Back on a boat

It has been at least four months without a boat for us.  All our stuff came off Moore 2 Life in August when she got sold.  It was all stored in boxes at home.
 
At last we arrived at Oxford Narrowboats to see and inspect our next Moore to Life. Our grandson Ben suggested having the 'smiley'.  A car full of our stuff was then transferred to the boat.  Now at least it is back in the right place.  But during the following hours and days things moved around to try different situations.

The new Beta engine and batteries were exercised for a few hours to provide hot water and a charge.  The Eberspacher heated up the saloon and cabin.  All the boat systems were checked out intermately.  Being an 'ex hire', pumps were made easy to get at and change quickly.  The majority of lights are LEDs.  A simple switch panel enabled the switching on and off power to the lights, pumps, fridge and inverter / charger.

Next day we decided to set off to Banbury in the car.  Most of the parking spaces were full and we were about to give up when we found one space.

The public were able to to go  down inside and were told about the canal history and how a lock works.
 
Banbury lock had been fully emptied for inspection and cleaned out. Many items were recovered including a pile of mobile phones!

Chris, Tracy and our grand children came up on the Sunday to see the boat.  Chris installed a volt meter next to that simple switch panel.   Previously I was checking the power at a light fitting!  A cafe at the boat yard provided a good menu for lunch.

We returned home on Tuesday in order to prepare for the Christmas season and write this blog!  The mobile signal was non existent at the boat yard!  Now we plan to go back to Lower Heyford on Sunday 20 th December with another load of stuff, take the car to Cropredy and get a lift back to the boat yard.   Setting off on a trip to move the boat back to Cropredy on the Monday.