Waiting is over.

We finally have lift off,or rather,lift out! After waiting for the best part of a year, we had the phone call on Tuesday telling us that 'Warrior' could be taken out at Essex Marina,where previously,we were told we had no chance.

Just after lunch on Wednesday,the ,marina lads turned up to take 'Warrior' from the moorings,along to the hoist.It amazes me that 58 tonnes of barge can be moved by two small work boats,with 50hp outboards! We opted for the walking option so,we could watch our pride & joy (also our home!) being taken up river towards the jetty. It was the event of the year,according to the amount of people on land & in boats, who stopped to watch! Steph was a bag of nerves as we stood on the sea wall to see the hoist gradually take the strain & once everyone was happy, the lift began. Being low tide did not help with Steph's nerves, as our home had to be lifted about 30ft & once there,suspended to allow for the hull to be pressure washed.

By the time 'Warrior' came to rest in the yard,it was already 5pm & time for the lads to go home so, that is where we stayed the night, slap bang in the middle of the boat yard,under the hoist.Luckily a set of Fairline steps were 'borrowed' for the night, allowing us(including Barney dog) to climb aboard.

The next morning, the task of juggling the boats around began, to make space for our 85ft lump & by the time 'Warrior'was safely chocked up,it was 1pm. All the mean time,we spent either watching from the ground level or, drinking tea up in the marina bar, there was much else we could do.