After a couple of weeks in Hythe, the crew returned for a few days so we could celebrate an anniversary (big one) and birthday (semi-big one). We try to avoid mentioning the numbers now, they feel so wrong.
Before celebrations began, work was required. We put the wrap back over the newly painted exhaust. Always a tricky job and it was boiling hot to make it even more challenging. Then it was time to drop the dinghy to polish the port side of the hull. A perfect job to do in hot weather whilst in the shade. It was satisfying to get that done. Next we had to give the boat a run around the bay to warm up the machinery and flush some fresh water through the wing engine cooling system. It was a lovely calm day for the pretty boring trundle up and down. It might be boring but having the sheltered bay is so handy, it lets us exercise the boat pretty much no matter what the weather is up to during the winter period. The usual strange track from our AIS ensued:
However, the boat behaved well, the freshly painted exhaust silencer smelt of cooking paint and the electronics all behaved too. That was a good start. We even got the boat to turn and reverse onto our berth through the thick weed (low water levels thanks to no rainfall in ages) with no use of the thrusters. That was planned as we were worried about what vegetation they might suck up and jam on.
The anniversary and birthday forced us to suffer two visits to the Pilot pub in Penarth - great place, good food, sensible prices. Then the crew returned to Toddlerville to take over the looking after things role from her brother. The Captain did a home alone thing. Some polishing of the starboard side of the hull to protect it for the winter but the weather conspired against him. It was wonderfully sunny which prevented finishing off the starboard side as it was in direct sun all day. The transom could be done but only before around 1pm. Then, when the sunny spell finally broke, there were showers followed by direct sun. Far from ideal for polishing.
The captain occupied himself by taking the bike out for some exercise, doing domestic stuff and a few internal maintenance jobs. An F pontoon impromptu party evening was good - several berth holders, fish and chips were collected and a little alcohol might have been consumed. Not by the captain of course:
The Nordhavn made a good backdrop to a sociable time. Simon and Nikki, who had joined us at the Pilot, kindly took pity and invited the captain for lunch on the bank holiday Monday. A very good curry and the chance to have some cuddles with their new hound. Sydney:
Meanwhile the crew was slaving in Hythe, cooking, cleaning and reminding Mrs Toddler about her recovery exercises which were going very well indeed. They were watching the cricket hundreds avidly as the captain cycled past the stadium in Cardiff:
where the Welsh team took on the Trent Rockets:
Big happy crowds filled the road and path heading to the venue. We guess they were less happy when they left as the Welsh team lost.
As a final hurrah before he headed to Hythe, the captain took the train into the city to do some footwear shopping. Big mistake, the place was crawling with bank holiday week vacation folks and the yet to go back to school ankle-biters. After struggling to find any floor space in a couple of shops, he had a semi-brainwave. Since Transport for Wales were offering a £1 flat fare on any journey, he took the train to Caerphilly which was way quieter and had a couple of "shed retailers" that might be useful. First of all, a visit to the castle was needed. We'd been many years ago before a big revamp and renovation was undertaken. It was a good wander around:.
and the old moat area looked pretty good too:
Then it all went wrong - the shop didn't have the required shoe size in stock and back at the station it was the normal public transport carnage:
As you can see, the heading of "live trains" was a bit of a joke, they were all very very dead. We do wonder how nationalisation of the trains will help - Network rail who run the infrastructure are effectively central government controlled. Transport for Wales have been run by the Welsh government for years too.
Luckily, the captain returned to Hythe using a hire car. The only excitement to report is to tell readers not to buy a Peugeot 2008 unless they like a rather bouncy ride (spring damping is strange) and a clutch pedal so close to the footrest that can stop you from depressing the thing. Not ideal.
Back in Hythe we cooked, cleaned, shopped and did a few maintenance bits and bobs for the house and also for Mrs Toddler who needed a doctor visit to sort out some plumbing issues. In the boatyard was the strangest sight:
A tender from the passenger liner, Queen Mary 2. We wonder if they missed it. It almost felt like our liner curse was appearing on dry land too.
