Month: May 2014

4 days later, Adagio is re-launched back into the marina.  The hull has been scraped, scrubbed and pressure-washed and then several coats of bitumen applied – many thanks to Alex Roker (07595027310) for his hard work and very approachable manner. Here’s 2 pix of the stern (with that Axiom propeller) and the bow (with a view through the bowthruster):

Lots of mussels and detritus to be cleaned off … back on Thursday for the re-launch.

Me and my neighbour, Beryl, look on as the boat is whisked up the ramp!

Beryl leaves her boat New Era this week for a new life (at 84!) on dry land.  She only started living on board at 80. A keen lass indeed and we’ll miss her.

Her boat is on sale via Devizes marina:

http://www.devizesmarina.co.uk/propertyDetails.php?pid=464169

It’s the late May Bank Holiday and we’re onboard, ostensibly to drive the boat over to the yard for re-blacking on Monday.  Chance to sample the delights of The Vaults beer & cider festival (twice!), check out the George & Dragon in Rowde (awfully nice). And also try at just living on board without driving the boat anywhere.

On Sunday we walked along the canal from Seend to Gile’s wood – nice  stretch with plenty of boats and a fishing competition.

Toby got to have a swim & we saw a swan family, complete with wee cygnets.

The boat gets its hull re-blacked tomorrow – hopefully I’ll get to video it being trailered out of the marina!

Stopping at the quirky Barge Inn, Honeystreet…

..where the new owners were very busy on this warm Bank Holiday weekend. They had trouble getting the beer pumped through and we ended up with 3 samples of their beer . .  hmm, nice! (1810, Croppie and London Pride)

But it all goes very quiet after sundown on the canal

Here’s Adagio moored very handily for the pub

There are some lovely boats (and some not so lovely!) – this one’s called Chasing Ducks

Passing Lady’s Bridge (1793 Lady Susannah Wroughton) attributed to Rennie

And then into a small lagoon called Wide Water, with some unusually-decorated boats.. and the usual patient heron

Plenty of wildlife … ducks with their young chicks . .  always keen to pick up your breadcrumbs.  Viv even bought a cheap loaf just for them.

Lots of blossom out

And a weird experience of sailing through a storm of tree pollen/flowers? (See video).

Viv enjoyed driving and is getting more confident

A very calm trip.  No roads, no trains … oh, a few planes did interrupt the journey:

But it was serene! And good weather.

Wootton Rivers – awfully nice village, mainly adorned with thatched cottages  – even the Royal Oak: