Sam's first boating night aboard before some fine hunting experience for his morning walk. Then some comprehensive Compass/Autopilot calibration trials with Steve in Barton Broad. Finally, back home to Paxton, dropping Steve off to Sawtry
The night went well and Sam slept all right in his transit box. He was perched up on the cockpit seat and, though he whined a bit to start with, he soon settled down and did not stir all night. I woke up at 6.30am on a cooler and mistier morning and, having had a quick wash and shave, then went out with Sam for a long walk.
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We went down from our Ludham Bridge mooring and along the bank of the River Ant until we got to the windmill and then turned left along a farm track giving access to the riverside fields. These had just been mown and presented an ideal setting for Sam to go quartering across them and to get some real exercise. He soon found a hare and, before I could react, got off into a spectacular chase; first in circles and then past me and across another field. He must learn to drop to the flush and not chase as, even if I had a gun, I could not have fired for fear of hitting him. I practised a few "long-drops" with him to get him back under control and then successfully dropped him when he flushed a rabbit and then a partridge. He still has to become more reliable and then to "point" and not "flush" until told.
Back to The Paxton Princess via the grocery shop; somewhat irritated by the shopkeeper insisting on keeping me waiting and then opening late for his own convenience. Steve was all ready for me and so, after I had eaten my breakfast, we set off upstream with me driving the boat and Steve getting used to the Yeoman in plotting mode. The sun came out and we continued on until entering Barton Broad when I cruised slowly around the perimeter whilst Steve actually plotted the Broad and we decided on some way-points with which to test the autopilot.
Then the real test and the new NMEA183 protocol between Navigator 2000D and ST6000 Autohelm proved to be much better than the old NMEA180 protocol between Plotter and Autopilot with the course being both set up and followed much more easily. We cruised off to Neatishead and Sam enjoyed some shore leave as the sun got hotter and Steve relaxed and did some sunbathing. The nice spectacle of a pair of attractive young girls sunbathing on the boat moored next to us was a pleasant way of enjoying such a nice day when everything is calm and so attractive.
Back out to Barton Broad where we first circumscribed a slow three-minute circle whilst re-setting the calibration of the Fluxgate Compass and this was another success. A poorer time trying to measure the accuracy of our two magnetic steering compasses. First Steve and I could not agree on the best method to use (which used up precious time) and then I found it very difficult to hold courses at all points of the compass as we jostled with other boats in a crowded broad.
Off towards home, somewhat the worse for wear but then settled down to enjoy the trip as at least we had measured the compass deviation. Once back, I fed and exercised the dog after un-packing the boat and Steve gave the boat a clean off. Then all packed up, the journey back home, dropping Steve off at Sawtry and then getting home in time to unpack, read my mail and chat to Diana before turning in quite tired after the open air and exercise.