Painting Day

Friday 30th October

After walking into the shoping centre to buy a paper from WHSmiths, we set off down through Banbury Lock, making a quick stop at the rubbish and elsan disposal below the lock.

Although it was distinctly colder than earlier in the week, it was still great boating weather.

Timing today was complicated by the aim of using the tins of paint bought earlier in the trip and to improve the look of the hull between the gunwhales and the rubbing strake.

Just above Kings Sutton Lock we found a good bank and Mike set about sanding down the paintwork on the starboard side. It took some time but eventually he felt it ready for the undercoat. Only then did we realise that this layer takes eight hours before it is ready to re-paint. As a result we will have to organise ourselves to complete to top coat in the morning.

After finishing the painting and a quick break for bacon sarnies as lunch, we continued further until we arrived at Nell Bridge lock. Here there is a winding hole so we were able to turn the boat and moor up with the other side to the bank. It was touch and go if Mike would complete the task before the light faded too much! We shall have to wait to the morning to see how well he did! the plan now is to make an early start on the paint, do one sid eand then wind the boat once more to do the other side. Then we shall hopefull be able to let it dry for a couple of hours before setting off back to Lower Heyford, arriving late afternoon with time to sort out the boat ready for the return to Cornwall on Sunday morning.