Back to the boat

We drove up from Cornwall yesterday - there was fog and rain for most of the way but this cleared as we approached Packet Boat and the afternoon here was very pleasant.

A problem had been identified by the RCR engineer when carrying out the annual service - he noticed excessive oil contamination of the engine coolant. We asked High Line (the boatyard adjoining the moorings) to investigate and we had not heard back yet what were the results. There first look had confirmed the problem and that it could either have been the result of accidental addition of oil in the cooling water, rather than the engine. This was the less expensive outcome but if not then it would be necessary to replace the head gasket, a much more costly solution.

Fortunately, they have concluded that they are 90% sure that it is the simpler problem, they have drained and flushed the system and recommend that we try it out for the next couple of weeks, bring the boat back at the end and they will check and finish the procedure by adding antifreeze. (No sense wasting it if they have to flush out another time)

Before moving the boat far we stopped at the diesel pump to fill our fuel tank - we had let it go down at the end of the last cruise of 2013. We were then able to move back to our mooring and hook up to the supplies once again as we are here until Monday.

After unpacking, stowing and generally sorting out ourselves, we popped to Tesco for milk and a couple of other items - we left our main shop until the next day.