Getting soaked and the scroungers visit

If you remember, Russell, the nice man on a boat nearby had brought his extending ladders down to help us clean up the Satellite TV and sat phone domes which had been sorely neglected for a while. Annoyingly, the only ladder position possible didn't give us good access. So, we had to resort to the old low technology solution that involves the captain having a bath in water, green goo and bits of elderly / not so elderly bird poo/ It is always a wonderful little job:

The telescopic window cleaning poles travel around with us ready for the very infrequent action they get:

After the captain was soaked / filthy and the photographer stayed at a safe distance (she had to tend to the water tap of course) things looked a little cleaner. Apart from the captain than is. That will have to do for this year. Hugh the assistant marina manager suggested that we could sneak into the lift bay when they have a cherry picker on site for the annual maintenance of the travelift here at the end of the month and then use that for access. Sadly the lift bay is only 10cm wider than we are and so it would be an interesting manoeuvre getting in and out and fenders would not be possible. Lovely offer but we had to decline. We are just too fat.  

Things improved the next day when during a break from polishing, we had a visit from the marina's resident swan couple to show off their new (2 days old) family. Or maybe it was to scrounge food. On the day they hatched mum was most protective. There are 7 cygnets and two eggs that did not hatch in time under her on the nest and well hidden from viewers like us:

No matter, the cygnets were as appealing as always when mum and dad brought them scrounging for food a couple of days later:

They have learned to eat from boats rather than the unappealing local weed rather quickly:

We would prefer that they tried to beat back the underwater jungle a bit but until they have a neck, getting to it might prove tricky. Whilst feeding, dad kept an eye on his brood:

and on us too just in case:

Somehow the swans have more freedom than us at present. They can paddle around the marina, fly into the bay and eat in any of the "boat cafe's" that they can persuade to open up. Not swapping lifestyles with them though. Mind you, they have no Covid worries, free food, freedom but the 7 children thing is very unappealing. 

Polishing and then warming up the engine

What to do in lockdown? Well, on a chillier day the wing engine had a coolant change. Such excitement. Naturally the disposal area for old oil / filters etc is in the boatyard and is locked down so the engine room is still full of waste oil containers etc. However, lots of warmer weather allowed us out to polish. Time and time again. And again. As we had neglected the superstructure last year, most of it needed a gentle cut back too which rather elongated the whole process. As you can see, it was tremendous fun:

We are slowly working our way around, most of the port side of the superstructure is completed, the pilothouse and flybridge exterior too. Got to brave the leaning over and sorting out the white GRP around the bow sometime which is a bit of a back killer. That is currently on hold - we have plenty of time it seems......

A boating neighbour very kindly brought his extending ladder set down to the marina so we could use it to try and give the satellite domes and sat compass a much needed clean up. They are nicely spattered in bird poo and green gunge from the very wet winter here. Sadly, we found that the access once the ladder was in position just didn't really help much so it will be back to the old technique of using window cleaning poles and getting soaked / covered in the aforementioned green goo and poo. Expect a photo sometime.

On a particularly warm and windless VE Day, we needed to pump out the black water tank (avoiding using the marina facilities during the Covid risk time) and as the pump out station is outside the marina on the barrage it meant a serious trip. Yes, out of the marina lock and onto the barrage pontoon. Almost far enough to get the engine up to operating temperature by the time we had returned. Again, we fired up the AIS to please our stalkers and record the monumental voyage so we can look back upon it in years to come:

As we were leaving the marina lock one woman called out that she was jealous of us having a boat trip. We explained how far we were going and why. She seemed less jealous after that.

We are saving you from pictures and the aroma of the pump out station itself and our efforts there. Instead here is the view aft to the barrage bridges and locks:

Coming back into the marina felt strange - a little bit like going back into jail? Or perhaps naughty schoolchildren who have been playing truant being readmitted?

No matter, it allowed the boat to float a little higher after removing around 400 litres of "stuff". This didn't help us getting back onto the berth though - the depth sounder showed -0.1 metre and the copious weeds were grabbing at the keel in an attempt to stop us turning around under engine alone. Luckily the bow thruster overcame their grasp and chewed up / spat out some without breaking the drive pin in the  mechanism. That could have made berthing here entertaining and been a tricky failure to fix.