Solace Day 8: Three Ducks.

I have used this shot because it seems this is my 300th blip and this is the only shot vaguely linked to 3 let alone hundreds!

The day had great potential for disaster, first of all the recurrent starter problem was present first thing in the morning. Just as we were preparing to enter Kilby Lock I got frantic hand signals from the Helmsman. He had lost drive or to be more correct he had lost drive forward he was stuck in reverse!

So it was down into the "engine hole" again (those who have no concept of what this is like look here). The boat is has a single lever which controls throttle and gear selection. Two "cables" run from it to the engine. I say cables but in reality the gear control is a thin rod. Fortunately we are members of the water equivalent to the AA/RAC so I virtually stood on my head to get gear box type numbers etc and we called them. No they didn't need any details, the mechanic carried a selection and would be with us in half to three quarters of an hour, which he was. This was impressive as we were in the middle of nowhere and he had to walk from the nearest road bridge.

He reassured us these things happen and they can't be predicted, climbed down into the bilges and said "Hmmm they don't usually break there!" Then the cable he had brought wasn't long enough so he had to walk back to his vehicle. Part obtained he fitted it and tried to test that it was working - the engine wouldn't start! After cleaning the solenoid connection things worked and we were on our way again.

We moored for the night at the most rural place we could find close to the southern outskirts of the Leicester conurbation.