Running repairs with parts from the local builders’ merchants with Debbie crawling under the decks and then lunch at The Loafs and Fishes before setting off to Oulton Broad. Mooring at The Wherry and checking conditions for the next day’s sea cruise
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We got up early today and ready for me to work on the boat and get the water system repaired. Whether it was us being a bit earlier or Sam getting used to his new abode I do not know, but he was very quiet this morning and settled until it was time for his meal. Still cool and very cloudy as I took him for his run and I gave him plenty of exercise to keep him happy for a busy day ahead. The walk to the local plumbers and builders merchants, Masters and Skevens, but they could not throw any light on what I needed so I had to buy a pad saw to form an access hole in the floor of the cupboard so as to remove the offending item and seek further advice then.
By coincidence, I met my cousin Keith Barrett in there and he offered to get his brother Colin (who is a plumber) to help me but I was not to need his help. I went back to the boat and, after cutting the access hatch, I could remove the old valve, go back to the merchants, and there bought a couple of rubber washers and also a complete pressure relief valve as a replacement just in case. I was to use this and eventually fixed the problem with it. By persuading Debbie to crawl underneath the decks into the bilges, we together replaced a good amount of insulation around the hot water tank and, now that the tank will not be leaking for the first time, we should get the largest amount of the hottest water ever for our domestic use.
Some time tidying up and then off to The Loafs and Fishes for a pub lunch before buying our urgent needs from the local shop and setting off. We cruised on down to Oulton Broad and I telephoned the harbourmasters there to seek instructions about tomorrow. The weather had cheered up and, though we had a brisk northerly breeze, the hot sun was out again and the breeze forecast to swing round to the west and moderate for tomorrow. There was no room at the Oulton Broad harbour but we easily managed to get into the moorings at The Wherry after shedding our dinghy to moor stern on.
A young lady on duty welcomed us and checked our intentions and then charged us for our stay. There was a nice walk for Sam along the banks of Lake Lothing and to the local park and, after we had given the girls their tea, Diana and I took him there. Then a nice meal for us in the restaurant of The Wherry. The food was a good carvery, but it was warm in the room and, with three sittings and the need to queue up at the servery, it was more like a canteen. The Paxton Princess coped very well with mooring stern-on and the levels meant that we did not even have to fold the davits. The only problem was us having the inevitable boat-full of revellers next door who woke us up at 4.00am in the morning with their loud conversation.