Well I am not yet on the River Wey! After my extended stay at Brentford when I went to see three films at Watermans (thank goodness they show less mainstream movies), Christine came over at the crack of 8am and we made our way down to Thames Lock and out onto the Thames. We arrived safely at Teddington, I got my licence and set off, planning to drop Christine either at Hampton Court or nearer to Walton, wherever there might be a station. However, Olivia had alternative plans! About ten minutes before Molesey Lock she started to smoke like billy-o and then when I went to exit the lock, she didn't want to start very well. We pulled onto the lock landing, let her cool down and tried starting her again. She didn't want to know. I called a local boatyard but they hadn't got an engineer free so I called RCR who sent John over. (Thank goodness I joined them after my battery problem). He did a bit of problem solving and then came the "you're not gonna like it" dialogue. My Bowman heat exchanger has cracked! Looked it up and found that a new one costs £650. However a second hand one only costs half that!!! Should be fixed tomorrow in which case I might yet get to the River Wey. The more positive news is that the lockies have been very helpful and not only am I moored near Hampton Court but also right by the Elsan, rubbish bins and tap. Anyone know what might have caused the exchanger to crack or is it just age!
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