This morning Mike set about a number of routine chores some of which take a little longer when in the marina than out cruising. Most of the facilities are a bit of a walk from the boat (but not as far as for some of the mooring pontoons).
On Saturday morning before we left for the station, the current gas bottle gave out. In the short term that is not an issue as we have two bottles and, as long as an empty one is replaced as soon as possible, all that has to be done is turn off one and turn on the other. We only get through between two and three bottles a year (just as well as they are now over £50 a go) so there is plenty of time to find a refill. However, if not done straightaway it is easy to forget until it is too late! So that was one of today's tasks - as they are too heavy for us to carry far the first ting is to collect a trolley from behind the office.
We were also very low on water but at least there is a tap beside every pontoon. Rubbish disposal was needed but that could be loaded onto the trolley along with the empty gas bottle. The gas bottle store is beyond the bin store and next to the fuel dock.
We do also need to fill up the diesel tank but we opted tp leave that to another day (this might turn out to be a bad decision as we now see that the wind is likely to increase for the next few days until we return home)
Rubbish disposed and a full bottle on the trolley it was back to the boat and the task of lifting the bottle into the gas locker. Mike managed without too much huffing and puffing - but for how much longer before we will need help to do this? Logs we brought from home were properly stowed (althiugh the number left is declining fast in this cold snap)
It was just on 11 by the time everything was stowed back away - a cup of coffee was needed!
The morning started very cold but sunny, gradually the edge off the cold air meant that outdoors was at least tolerable if not yet quite 'pleasant'. Still, there was time for Mike to take a short trip to the nearby parish council cemetery. Mike occasionally spends time transcribing and photographing gravestones and then uploading to an international website Find A Grave. During the time at home he had discovered that this one had not yet been listed - most at least have a placeholder. Mike had made a start on Friday but it was then too cold to do much of it - today much better on the hands and so he was able to finish taking the photos in just over an hour. (The grass was quite long and very wet so he ended up with wet feet and soggy trouser leg bottoms!)
After lunch we went into town to Morrisons - we needed a few food items but the main reason was to charge up the car which was, by now, down to 37%. At least this time both charge points were available. When we returned to the car after about half an hour, it was back to 85% - the estimate to 100% was another 25 minutes so we did not bother. (Actually many folk recommend not aiming for much more than 85%, especially on public chargers. OK on overnight at home)
Meanwhile, Christine took the opportunity to clean the boat floor. One of the current downsides with this marina (one shared with many others!) is that the entrance drive and the car parks are really in need of some tlc - the staff tried a minor repair to the worst potholes a couple of months back but failed to compact them properly so they are now even worse. But also, the surface is generally very muddy after the recent trains and it is impossible to avoid getting some on the boat and on our shoes.
Back to the boat and that was it for today - time for tea and a small piece of tasty fruit cake that we were given on Sunday morning.
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