Quick start, slow finish

We chose the right day for doing the pump out; after getting up reasonably early, we'd unplugged the shoreline and were on our way just after eight. It was not quite a flat calm, but pretty close to it. I managed the turn and reverse onto the service wharf without too much grief, there being no-one watching. We didn't need diesel this time so had not much to do except watch the pump chug away and then give the tank a good rinse.

We've had a couple of less than thorough rinses recently from serviced pump outs, so it was good to be able to do one for ourselves to our own satisfaction. The gauge was a bit slow to record the emptying, so that we were concerned that it might be playing up, but the long rinse seems to have sorted it. It must have had some sludge piled round the sensor head.

Back at the pontoon I took a deep breath and, thanks to some skilled signalling from Sheila on the bow, made a decent job of reversing in. This means that the shoreline is much better positioned (we still don't have a bow connection, and won't until we get to Poynton in September) and we have a nice view across the marina from the well deck. Even the 3 connection is better this way round.

We'll still go bows in for the winter, though, to save having to walk the length of the pontoon in the snow. It's forecast to be an El Niño year which means heavy snow for Britain, usually.

We've spent the rest of the day pottering, although Sheila ran a washload. We've had a couple of walks round the marina but otherwise have been relaxing after the hard work this week. We'll take it easy tomorrow, too, then man a stand promoting the lodges during the Classic Car Show in the marina on Sunday.