WE'RE OFF AGAIN, PRIMED & PIMPED

SATURDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 2008

Operation a success and given the all clear to start cruising again, we’re off, heading towards Robin Hood Land, depending upon the state of the River Soar after all this rain.

We hadn’t wasted time whilst I was convalescing; I painted our newish long pole with smart cream sections separated from the blue lengths by red stripes, the same tape that I had put around the large cream panel that carries the boats name, that made such a difference and now the pole looks equally smart.

Jacquie, under my instruction painted the right side of Skyy from below the gunnel down to and including the rubbing strake. The conditions were perfect for hand painting, little wind, warm and dry with no direct sunlight to overheat the metal work. Masons paint is a delight to use, it flows beautifully, leaving no brush marks, it has great covering qualities, so, only one coat is needed to cover the red oxide splodges, that had really accentuated the battle scars before they were painted out. Jacquie did a first rate job, making sure there were no runs or drips, it really looks like a sprayed finish and within moments of getting on the cut we were asked who had done our paint job as it looked so smart and new, well the right side anyway.

We have plenty of time for the Leicester Ring, five week, so the first night out was spent, just below the Admiral Nelson pub. No rush, particularly with it raining so hard, but we have taken the decision to have a solid fuel stove fitted and we had previously stopped of to see if Jacquie could twist the arm of the really nice man who we want to make the plinth and surround for the stove, to get it done before this winter. I hope Jacquie’s charm did the trick and if so we look forward to a very warm winter.