Dirty Dinghy

We have had our dinghy for quite a few years now and the time has come to bring it home for the winter and give it a thorough refurbishment ready for our trip to Scotland next summer.

The main body of the dinghy is in good order if not a little dirty, the bottom will have a fine layer of green as it has not been out of the water for a long time but this will wash off with a little bit of scrubbing and the jet wash. 

The wooden floor boards on the other hand have not weathered so well. They have spent several winters now covered with water as we don't cover the dinghy over. This has rotted the wood away on several places. The plan is to remove the boards and use them as templates to make some new fibre glass boards which will stand the weather much better.

While we have the dinghy at home we will give it a very thorough clean and polish, buy and fit a new rope which runs around the dinghy and also buy some new mooring rope as well. We will also be on the look out this winter for a second small outboard engine. We will be limited by weight and space when we get the boat trailed to Scotland so our big 6hp won't be able to come with us. So we are on the look out for a smaller and lighter 2.3hp Honda outboard.

The Downward Spiral

We discovered at the weekend that our batteries are finally on the downward spiral. The combination of using the diesel heating again, the fridge being on, the electric kettle and the slow cooker has finally started to take it's toll on them.

They are far from completely useless mind and we will continue to use them this winter, there seems to be little point replacing them for what use they will get in the next couple of months and then the following two or three ashore and plugged in. So we will replace them when the boat is relaunched ready for the new years start to the holiday season. There is still plenty of life left in them, some people no doubt would say that we are replacing them far too early, but we like to be able to rely on our batteries rather then hope and pray with crossed fingers that they will last the night out.

This set won't have done bad. They were installed in May 2012 so have far outlived our previous sets of batteries and will have been on for almost five years by the time we replace them in the Spring. Not too bad as we do tend to use our batteries whilst out and about cruising. We will certainly use the Varta branded batteries again as we have been impressed with their performance right up until last weekend when they gave us the first inkling that all is not as it once was.

A Mixed Bag

What a great weekend we had, the weather might not have always been great, but it was certainly better then forecast. 

Saturday was a mixture of mist and bright sunshine. The day dawned very misty but by the time we had sorted ourselves out and were ready to head through the lock the sun had broken through and burnt the mist off leaving long spells of lovely hazy sunshine. Perfect for a run up river.

By the time we had moored at Dunham Bridge for a few hours the mist had started to draw in again and looked set to defeat the sunshine but that didn't stop us from walking into the village for a couple of afternoon drinks. First stop the refurbished Bridge Inn which is a strange mix of cafe, tea room and pub which doesn't really work so it was only a quick one in there before moving on to the White Swan further along the road.

With a few pints inside us it was time to head back to the boats and start thinking about moving on to High Marnham. It was by now pretty low water and there will still plenty of fisher folk lining the banks so it was a steady cruise to the ski club moorings and on to the pub where we enjoyed a cracking evening with good food and good company.

Sunday was a far wetter day. We awoke to the sound of rain hammering on the roof, so both rolled over and had another hour or so in bed. No rush to get up today as the tide wouldn't turn until about 11am. Eventually however we did have to get up and still beneath heavy rain we untied and cast off heading towards Torksey on a dull, damp and dreary day. Back up through the lock we briefly stopped for breakfast and coffee in the tea rooms before steadily cruising back up river with a pair of lamb shanks slowly bubbling away in the slow cooker in a mint and onion gravy.

Once settled back on our mooring it was time to kick back and relax with a few beers waiting for dinner to cook through, and what a dinner it was. Well worth the wait and a nice way to end a great weekend.

Dancing in the Moonlight

We had a great evening in The Brownlow Arms last night with good food, good company and some live entertainment. We all ate, drank, sang and danced the night away.

We are now sat on the pontoon in the pouring rain waiting for the tide to turn and then we will head back to Torksey.

On The Trent

At just after 9am this morning we descended onto the Trent in the company of Anna and Sloe Mate and are now tied up at Dunham Bridge for a few hours before we head to High Marnham later this afternoon.

Back to Boats

So after a few weeks away from the boat it is now time to settle back into the usual routine of boating again.

This weekend we have a group trip to High Marnham on the tidal Trent planned with six boats heading out from Torksey tomorrow morning. We will convene in the Brownlow Arms tomorrow evening for drinks and a bite to eat.

This evening we will literally dump our gear on the boat and set off for Torksey. At this time of year the majority of the journey will be spent travelling in the dark. Not that this is a massive problem, we know this stretch of water like the back of our hand by now. We will have some dinner on the way down and no doubt end up in the White Swan for a pint or two when we get to Torksey.

Cornwall 2016 - Part 4

Day Six
Perranporth

 Lovely blue skies.

 Quiet beach.

 Surfs up.

 Crystal clear rock pools.

 Caves in the cliffs.

 Pretty beach scene.

 High above the beach.

Day Seven

Charlestown and Hemmick

 Charlestown Maritime Museum

 In the clay caves.

 Looking our over the harbour.

 Gas piece.

 Fancy diving in that?

 The tides in today. The picture doesn't show just how lumpy it was in harbour. Would have been like being in a washing machine waiting to enter the dock!

 The beach at Charlestown.

 Down the hill to Hemmick.

 Hemmick beach.

 A lovely deserted beach.

 Stunning Cornish Seas.

 Rock falls.

 The tide is coming in.

 Rocks to catch out the unwary.

 Back to the lodge.

Day Eight

Home Time

 Our last time on the Cornish back roads.

 One last look at the sea.

 That's not home! No we got distracted by a road sign for Lincoln and thought why not?

An unscheduled night out in Lincoln.