Settling on the Paxton Princess for our epic voyage
Settling on the Paxton Princess for our epic voyage

Completing our preparations and my accounts and arrangements to leave The Hayling View for start of our Summer Cruise, just locking downstream to the Riverside Park to stay overnight and eat out at The Bridge in St Neots. T the sun was shining as we set off after it was drizzling down first thing.

I was a bit slower to rise after the late session watching the girls on TV; but was still able to update my journal before breakfast. The rain was drizzling down first thing and we hoped that it would clear up in time for us to set off this afternoon. There was so much to do this morning, that we ended up struggling to get ready in time but there was no particular hurry. The Norfolk architect faxed through plan and elevation drawings for our new boat shed and we commented on and approved the design so that they could be used as a basis for a planning application.

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Then there was all my accounts to do and then a range of correspondence before it was time to pack away all of the things in my office. I backed up my MAC computer and then disconnected it and put it into the security safe. It was not so much the value of it being stolen but the disruption that it would cause if I lost it. I first wrote a note to the gardener, briefing him on our arrangements, providing additional keys and a £200 cheque for him to be getting on with. I also stowed the photocopier and then went round the house with Diana and Daniel getting them to disconnect things and put anything valuable out of sight. We loaded just about everything on to the boat and then found it was 6.00pm and we could return the Chambers things via Jason.

They had kindly lent us some maps and books on the Humber and Ouse for our planning for York. It had rained earlier and we had to wait until after lunch before Daniel and I could put the winter cover over the pool and fill it with chemicals. But the sun was shining as we set off and locked through the Paper Mill. We cruised up and down and then selected a mooring space on the Riverside Park, moving some anglers in the process as boats take priority in that spot. We walked across to The Bridge and had dinner of plaice and other things and then turned in on time. Daniel was looking out for his friends, but they were not to be seen anywhere.