Homecoming.

Arrived and being well looked after. Considering as soon as we arrived we tipped everything out, and re-loaded K2. I suppose that's what a shakedown cruise is about, finding out what you do and don't want! So I now have a car full of stuff going back home!
May well go out over the weekend, but ferrying people about, and things to do, may keep K2 firmly on the pontoon... but I've already got - "let's get going" fever!!

Away from it all !!

Thanks to T-mobile, 2 days of no blogging! technology eh? Still 40 something locks, first staircase, a tunnel, 2 turns diesel and water later, and we are at Braunston turn. A short run to "home". Question is if we run home or carry on past!!
In common with the boat in front of me tonight "I need to be in Bath in August" and the boat behind "We're heading to the Weaver for the winter"" we'll do whatever tomorrow brings..
By the way - I've joined the vintage engine repair team!! Running into the lock, forward, and little reverse, then forward..... come on forward.... why she's going backwards now... OK - down below, kill the engine - ahhhh, the linkage has dis-assembled itself from the ceiling.!! screwdriver, screws, 15 minutes and the engine was back on, and we were off again !!
Hang on - the gearbox is new! the 1954 engine has been running perfectly!!

A lot of "firsts"

First cruise starting... Stratford canal is 4 inches short of water and with a very heavy boat drawing 30inches, we bumped our way along the cut getting stuck mid channel 3 times, once under bridge 6!
First lock... Lapworth top lock no 2.
16 lock miles and we now wait moored at the top of lock 6 ready for the flight tomorrow.
Don't bother with the Boot Inn at lock 14. What a rubbish place. no food, too busy can't eat outside - load of jobsworths that left us hungry and fed up...
Tomorrow is rain! so 16 locks in the rain sounds about right for the inaugral cruise.
Tried to load the video of the first engine start - blogger failed it, so I'll try with a better connection sometime! great start

A lot of "lasts"

Last sleep, last breakfast, last all sorts of things today, as I filled my poor car to lorry standards, and got to K2 by midday, leaving an empty looking house, and a very empty bedroom behind. Now it's all ready for Steve to start moving his stuff into it next week.

However by the time the bed was made the under tug deck bed 'ole had been turned into a very cozy place, and plenty of room for all my clothes, and 3inches of storage under the bed for sheets, blankets and even the summer duvet.

Whilst I've been loading K2 this week, I've provided amusement for the occupants of NB Mr David in the yard having repairs on their windows. As fellow bloggers, check out their site, as they make and sell greeting cards from their narrowboat.

Well off for the start of new things tomorrow...

She's mine!!

Caused much amusement as I unloaded the car into K2!! ""It's not a Tardis you know - It's a NarrowBoat""
But Tardis she is, as everything went in - only I now don't have a clean T-shirt at home to go out in !!
Friday afternoon off, and the car will be loaded again for the final run before the re-positioning cruise Saturday.
Hurrah !!!

And While I'm blogging - Suzi's room did get let, from August, so the house is full and that's a big weight off my mind.

Inventory!!

50Kg coal, large bag of logs, 2 bags of peat, 3 crates of wine, 2 shepherd hooks, 8 toilet rolls, bag of ropes, Wok, 2 saucepans with lids, clothes airer, TV theatre, 24 T shirts, 18 shirts, boxers and socks, DVD's, Dyson, chain saw, box of kitchen stuff, coffee table and 2 dog beds.
Oh and a DAB radio, 5 pictures, a mirror and a brass bedside lamp!
And all in a convertible!!
Well in K2 by tomorrow night...

A new canal..

Well, if there was one, I would be the first on it! Instead a design concept for K2's logo. Not a bad start, but she looks prettier from the starboard side, so pictures will be taken!!

As of now, my insurance is covering K2, first step towards ownership, and Barry at ABNB has confirmed that all the mountains of cash are now sitting in ABNB's client account waiting for completion on Monday.

Weekend ahead of sorting and clearing stuff, and showing the house off to a Girl who may want Suzi's room from August. Hey! It's my last weekend on terra firma...

Sceptics!!

OK so was I!! I doubted that the trailer would go into the garage, (See post of 1st May!) and everyone who knew me took one look and laughed.

Well it has !! much to my neighbours relief I'm sure... AND the door shuts!!

Tonight another car load of things - microwave, all my climbing and walking gear together with the first food items. I have one more load to go next week before the re-positioning cruise.. and way too much to go in!

No pictures...

But...
Contract signed and sent.
All paperwork completed.
Completion due for the 19th.
Thursday, another car load for K2.
Hopefully only one more after that, before the final move in just prior to the start of the weeks re-positioning cruise.

Oh OK - a quick piccy then !!

Hey - where's all the room gone !!?

You know what it's like, things get bigger in your mind, so K2 had become an Ocean liner for space.. except it's not! Well the half of the airing cupboard I took up fitted in the back cabin cupboard!! Where does the Dyson go? or the iron, - bother the wine rack doesn't fit! Good job she has the most cavenous hole at the bow (!!) - the front section of the tug deck is a huge outside locker, into which various things vanished, and into which a lot more will vanish by the seems of it! Oh and she has coal and wood on the roof now, so life is being breathed into her...

Bag Boy!

Borrowing an Audi Estate in the sunniest and hotest week so far this year, while she drives my convertible! Typical!! However, it does enable me to ship a pile of the larger more awkward stuff up to the Boat over the next couple of days. So crockery and cutlery, bottles and bedding, paddles and bouyancy aides all enroute! Oh, plus the obligatory coal and wood!!

Ian, as good as ever, has allowed me to put my things onto (his) boat, although it seems she may be fully kitted out - we'll see when I next get there!

Meanwhile, my kitchen cupboards are a little emptier...

Big check

Oh sorry, Cheque! Well actually, electronic transfer to ABNB for the full amount I'm paying - ouch! and another to the Marina to pay that up, and one to BW for my license, and lastly one to the insurance company. Diminishing values in that order....
Looks like completion is set for the 19th May, that's great, as I want to re-position her over the week of the 24th onwards.
Hopefully Ian will allow me to start putting things on board as of this week, so I can move on by car, rather than van, just waiting to hear back from him to that affect.

Garage sale

How on earth do you get a double axle trailer into here!! ?

I need to get this sorted, as parts of the house need to be decanted into the garage, as well as the trailer in only three weeks.

I heard today that K2 is now being gently warmed up with her heating on, so that the wood goes back to shape ready for the final work to be done prior to my completion. I have to say, Ian and Sarah are so far, being brilliant.

Today is the 1st May. by the 1st June, I may not only own K2, but be living on her as well - exciting? yes - very! nervous too!