Stowe Hill reported that they had not found any problem with our Eberspacher. However, the next day they said that it did leak, but only when cold. so it was removed and sent off to a local repair shop. They fitted a new water boiler bit, one that they had in stock, cause apparently ours is an old model and sparesare rarer than rocking horse droppings.

All repaired, and with a report that the sewage holding tank is already big and no space to fit a bigger one, we turn up on Saturday 6th Feb. Pay their bill for the work and for the mooring and head off south.

Then we come to Blisworth Tunnel. now I thought Crick Tunnel was a bit daunting. Bisworth is something else. No whisky (left it at home) only a coffee to refresh me. I decide I definitely have claustrophopia (how do you spell it?) but still it gets done, tunnel light does not fail, engine works all the way through and we arrive at far end intact. I tell SWMBO I need a cigarette to get over the strees (well my excuse anyway) and WWII breaks out over me smoking on the boat. (Quick explanation - I am supposed to be giving up, and not smoking on the boat). So we stop, ostensibly to look at the wonderful stable block at the south end of the tunnel. Step off the boat and have a smoke - joy.

Anyway, Stoke Bruene has a few challenges, not least being that the penultimate pound is so low that Lily Maud runs aground. The pole comes into use, and SWMBO is instructed not to open the paddles until I am in position almost at the gates incase the water level drops even further. All goes well and we get through ok.

We arrive at kingfisher around 1330 hours on sunday. Coming from the north, the marina entrance is angled towards the north, so there is a turn of about 140 degrees to get in. We had wanted to fuel and gas at Baxters before entering the marina, but there was a large wide beam barge thingy on the fuel point, which made my turning decision rather late. So we ended up winding not in the marina entrance as advised by the notices, but alongside the dry dock entrance. The dry dock was in use. However, the occupant of the wide beam thingy pointed out to me quite forcefully and rudely, that not only were they closed on Sunday for diesel, gas etc, but also it was dangerous to turn near their dry dock entrance.

1) I understand now the dangers - If we had hit the dry dock entrance and broken it, the workmen inside would have become wet quite quickly. However, I took care we we did not come near it

2) If it is so dangerous, should there not have been both warning notices and additional protection? Maybe a little word to H&SE would sort them

Oh well, at least we are in the Marina at last. Pity the electric point didn't work properly and the pontoon is so high. I will negotiate though.