Monday, 28 March 2011

Small world


Woke up to pea soup in the Marina this morning but after a few hrs the sun was out and shining again. Decided to stay put today and after das captain had fixed the bow light we set out for a few food supplies.

Lunch was had at jolly jacks on the Marina where the sun continued to shine and a few hrs of people watching, had us in stitches as we watched princess yachts entertain 20 Chinese people for lunch prior to trying out their new purchase. Reminded me of langkawi and a day out with Bah my great Malaysian friend who had some Chinese friends of his over and we spent the day with them.

Das captain went off to observe them from our berth, leave port on their post lunch cruise whilst I sat and finished my very nice glass of vino.

I was sat next to a lady who lives here with her lovely westie dog called Tilly. " u work in exeter don't you" as she asked me if I knew someone called Edith? Funny old world is boating, happened I did, I employed her ten years ago and she is her sister......we have chatted in the sunshine for hrs.

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Saturday, 26 March 2011

Baldrick and Ricardo.....our barmy spring day in the Yealm



Woke up @ sparrow fart of dawn this am. Not helped by the Yealm woodpecker on his mating call. Bring back china clay ships of Fowey ...I was at my wits end and the novelty had worn off by 0600!

A murky day begun but the good old Yealm water was clear as a bell, slowly the river came to life as did das captain and we sat and watched the world go by, well he did on deck twas still a tad cold for me, I was handed Atlantic France to read and peruse for our grand trip in June.

We decided to stay another night and my plan for the day was to dinghy across to the Noss Mayo side and walk around to the Ship Inn. Bar das captain's 40th when we came here by road, whenever we come here we always walk the Newton Ferrers side. Today in honour of Baldrick and Ricardo we boated across and walked to the Ship.

The place was packed both inside and out, everyone enjoying the spring sunshine. Lunch enjoyed as always and I reminisced like yesterday of days gone by of my good mate who is now the other side of pond in Perth. Heinz Big Soup, TImepiece, Granaria girls on tour, Reading Room cottage, Dunstone and loads more happy times. It's amazing that with a touch of technology and a few photos across the wire that you can connect in an instance these days.

After wandering across the voss steps to the Swan Inn before the tide came back in for a final beer and coffee making the most of the weather and the day as the weather is closing in over the next few days, we walked back and then took the tender back up the river in the sunset to where it meets the sea.

After our glorious week we don't want this to end. Now back on das bot just watching the world go by and waiting for das woodpecker to start all over again. What a lovely day.




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Location:River Yealm

Friday, 25 March 2011

The River Yealm & the tale of the meandering boat hook!

Left the Marina around ten, filled up with diesel and made our way out across the sound. Still not a boat in sight on a very cloudy day except RFA Rosalie on an anchor buoy @ the edge of the breakwater. We zipped across the sound and out to sea with both sails up and making seven knots. It was lovely. Travels were not far today as we made our way to the Yealm, just round the Mewstone from us.

We love it here and spend a lot of time here during the season, the setting is stunning and the water has a clarity that is second to none. Night time is best, the sky and stars are just amazing.

No matter what the part of the season it is...the Yealm just never disappoints us. I was hoping that the cliffs at the entrance would be filled with bluebells today....just a tad too early, but loads of sheep grazing precariously on the cliff edge.

Lots of boats in the water too, which was a welcoming sight, even boats on the visitors pontoon. Das captain decided on a buoy for our berth for the night, not often I get to use the old pogo stick and surprised myself that I managed to pick up a buoy on the first time of asking, what happened next was hysterical in picking up the buoy I dropped the boat hook and watched it float effortlessly down the Yealm!

Das captain did not make me walk the plank for my misdemeanour as saw the funny side but I became all nostalgic (as us girls get), remembering the first time I used her when Steve took me out on das bot for the first time. I even remembered and cherished the hellish times picking up the buoy at our swinging mooring at Starcross in a blowing hooley! Funny isn't it memories and how simple objects can open a floodgate of emotion.

Anyway several hrs later after lunch on das bot, Steve pumped up the dinghy and went in search of das pogo stick! I watched him wind his way up the river back out to sea, wondering if he would return with our prized treasure....never guess what he did! It twas found near the river entrance trapped in some rocks waiting to be found. I was so pleased, it is no worse for it's adventure and is now safe in the naughty locker for the night.

After an afternoon of watching the numerous Yealm river birds and see low water come in we have come ashore. The season has not started yet so our local favourite The Dolphin Inn is on Sunday hrs.....outrageous! So we walked across the river at the tidal steps to the Swan Inn for a quick drink before the tide came back in again, we have wet shoes on our return trip and made it just in time.

So we are now sat outside the Dolphin waiting for it to open, it's sooo peaceful and just lovely to be back can't wait to see the stars here tonight.


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Location:River Yealm

Wednesday, 23 March 2011

Surfing the waves around Rame Head

Woke up to another stunning day in Fowey. Not sure I like the early morning dawn chorus of x two china clay ships @ 6am! Left about tenish to the wind bang on the nose so no sailing for us today, just motor.

Not a boat in sight until just off looe when a solitary fishing boat was trawling her nets. W listening to the radio as today numerous calls via cardigan notifying us of target practice from her majesty,s services. Visibility at a distance was very poor today despite the stunning sunshine, and then out of no-where came Hms frigate, even with binocular,s we couldn't see her name of number it was that hazy. For a second we wondered whether we would be target practice but then she turned to starboard and wendered her way towards Plymouth.

True to form as we hit Rame Head a gentle swell Rose a few ft and the wind picked up enormously,Red Snapper surfed those waves, it was exhilarating to say the least and for the next few mile of so we dodged the spray as it came over the spray hood cover. As we got into the sound the gusts continued until just past the breakwater and then the waves subsided and the sea flattened out abit. Wind picked up until we were at the Marina and an anticipated difficult entry into our berth came to nothing.

Boat and crew washed down and now just chilling.....what a fab day

Tuesday, 22 March 2011

Relaxing in sunny Fowey

Arrived yesterday afternoon after a leisurely morning on the pontoon. Not a drop of wind in the sound so ended up under motor and not sail as we meandered our way along the coast. We only had Plymouth sailing school and a few fishing boats in the distance for company. Twas a cloudy day and chilly out of the cockpit but in that scenario its just great to be out.

Fowey on arrival is as lovely as ever but deserted...not many local boats in the water and all the visitors pontoons etc not inlace bar one which is covered in seagulls manna from heaven!

Spent a few hrs ashore......sold out of Cornish pasties for Steve and then back on board and early night for us both.

Woke up this am at early doors (grd has kicked in) as we forgot to put the forward cabin hatch cover on (well das captain forgot) and the sound of the china clay ship coming in @ 0600! Fab sight as she snook up the river, watched her on deck with a mug of coffee, it's amazing how they snake their way around the tight bends to their berth. Last night minus heating was ok, sleeping bag doing it's business.

Lazy day sat in the sunshine for both of us, not quite shorts weather yet, but on the bow the sun was blazing as I sat reading my book......now I know I am on holiday. I am reading To The Baltic with Bob by Griff Rhys Jones...cheers Peter for the loan, a great read.

Dinghy pumped up this afternoon and we are now ashore again, watching the ducks flying in formation and the the water river world go by. The pilot boat has just gone out again for another ship on it's way to collect good old cornish china clay.

As for das captain and I, we are exchanging banter over beers before heading off for some supper.....blissful

Monday, 21 March 2011

Hive of Activity

What an eventful few hrs it's been. Warships, support vessels galore leaving port this morning and heading out into the unknown. Hms Dauntless looking very sinister and sleek in the early morning mist. They all pass as on the way out of the sound as our berth looks out directly onto Mount Edgecombe. Safe passage to them wherever they are off to.

As for us well hopefully off to Fowey today, the blue sky is trying to break through and forecast good so we should get a good sail in. Feels like we have never been away.

The boat is fully stocked and raring to go, everything in it's place. It was lovely to wake up this morning to a gentle sway, water lapping around, seagulls calling and the familiar sound of lines pulling. Sat on the deck watching the Marina and her surroundings waking up in the lovely morning mist.


Snug nights sleep, warm as toast in my swooper new sleeping bag, a present from the captain. I quote, it,ll be bad enough if it's cold but worse if you,re whinging that you,re cold! So with heating on and my new sleeping bag we were snug.

Monday, 14 March 2011

Swooper 1st Sail of the Season

What an absolutely fabulous day....picked up my niece and sister and then down that the old familiar a38 towards the Marina. Stunning weather today, glorious blue sky and minimal chill.

And then there she was, still lonely in her berth as boat ins have been minimal in the marina thus far this yr. The old girl looked stunning, Steve has really done a great job. She is gleaming in the water. After a few odd jobs it was off for lunch at Jolly Jacks and then we we were off.

She slipped out the berth like a dream, mainsail up no problems. E at the front of das bot screaming go faster. Across the hoe we went and then out to sea, with the genoa out. A good breeze, slow tilt over and we were off......heaven. Had a good sail around the sound, and then went up the river to warship / submarine watch....more importantly to let Eleanor take the helm. She was in her element, it was a joy to watch. Happy days are here again, its just so nice to have the wind in your hair and that sense of freedom.

Tuesday, 8 March 2011

Soooooooooooo excited......our grand voyage

So......boat safely in Marina,few odd jobs to be done aka sails to go on this weekend and then we will be ship shape to go in time for our belated post new year hols (we gave up malaysian sunshine this year) starting in about a weeks time. Can't wait and getting her in the water is for a worthy cause......our grand voyage!

Yep today I had my leave signed off for us to take a month off in June to sail across to, France down the bay of biscay ending up in la rochelle and then back again! Steve had his leave signed off for this some time ago but in having mine signed off today means we together can start planning our epic voyage on Redsnapper.

This was a dream we talked about nearly a yr ago....a life goal in terms of sailing and our opportunity to do a big sail whilst both still working. Retirement is still along time and away and then the wide ocean awaits.

The elation today was amazing I am so excited as well as filled with some nervousness but the captain and das bot (aka red snapper) will get us there soundly come rain, or shine.

The opportunity to plan and do this together will just be swooper.....the planning starts now and have lots of ideas after following the grand voyages of pixie blog last yr when they did their grand tour of Scotland. There will be trials and tribulations I am sure both on and off the water but looking forward to the sights, sounds, amazing people and life experience it will bring.

Tuesday, 1 March 2011

Das bot is launched!

Das bot has been safely craned and lifted into the water today by Steve and his dad. She did the brief trip round the sound to her berth @ mayflower Marina. Sad to miss the fun, fear as she is lifted in but shared the excitement from afar knowing that swailing days are here again.

Steve has been amazing and done all of the work this year, as work impact and the exceptionally cold weather has taken it's toll. A first for me as I normally do my fair share of winter boat slavery normally and actually really enjoy it.

So....looking forward to the weekend......finishing odd jobs off, stocking her up and getting those sails on. Doubt we,ll be sailing but we,re almost there. Sailing really lifts the soul and I just can't wait to get going and be reacquainted with the ol girl our summer home from home and the freedom, fun and loads of pleasure that she brings.