Ive grown up around canal boats and they are truly a part of
me. I worked for my fathers company for over a year and I learnt how to weld a
boat together, fabricate steel, hot rivet plates the same way its been done for
hundreds of years. The one thing that I never really learned about was the
mechanics of a diesel engine, but that’s changed a little now.
A few weeks ago we were in the Bahamas and one of our
engines blew a piston. Its not a simple case of calling the AA and hoping for
the best, we have a resident mechanic but he cant work alone when it comes to
rebuilding an engine. I took my turn in helping to rebuild the engine and I
learned fast. The engine was put back together and we made the next weeks
charter without a hitch. Unfortunately I now know what constitutes rebuilding
one of our engines, lets just hope it doesn’t happen again soon.
Well its been a while since I last wrote this and I suppose
I’ve been busy. We got back from the Bahamas, which is a good thing. Don’t get
me wrong they are beautiful islands but it means more work on our part, longer
hours and the pay is always low. Meaning we have a tired cranky crew, damaged
boat and no money to show for it.
Anyway we arrived back in the TCI and got back to normal
duty, not to mention I only worked one week and then off to Miami!!
Leaving the routine of the boat behind its such a relief and
Miami is only a small hop away so a 6am flight got me in at 10:30am. I hired a
car for the week, a brand new Chevy Malibu with 8 miles on the clock!! I
cruised up the main street of south beach, the scene of so many films,
surrounded by super cars and palm trees. I found my hotel and checked in for the
week then walked to the strip for a check of the bars and a few beers. After
finding The Clevlander (look it up on the web) with house music, a pool and
cold beers I got settled in for the night.
That was pretty much it for the week – coffee, beach and skateboarding
during the day. Miami heats basketball on the big screen, beers and pool
parties by night. Needless to say I had a good time, love Miami, want to go
back and felt refreshed and ready to work again at the end of the week.
So I am back on TCI again and getting settled back into the
routine, cant complain for now. Week one nearly done and only eight more weeks
then I’m bound for the UK shores for the sisters wedding and some great days
spent with friends, good times.
