Today we’re planning to take on new crew, in the form of my parents. Tomorrow Sarah will head back to Oxford for her supercharge drips – a whole week with the in-laws was clearly too much!
We’ll be on the Ribble Link on Monday, so this morning I checked the coolant and oil levels to make sure the engine is in good nick before we have to go out on the river. All looks good, phew!
We needed to get through one more lock and fill up with diesel and water, and empty the poo tank. It was really windy turning into the marina, and looked a bit hairy for a moment but we got in ok in the end. Talking of hairy, Sarah’s hair was looking rather windswept too!
Whilst we were in the marina filling up, we met Colin who has his boat there. Colin was on the River Avon last year, and found a camera that a certain person had left behind at a lock. After much palava, camera and owner were happily reunited. What a coincidence to find him here, and just when Mum and Dad are joining us too! He’s also going on the Ribble Link to Lancaster, so we may meet again.
Having filled up, we then met up with my parents and had a lovely lunch on board.
It’s Mum’s birthday today, so we also enjoyed some birthday cake, yum!
Suitable replenished, Sarah drove us in Zena (Mum and Dad’s campervan) to the nearby National Trust’s Rufford Old Hall. We had a walk around the gardens where they have some topiary “squirrels”, and then the house itself. Of course, we also had to visit the tea room where I had a brownie and Dad had an Eccles cake – warmed and with butter melted on the top. Mum and Sarah enjoyed a pot of tea.
We then returned to Oliver’s mooring so Mum and Dad could unpack and settle in, and then tonight we’re out for dinner at The Ruford Hotel for Mum’s birthday.
