Cosgrove again

Just like last Thursday, I've come up to the boat after night shifts because I have a boat test to do tomorrow.  Today, I was driving.  I stopped at Tesco's at Wolverton on the way, and arrived at the marina just before 10am.

I set off pretty much straight away, heading to Baxter's at Yardley Gobion, about half an hour away, for a pump out.  That was completed efficiently, so I winded in the marina entrance and began the journey back.  By now the clear skies had mostly clouded over.  As I always prefer to be out of the marina rather than in it, I carried on past Thrupp Wharf heading for Cosgrove.  I've never seen the moorings so empty: the only boat here was the CRT work boat and associated flats, which have been here for a good few weeks.  I winded above the lock; the cattle in the adjoining field were having a great time paddling in the canal.

With a choice of moorings, I picked a spot a couple of boat lengths along from the CRT boat.  As I had my lunch, another boat arrived, and faced with several hundred yards of available space, slotted themselves between me and the CRT boat.

This afternoon, a couple of CRT guys arrived and moved their boat just round the corner.  For what reason, I've no idea.

The sun has come out and it's been really warm.  I took a director's chair into the cratch and was tempted to have a sleep in the sunshine, but instead decided that with the weather improving I'd sweep the chimney and clean out the stove.  I got up on the roof with the chimney brush and got to work.  This is a job which creates what is known in technical language as a right mess, both on the roof and in the stove.  Having swept the roof, I set about the inside of the stove.  All the soot lands on a baffle plate which isn't removable, and has to be taken off by hand.  It's a messy business, and I needed a shower afterwards.

5 miles, 0 locks.