Here I am at Milton Keynes

What a fabulous weekend. The weather has been just right. I have cruised about 25 miles, walked 18 of them (to go back for the car) and gone through 8 locks. That's about 11 hours cruising to you landlubbers. Car hopping is my least favourite thing because it means there is not much time to actually relax and enjoy the places where I stop. Today I was able to get a bus back to the car. The driver clocked the colour of my hair and ran off a FREE ticket but I had to tell him I wasn't ready for a bus pass yet so I had to pay £3.30! Going to see The Strawbs tomorrow night. I wonder what they will be like after all these years. Will they do "The man who called himself Jesus"? Today is the first chance I've had to log onto the machine and I have got a good signal. Have to go back to work for a few days this week but hope to be back on board next weekend for Phase 2. Nothing amusing has happened (yet) this trip but I'm sure there will be some items to report somewhere along the journey.

Plumbing completed

Yesterday James, the plumber, fitted an accumulator tank to try to stop the fluctuations in water pressure. By itself, it didn't seem to make a difference so he fitted a valve to reduce the flow of cold water which was dominating the hot. Anyway the shower now seems to run hot without the boiler constantly cutting in and out, so let's hope this has solved the problem. I hope to be starting out for Milton Keynes on Saturday and the weather is looking kind for the weekend. Just need to finish this work and do some packing....

A new season

I unwrapped Olivia about mid-February and, so far, have done about 3, or maybe 4, short local cruises. Up to Whilton, turn round, come back or down to Gayton (empty loo), turn round and back.

I allowed my hot water boiler to freeze over Winter. I knew I had to drain it down and I honestly thought I had but, hey, I hadn't. I am, therefore, getting to know some of the local plumbers. The first came to fix the boiler which is an obsolete model (of course) but he was able to solder it and get it going. However, my shower is still not getting hot and the boiler is cutting in and out. I've been told it is pulsating water pressure. So I am now talking to another plumber about something called an accumulator which is supposed to rectify the pulsating. . .more later.

I am busy making plans for this year's cruising which include London, where I am going to see Neil Young at Hyde Park (via Milton Keynes where Luke and I are going to see The Strawbs) and Cropredy, where we are going to see Fairport Convention. All of this while fulfilling Summer work commitments which will involve quite a lot of to-ing and fro-ing via public transport. It seems that my philosophy for this year is a slow boat to various gigs and festivals.

Last year's blog is available to view at http://www.nb-olivia-2008.blogspot.com/