Our marathon day starts with an alarm. Not alarm clock, but heating failure alarm. On previous nights we’d been woken a couple of times by the boiler/heating kicking in, but just thought it’s a bit eccentric and ignored it. Today before 07h00 It decided to start, fail, burp a few times and then sound the general alarm, so we have no choice but to get up.
I Google the service manual to decode the diagnostic number showing on the display but the solution is extremely complex and requires tools. However the manual also has a system reset procedure so I think that might sort things out. 10 minutes later we are all sorted and we’re off to an early start.
Starting early is not a bad outcome as we have a long day ahead, but not before breakfast of course. Saturday breakfast is baked ciabatta so we chuck one in the oven ... and soon learn the oven is not so good. Our “Vanette” is definitely lacking in power - thank goodness we’ve found this out now.
After an hour’s drive we are approaching Whilton locks, a flight of seven which take us two hours to navigate, so we are getting faster. By running between each lock plus around, over and back twice at each one I’m doing my calories, so after the last one let husband off to walk a couple of miles until we reach Braunston Tunnel, which of course you will remember the length of from when we traversed it two days ago.
The galley slave has been busy during the tunnel, we emerge and moor up for half an hour for a bite and a wet. Then we’re on our way again because almost immediately it’s time for the five locks at Braunston, which we share with a lovely family on their enormous 70 footer, despite the help it takes nearly two hours. It has to be said that the lock jock is just a tough job whereas the reserve captain’s responsible driving into and out of twelve locks today is excellent.
From then it’s just an hour to our intended mooring spot near Lower Shuckburgh, during which I build dinner from my previously prepared lasagna kit. Having discovered how poor the oven is we light it before 17:00, and the pasta is in 15 minutes later.
Then we head off on land. Having the Ordnance Survey’s app is amazing - all landranger maps, and loads of others, instantly available means I can construct a walk on the fly, so we build a suitable wander and head off in loop designed to end up in Lower Shuckburgh close to our mooring. Turns out Shuckburgh Hall and grounds, although entirely private, is very pleasant to walk through and the deer look incredible.
We return, wondering if we will have inedibly undercooked lasagne, or the burnt shell of a hull if things went the other way. As it turns out guessing gas 6 was correct, even though the cooking time was double what 160 degrees would have delivered. Pop that on low whilst we shower and dress for dinner.
Another FaceTime dinner party and we while away the evening with wine, canapés, wine, said lasagna and the last of the amazing banoffee pie - bliss!
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