Back to the boat after 20 days away!

Tuesday 16th January Day 178

Well, for saying we are in a hotel right next to the Luton airport runway it was a very quiet night. The bed is extremely comfy, in fact the whole room is nice and airy and it has a desk. I suppose these are more to accommodate business folk but I treat myself to a updating this blog whilst we have a little bit of time before we have to go and get our shuttle. ((Shuttle?? you’re not on the Enterprise you know!)) well that’s what they call it.

Breakfast is included with the £67 hotel price and very nice it is too with a selection of cooked and continental breakfast. We enjoy a lazy brekkie watching the world go by as people are frantically driving around in and out of the airport and planes taking off in the distance. Then it’s back to the room, writing done then packing and out.

Again, it’s back in the direction of the airport to catch the Dart shuttle to Luton Airport Parkway where we have to wait for the train to St Pancras International. We thought we might go and visit the canal museum and head that way and along the canal. I think unless we have any problems with the canals we are probably going to aim for London come spring which will mean the big trip up the Thames and under Tower Bridge! I might try and see if some friends can meet us and poss film us going under it as we us filming going through it. ((Yeah, yeah we know what you’re like for changing your mind!))

The heavy rucksacks soon defeat me and I don’t want to hurt my shoulder again so we find a newish Wetherspoons near Euston Station where we will be getting our next train to Stafford and then a bus to the marina after we’ve been to the supermarket to get some supplies for the boat.

We have been away from the boat for twenty days so we are hoping no burst pipes, leaks or problems. I contacted the marina and they very kindly left a bag of coal on the stern for us as I don’t think we had much left and it’s not going above freezing this week.

I’ve just finished updating this weeks and last weeks blog whilst in Wetherspoons ((I’m impressed Peachy, you really do actually work when you’re on on a ‘research trip/holiday’)) and the plans have started and we are back on the canal planner looking at where to go this year as I’ve mentioned London is top of the list but it could well change. ((Told you!))

Finally, we get the train back to Stafford around 5p mish and then it’s a trip to Tesco to get essentials like milk etc. We eventually decide to get a taxi rather than the bus back as we are both knackered, it’s gone dark and we still have to sort the boat out.

We finally get back and have a panic when we think the lights aren’t working but realise we flicked off the main switch. It’s cold and we leave our coats on as we put the heating on and light the fire. The mains water has been switched off which is a bit of a problem as it’s supposed to be below freezing all week and we drained most of the water before we left but that’s a problem for tomorrow.

At least everything is okay. No leaks. No water damage, the boat is just as we left it. Day done. X