Stranded!

Had a bit of a nightmare couple of weeks!

At the start of September found myself full of a cold, pissing down most days and unable to start the engine so batteries went flat!! Spent a night with no running water, TV, or fire just a head torch trying to read a paper. But there has been bad times too!

Great Haywood Marina

Managed to get it going on the next day but running very poorly. Got it back to Great Haywood marina where Steve the manager (who I had met in the pub) and his staff (Julie and Doug) were really hepful. Stayed on the marina for 10 days in the end (see photo).

Steve’s brother in law Paul fixed the glow plugs which was a faulty solenoid as I suspected. Steve also introduced me to an excellent engineer, Ian Skoyles who came and spent half a day struggling with the fuel shut off mechanism but it turned out to be faulty injector pumps and I had to buy three new ones (£360). Ian had to come back three time before he got the engine working properly.

Three good pubs helped keep me sane also! Met some really nice folks in the villages and will definitely come back in happier times!

Ian Skoyles and his van

Yesterday was quite stressful as the first day out with the repaired engine. Everything appeared OK with the engine but after about 2 hours cruising, there was a tremendous clatter from the engine accompanied by masses of black smoke!! Turned out to be something wrapped round the prop which came off but I nearly had kittens! It thern rained most of the day but made it to Fradley Junction. Noiw waiting for Ian to come and fix an annoying diesel lleak then on the go again tomorrow.

Did mange to get a days fishing in on the n earby Trent and caught a coupl of lovely 4lb plus chub and missed a couple of others.