Harecastle and redbull

This is the first time we have been at harecastle with the solar boxs on the roof so wasn't at all sure if we could go through or if we had to dismantle them. but there was nothing to worry about luckily.
we made it thru the tunnel in about 32 minutes but had to keep slowing down as there was a hire boat in front.
so we get to the first lock at redbull and there waiting for us was sheila and jim (how did they know) :O so we gave them a lift down the lock where we moored to go shopping.
down the next lock and moored behind sheila/jim and yogi/ronni soon after we had all joined up on the towpath for a chinwag till it turned cold.

all clear

halfway

the keepers

coming out

Stone and beyond

seeing as this part of the trent and mersey is not in the blog i thought i would add it, today we left stone and went through stoke and on to harecastle tunnel, we got here at 5pm so will have to wait for tomorrow to go through.

looking down stoke flight

top of etruria

looking back at the junction

watering up at harecastle

All done for now.

So all the painting thats going to be done is now done, if theres any more to do it will be finished off later in the year, now is the time to enjoy the summer and put work behind us.

much better

Last of the black prince blue

A little bit of red just cus i can

Painting

seeing as the weather has been nice this week we have decided to stay put for a few days and get the painting finished on the semi trad conversion.2nd coat tomorrow if the weather stays nice.

first coat of top coat

The Summer Tour begins

so after a mild winter and dry docking we are now off on our summer tour, this year i won't be blogging daily unless there is something out of the ordinary to talk about, we are heading towards stoke to meet up with islonian for a short while, then off to middlewich FAB, from there who knows.

Primer

today i sanded the guide coat back then refilled where needed then resanded and finally primed, another coat of primer tomorrow if the weather holds up.

Filling and Guide coat

 Last off last night nick cut the wood for the seating, all i need now is some sponge so i can finish them off,he also cut the end panels off to make it more open, the seats are 1 metre long and 360mm wide.
Today we filled the gaps in the welding then darth vader decided he was tired and went to bed, typical of  a super hero lol, so i waited for the filler to go off then hand sanded it back, once that was done i put on a guide coat so i could see where it needed refilling, tomorrows forecast is rain so will have to wait and see if i can get anything done tomorrow.

wood in place

guide coat

guide coat and end panel cut out

Bank Holiday Weekend

sorry about not updating but nick has had "Arc eye"  and yes he does wear a full face shield, seems he caught a flash as he was looking sideways, anyway work commenced again this weekend but we have had to be careful as there's been a lot of boats and walkers going past us, he set up a tent area with tarps and fishing umbrella, looked like a gypsy camp but it did the job.

welded end cap

Darth Vader

i will post more pics tomorrow of the finished job.