End of an Era?

Well, probably a chapter anyway. As we have grown a tad weary of this on board living lark and yearn for the space and stability of a house. We have also had a few knocks this year – viz. witnessing the lady boater meet her end at lock 8 in Atherstone, the almost breach at Marbury, the almost fisticuffs at dawn when the lock reopened, Viv wrecking both knees at Springwood Haven, the alternator packing up, the loo backing up, Steve smashing his thigh on the boat, bumps to the bald head. . . and just the tiresome thought of another winter on the boat. The boat has performed wonderfully, we can’t really fault it, it has served us well as a liveaboard. It will be a wrench to leave but I think our time has come round. Hopefully, pass it on to some new, younger boaters looking for adventure.

I also think that we are tired of being 3rd class citizens – the look you get when you state your address as …..the marina. So we have started the lengthy process of buying a house – a small 2-bed, bungalow in Trefin – the village we have been visiting over the last two decades for holidays. It’s only yards from the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path and the sea. We may keep the boat but we’ll see. Offers over £70k anyone??

One of the main reasons for choosing Trefin is the view from the Coastal Path, looking north to Pwll Deri
This is the local beach – not a sandy one but a certain dog likes a splash about
This should be our new house in November . . .
With a view from the back, looking again out to sea and the Pwll Deri ridge
Meanwhile, back at base . . . it was time for the boat to come out of the marina basin and over to the slipway for its re-blacking. Two and a bit coats of Rytex bitumen paint plus a repaint of the grey enamel below the gunwales plus the maroon of the stern – the tunnel flashing as it’s called. Anodes all OK. Adagio looking good. All nice and shiny (offers over £70k – did I mention that?)
Remember that “Ship’s Clock” we purchased over a year ago? Well, it stopped and wouldn’t go for long. So, I found a clock repairer – https://www.bentomlinclockrestoration.co.uk/ Ben Tomlin, over in Hannington. Who arranged for it to be repaired – all the escapement was rebuilt and it’s back and ticking quite enthusiastically. I can recommend his services.
And more news – Steve got his 4th bar on his Long Service Cadet Forces medal – 40 yrs now. Probably time to retire and hang that blue ensign up?
To answer, where is Trefin . . . quite a long way from anywhere. In truth just 15 mins from Fishguard.

Hopefully, this blog may serve boaters with a rough guide to cruising areas… we’ve done the Leicester ring two and a half times, up to Liverpool, up to Chester and lastly all the way to Llangollen. Lots of notes on mooring places, utilities and places to see, or not ! Enjoy.

And as a final ending here’s a gift for insomniacs – all 788 photos of this years cruise presented in a 45 minute animated slideshow, with background music (Vaughn Williams, Phillip Glass and Novak) – enjoy, possibly?

The End?