Wednesday, 31 July 2013

Under Offer

Guess who I saw yesterday being towed to the fuel pontoon? Yep Promise, looks like she is about to change hands again.
















I have written about her being up the Tamar River a few years back, never sailed and generally unloved until last year when we came across her in the Marina and out on the water being very loved up.

Looks like Steve & his dads old boat is about to exchange hands again. Hope she gets cracking new owners, who look after her and make the most of her.



I didn't know das captain when he had Promise but by all accounts she was a swooper swail!
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Tuesday, 30 July 2013

Pootling About!




It was a case of getting outa Plymouth to avoid the rain yesterday. The marina has though a very international feel about it, with lots of French
, Dutch, Norwegian and Swiss boats holed up with us.

We hit the road trail by car yesterday to Dartmouth & Salcombe, leaving the rain in our wake. Both were basked in lovely sunshine. First stop Dartmouth where there weren't many bots on their way in but the river was full to bursting with all the tourist river trippers.

We sat on the river wall watching the world go by. I am sure that Dartmouth must have run out if bacon yesterday because if you weren't on a tourist bot then you were out with your crabbing bucket and bacon...crabs were in abundance!





A late lunch was had at the Royal Castle....gorgeous Dartmouth cracked crab before a quick peek around the shops and then off round the coast to Salcombe.

Das captain calls Salcombe the tax on being stupid, as he reckons everything costs twice as much there as anywhere else. A haven for second homes, the masses swarm there in summer, and I love it there too, we don't swail there often enough for my liking.




Salcombe may have been heaving from a people point of view yesterday, but visitor bots were very few. Southerly winds gusting 7 you could see why looking out to sea with the waves crashing in over the sandbar at the entrance! It's regatta weekend for them this weekend, not sure the situation will change that much before then.




We pootled about around the town amongst the masses, sat and watched the world go by and re-provisioned on the pasty front for das captain......HOW MUCH!? he declared when informed of the price...KER CHING, KER CHING!
Although later having devoured it he declared on his pasty rating scale that it was right up there on the leader board, simply the best yet!

So not a drop of rain in sight and a lovely day spent, it was windy and cold back at the marina where we battened down the hatches again before the rain came back with a vengeance.

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Monday, 29 July 2013

Swooper Fishy Lunch @ Hugh's Canteen Deli




Dodging heavy rainfall yesterday we picked our moment and headed off for lunch. Too rough to take the tender across we walked across to William Yard for lunch at Hugh,s Deli & Canteen.

We,ve eaten here once before (when storm bound) last year so a good bit of deja vu was well in order. The place was buzzing, service fabulous and food delicious. We both opted for the fish platters, a feast of mackerel in various guises and it didn't disappoint. Yum Yum!







Well fed and watered and no further rain in sight we headed for a hike around the hoe via the scenic waterside route. We were stopped in our tracks via the ferry port as couldn't go any further unless we dived into the sea and swam the next bit. Boy was it rough out to sea yesterday with nothing but the warships at anchor to see and tons of white horses from the big seas.

Still no rain we hiked our way back round again and decided to take the Cremyll Ferry across for a walk and pint in Cornwall!







Dark clouds were on the horizon but we managed another hr or so outdoors and made it safely back to base before the rain lashed down and down as we battened down the hatches for the remainder of the day.



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Location:Plymouth

Happy Happy Birthday Pops!




My gorgeous pops out with us a few weeks back in the River Yealm. Hope you have survived the night glamping with your granddaughter et al.

Have a swooper duper birthday and sending you lots of love from us both x

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Sunday, 28 July 2013

Here Comes The Rain!



After a week of gorgeous sunny and swooper hot weather it has finally turned for the few days at least.

Whilst warm yesterday, the blue skies were gone and on the horizon you could see what was coming. We spent the day out on the water, bot under sail not the digeridoo just mucking about. Bar some gig racers and Gypsy Moth, The Sound was pretty quiet. We anchored up in Jenny Cliff for some lunch and then headed back for base camp as the rain began to fall.

The wind has picked up again, another creak creak night with fenders and I almost got the bolt cutters out to some rogue halyard that was clinking a few bots up from us.

So it's intermittent grey out there at the mo with the old glimpse of blue, we have a brief respite from the rain for the time being but it will be the case of dodge em showers for the next few days. Time to catch up on some laundry today and venture out by car me thinks plus my last remaining episodes of Fawlty Towers which has had me in stitches. Happy days.

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Saturday, 27 July 2013

A Barmy Summers Evening Aboard Das Bot!




I laughed 'til I cried last night. It was beautiful here in the marina last night and we opted for supper aboard cooked by my good self aka the galley slave. My in-laws arrived tired after a week of painting and decorating so some r n r was in order.

You can't beat el fresco dining in the great outdoors, bubbles and beer cracked open we sat outside on deck and bantered away putting the world to rights. The gourmet supper prepped by my good-self was salmon nicoise with some swooper king prawns that I picked up when on my re-provisioning run yesterday.....delicious.

We caught up on the pontoons with an old friend from our old pontoon fresh back from France (by ferry) and the banter continued, you could probably here our laughter at the breakwater we were that loud! Time flew by as it does when in good company, 'twas great fun and even better the 'ole head is remarkably fresh this am.

It's really peaceful here this morning just the gulls squawking from time to time, no workmen on Princess Yachts this am so the pontoons are quiet. It looks grey and overcast outside but no rain as yet......can't believe we have been on holiday for a week now. Time flies when you are having fun, feel totally chilled.


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Friday, 26 July 2013

The Love Of Suntan Lotion




Das captains number one dislike is candles (they can never be lit whilst he is in the house) followed by a close second, the dreaded suntan lotion or even in this case spray.It causes him major trauma in terms of smell and just the 'gunk'!

I added to that dislike even more yesterday when the Piz, debuined itself after I accidentally leant on it whilst snoozing over one of the rope bags! At least it smells nice now!

Lazy day here in Plymouth just catching some rays. Cooking a fishy supper later for the fish sitters, as they are heading down to their bot later and have survived wk one of their duties.



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Thursday, 25 July 2013

Swell & Dodge 'Em!




The wind and rain came in last night as forecast but thankfully no thunder or lightening. Give me rough seas, torrential rain and chuck it at me continuously but not thunder or lightening, it terrifies me on das bot.

So with the wind came creaking fender city against the pontoon and the bot that rafted up against us late last night. Creak, creak made for a restless nights sleep.

This morning it's fair weather with some sunshine forecast for later.

Some interesting bot manoeuvres this am off the pontoon and rafted next to us, thankfully no damage done but it was a close run thing.....phew!

So off we set out to sea, life jackets and lifelines firmly on as we headed up the river to a huge swell.

It didn't get any better as we turned the corner and headed out to sea the swell was huge and it made for a roller coaster albeit run fun back to Plymouth.

It was definately dodge em weather as the waves broke over the boy and spray over the cockpit. The forecast was bang on and we pitied anyone going through Bolt Head to Salcombe as it would have been as rough as rats and no fun at all.

As we crossed the Breakwater and into The Sound it petered out a bit and we dropped the pick in Barnpool which was very tranquil indeed.




The sun was now out full pelt and we,ve spent the afternoon watching the world go by.

The kids were out in full force at Mount Edgecombe, mucking about in the water. The schools are well and truly out for summer. I declined a dip this pm as a tad too chilly for me.




Going to make the most of the evening here, it's beautiful. We,ve just scrubbed the ole salty dog down so she is gleaming again and it's time to relax with a large glass of chilled white SB. Don't mind if I do!


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Location:The River Yealm

Wednesday, 24 July 2013

Mob Happy!




So much for Salcombe today, the rain and fog came in overnight as predicted!

Having woke up at sparrowfart after another good read on my latest chick flick novel via the kindle I awoke at sensible o'clock at 0930, the same time albeit early o'clock for das captain.

Bots had gone out and come back in again, no-one was going far today, so the dingy was launched at lunchtime and ashore we went.

The Dolphin was our destination at Newton Ferrers where as we arrived the sun came out and where we spent an indulgent afternoon in the sunshine between cloud bursts. I love the moules their and whilst the fish pie is no longer on the menu, das captain enjoyed the "posh fish & chips"!

A hike up the hill (yes it is a hike up a mountain) for some provisions, we were back to das bot for the royal birth naming announcement....it's fair to say Derek wasn't even in the running aka Prince Del Boy much to das captains disappointment... he and I don't mean the royal we has consoled himself with a Cornish pasty and a Crunchie bar for supper this evening!

More rain is forecast for this evening and the harbour master has informed us....it's awful for tomorrow! As always despite the lack of swailing weather, we have enjoyed today.




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Digderidoo






That is the name of our new bot engine as of today as that is what she sounds like as we go along.
No putt putt noises from her just the purr of an Aboriginal beat, so didgeridoo she is!
No fog yesterday and by mid morning the sun was out. A lazy morning spent watching the world go by and catching up on the madness and mayhem of the royal birth.
No dramas in the marina this morning just an abundance of bass jumping around for several hours which entertained the Princess Yacht workmen.
After lunch with everything stowed away we headed off for The Yealm. The sea was twinkling and we were off on our first epic voyage of the hols.
Not many bots about and an hr or so later we were here. We were on the pontoon near Kitley as all the mooring bouys are full. A fair few bots were here.
A tranquil remained of the day spent with supper aboard and a few beers. Das captain has been speculating on the new princes name, he feels its a dead cert for Derek, I blame it on the beer!
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Tuesday, 23 July 2013

Never A Dull Moment!




So after a brief sojourn of sunshine the fog came in thick and fast producing zero visibility at the breakwater, all hopes of movement yesterday abandoned for the day.

Never a dull moment here though as the day unfolded. First we had a newly launched yacht attempting its berthing manoeuvres crash bow into stern of another yacht opposite...ouch I felt their pain as they eventually berthed and clambered aboard to check the damage.

Then a quicksilver fishing boat that we know from our old pontoon was brought in under police escort. There had been calls put out on the radio for him all morning with an approach with caution tag put on from the coastguard.

When eventually located he was brought in. Not sure what had gone on but he looked pretty disheveled was soaking wet and staggered up the pontoons with the help of some police officers!

After all that excitement we headed off for a waterside hike around Plymouth. It's a great walk with fab views and a great way to stretch the legs.

On arrival at the Barbican we came across Gypsy Moth (photo above) recently refitted again after her last mishap on a reef. She is looking good and was undergoing manoeuvres from one pontoon to another thankfully without mishap!




A few beers later we headed back to base via ferry and in the last sunshine of the day had supper aboard before settling down to a few episode of Fawlty Towers on the IPad......hilarious.
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Monday, 22 July 2013

The Curse Of The Roffeeeeeeeees




We have had the most fabulous weather over the last month...no complaints there it has been glorious and we have made the most of it.

There is though a standing joke now amongst our family and friends built on our summer holiday non swailing adventures not to book your summer hols at the same time as us! Why do you ask well because as soon as we start our hols the weather turns and is has done reliably for the last four years! We call it the curse of the Roffes or Roffeeeeeeeeeees!

After decanting half the house into the car yesterday we made our way down to a right hooley at the marina. The sun was shining but the wind was ripping made a pleasant change after leaving the 100% humidity at home and 30 plus degrees which made for unpleasant car loading going back and forth.

Nothing was out on the water yesterday bar a few Naval ships on manoeuvres. After decanting half the house onto das bot we sat and just chilled watching the world go by and studying the long range forecasts for a glimmer of hope!

The curse is back with storms predicted over the next week and lashings of rain to boot as well. Today looks like we,ll get somewhere although not the direction we wanted to go but a more comfortable ride than being bashed about and then we'll see. We have passports with this and the car is insured so if it's here to stay we'll be channel hopping via the cross channel ferry.

The Roffeeeeeeeees have wry smiles on our faces and after some optimism that this year would be different a new saying ....as Meldrew would say.........I don't ruddy believe it!

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Sunday, 21 July 2013

Reef Sitters!




Yep we are leaving our thriving barrier reef for a whole two weeks. With our old fish tank it was simple, drop in some long last pellets....job done. Not this high maintenance machine oh no.

Das captain has rigged up some gizmondo, well it's an automatic dry food feeding machine to the top of the tank and we have instructions for my mother in law who has kindly agreed to be chief reef feeder and cleaner for the next two weeks for the fresh stuff.

The automatic dosing system is working well but they still need their equivalent of red bull to boost coral growth and of course the protein skimmer needs emptying once a week. Thank goodness they make their own exercise!

Wonder if they'll be stroppy on our return after not taking them with us on hols?...

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Saturday, 20 July 2013

Game Plan






Phew....holidays are here and boy do we need them....late night working for both of us last night...we r knackered.com.
We should have been on hols the last two weeks but couldn't get time off together so opted for these two instead and whilst the sun is shining its not swailing weather today so that we hope will start tomorrow.
After no wind for several weeks now we have lots of it, so a trip round Start Point in a F7 is not on the plan Fi today. Instead some r n r and a well deserves hair cut for me as have time to do it and boy does it need it.
It's a tad stormy and windy over the next few days as the humidity increases so we are going to have to take our chances.
If we strike lucky and avoid the thunder then Monday looks likely for a swail to he majestic Dartmouth and then we hope across the channel depending on what has blown out.
The bags are packed, the life raft is coming out of the loft and provisioning is done. More importantly as much as I love my job no more work for two weeks!
Yippeeee
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Monday, 15 July 2013

Hot Hot Hot!

And we thought yesterday was hot, well today was an absolute scorcher!
We left The Yealm about 1030 and headed out to sea. No chance of swailing as there was not a drop of wind so run in the motor it was and we pointed das bot towards the Eddystone lighthouse.








The water was like glass, not a ripple to be seen, very tranquil and also very hot. After a good run we headed back towards the madness and mayhem that can be Cawsands Bay. No Timothy Spall today although he was there filming yesterday, just a packed bay and the jet skis were out in force.
Pick dropped and a leisurely lunch I decided to brave the elements and go for my first swim of the season off the bot.
Wouldn't quite call it a swim more a quick dunk as the water was flipping freezing! Cooled off though a by now we were hitting 30 plus degrees.
More chillaxing and then back to port, we made a detour via QAB as Richard Bransons old Virgin Challenger is parked outside, now owned by the Mountbatten ferry owner! Mean machine that in its day set a world record.












So cracking weekend, only five days to go and we have a fortnight off! No plans on where we are going, just pitch up to das bot fully provisioned and go.
We have given the Great Barrier Ref fish sitters their instructions tonight whilst we r away although I am surprised that das captain has not invested in a remote control camera that we can view whilst away to check their well being!
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Sunday, 14 July 2013

A Lazy Day In The Yealm

It 'twas the hottest day of the year yesterday, not much wind out on the water just glorious glorious sunshine.

We headed out early to find a good spot in the Yealm. The Sound was packed with bots as it was the annual Eddystone charity sailing race.




We went out in the usual Sadler formation as Mairadon was joining us again this weekend. We had a brief spell under sail and then the motor went back on.




This was our first visit to the Yealm this year and as ever it never disappoints. I love coming into the entrance by Cellar Bay. We may have missed the bluebells this year but the water clarity and stunning hill edges made up for that.

We expected the place to be packed but it wasn't so had the whole pick of the visitors pontoon to choose from.












A lazy afternoon was spent taking in the views and basking in the sunshine before a lovely walk alongside the rivers edge, looking at the new array of Grand Design builds towards The Ship Inn at Noss Mayo where we ate an early supper and watched the tide come in over the tidal steps.











A dinghy ride up towards the Kitley Estate on the way back made for a prefect barmy summers day.




Today we have woken up again to perfect weather, das captain is still asleep and looking at the forecast I am hoping we can have some fun with the cruising Shute on the way back.

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Saturday, 13 July 2013

Motley Crew




We have crew aboard this weekend....my pops! He had planned to come out for a swail a few weeks ago for Father's Day but the weather trashed that idea for all of us.

Not this weekend we are basking in the most glorious weather at the mo so as das captain arrived home we were off!

Lovely evening spent last night aboard eating, drinking and just general bantering!




Today we are going to muck about in The Sound and then head off to the River Yealm for the first time this year...wicked!


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Tuesday, 9 July 2013

Someone Else's Nautical But Nice Chutney Disaster!






This made me chuckle and say phew at the same time over the weekend. Thankfully its never happened to me, mind you when my witches cauldron is done the chutney is put into jars and then boxed up.

This poor lady put hers into the fridge and several hrs later she has a rhubarb explosion......the culprit...methane build up. Never heard of that before but there is a first for everything. At least the chutney still tasted nice!


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Sunday, 7 July 2013

Convoy!

What a cracking weekend, weather perfect, although some wind would have been good!




We left yesterday in Sadler formation and headed out past Rame Head. I am sure there were nerves aboard Mairadon as this was a big deal going beyond the breakwater but once up and going there was no stopping them.




She looks fab in the water and pootled along quite nicely as for us we had to keep the engine as a cool six and half knots! She purrs!


Fowey was packed so raft alongside it was. Mairadon joined us and after a quick tidy up it was time for a celebratory beer. They had made it and more importantly enjoyed it!




Supper was ashore with all things fishy for all of us and a few beer sin honour of the birthday boy. The town was packed and a good vibe all round.




Today the weather is scorchio, no wind so no swailing but hey ho the view from the bow is stunning and the convoy are heading back to Plymouth in good spirits. A cracking weekend all round.




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Location:Fowey