Back to the oiling today, whilst Bob gets back finishing annual maintenance on the engine – one of his favourite jobs.

In an aside, spring is truly here. At times the water and air is awash in white as seeds float upon the breeze from nearby trees.

With each day that passes, an increasing variety of birds are arriving in our little neck of the woods. Yesterday it was a small group of Egyptian geese sauntering down the waterway announced their presence, whilst on another, it was a pair of white swans.

In the meantime, you know that saying about the plans of mice and men?

Well our planned itinerary has altered. Making the decision not to cross the less sheltered section of sea between Cuxhave and Wilhelmshaven whilst mastless, tomorrow we shall be sitting down to readjust the initial section of the 2017 odyssey.