Cleaning and Home

Yesterday was assigned as a cleaning day. We did not do a deep clean when we left the boat at Brinklow last August as we were hoping (against all the evidence!) that we would be returning sometime in the year. That, of course, did not materialise with the closure of the South Oxford extending until the end of October (and an early warning that it might not be until the following Spring) and us not wanting to risk setting off for Cropredy only to have another closure imposed in front of us. We might then find ourselves without a mooring and having to wonder where we could safely leave the boat for the winter. That was why we remained at Brinklow.

We are now scheduled to stay with Brinklow as our official Home Mooring until the autumn and we have a slot reserved for us back at Cropredy after that. Both marinas have been excellent and supportive - they are very similar in some respects but in others they are each distinctive. After all, neither were developed by Aquavista but acquired from previous owners. The only reason for moving back is the principal one that took us to Cropredy in the first place - a relatively doable journey from home and now that we have an EV the distance needs to be assessed relative to our range otherwise we might have to stop and recharge part way, adding to journey times. As we related in our last trip to the boat a few weeks ago, despite fairly careful planning, it is easy to find ourselves a little concerned when the range left is close to the distance remaining, especially after failing to get charged at several places we stopped at! Cropredy is much more within the range of a full charge to the car.

So when we arrived at the boat this time it was disappointing to realise that the passage of time (and the absence of an end of season clean) meant that the boat was not pristine. We did not feel inclined to take a day out before setting on this journey so we had to live with what it was. As a result, we were determined to be as through as we could and energy levels (and creaky joints) permitted.

So, yesterday, at the crack of dawn (well not quite!) we both tackled our mental lists of things to be done. We washed and polished etc etc time and again. Each time we had to change the water in the bucket it was not surprising to see just how dirty it was. However, by the time we had finished we were rather satisfied that everywhere seemed so much brighter. The only part we did not tackle was the outside. That is quite a task in itself although that has normally been part of the shakedown process. Let's see how things pan out but it did not look too bd (well, if not looking too closely . . .)

Today, the morning began with loading up the car. Somehow, it seemed that we were returning with a fuller car than when we arrived. In the end we managed to get away just after 11. Christine wanted to take the route which we given in the past by Google Maps sat nav - more recently we have been over-riding its initial advice and coming via Newbury and Oxford as Mike prefers that rather than too much of very unstraight single carriageway cross country roads (and a very long part of the Fosse Way) So we agreed just to go with the sat nav - which immediately told us that our route avoided a closure - one what turned out to be part of the Fosse Way.

We just accepted pot luck so did not check what route it was giving us but it turned out to be the one via Oxford that we have been using. Fortunately there were no delays other than a couple of temporary traffic lights with no queues. 

We did make the mistake of taking a comfort break at Didcot Services - as the sign ahead of the junction on the A34 said that it had toilets. However, this so-called Services is tiny and totally overwhelmed by the evident demand. Cars were even parking on the approach roads and the only toilets we could find were in the quite small McDonalds. At least they were very clean and tidy. After that it was an uncomplicated and familiar road home.