch cover blocks and the water overflows direct into the engine room. For some reason, the bilge on Bridge Street fills at the front rather than the back of the engine room, where the bilge pump is situated as would be normal practise.

Two washes were done with the engine running. Brenda then spent most of her day reading on the bed and later, outside in the sun, after yet another bad night’s sleep last night. It was good to be able to do washing while not on a water point and not having to worry about water consumption after measuring the amount of water left in the tank when the level indicator shows near empty. Also good, in the heat, to get the washing dry, including a set of bedding.

There have been so many boats passing by today, an almost endless procession, and that is without the hire boats being on the canal. The Middlewich Branch is considered one of the most used canals on the system. Not only is it a link between the east and the ever popular Llangollen Canal, but it also forms part of the Four Counties Cruising Ring.

It felt too hot to eat and so we didn’t have dinner until 8:30, a mixed sea food salad with Marie Rosé sauce and avocado.