Shortly after we arrived we received emails confirming that we will be owning our very own land based home (a former station house) from some time during September. Here's the kitchen:
We'll continue to live on Towser for the rest of the planned time (until the end of October) but in the interest of mortgage minimisation, Towser is for sale. You can see our ad here:
SOLD - LINK REMOVED
And another one here:
SOLD - LINK REMOVED
Since I last posted we:
Watched the awesome Plymouth Fireworks Championships (they're the reason we were in Plymouth).
Sailed to the Yealm and anchored in Cellar Bay (free) for the night.
Sailed to Salcombe.
And then, careful not to repeat the last Eastward rounding of Start Point, sailed to Dartmouth. I was careful this time to ensure the wind was _with_ the tide. It was. But blimey! We made it from Salcombe Bar to 'The Homestone' off Dartmouth in 2 hours 5 minutes (a record for us I think) despite some of the largest seas we've ever seen. With Rose at the helm we saw 8.5 knots on the GPS on occasion, with an assisting current maximum (according to tidal stream charts) of just 0.65 knots. This was with a reefed mizzen and reefed jib and the engine just ticking over. We were surfing! Fantastic way to come 'home' to Dartmouth and round off our excellent trip.
I had hoped to get to the Scillies during our trip but the wind and our commitments never combined to make that possible, so the Scillies will just have to wait.
Here's a shot of the Plymouth Firework Championships (two nights, 6 companies trying to out-do each other for the coveted prize) which you _must_ go and watch if you ever have the chance.
I guess I should comment on our (my) feelings about leaving life afloat... I think there's too much going on for me to be able to have any really. It's exciting to be moving to a new house, and to be having a new child, so perhaps that's keeping me occupied enough not to think about it. I did feel pretty down about the whole idea earlier in the year but I suppose I get used to this boat life after a bit and it just becomes 'normal' so the idea of a change is appealing after a while. But I know after every period of time off the boat I've been hankering after returning.
I suspect some form of water based accommodation will be part of our lives again in the not too distant future - at least just for the odd holiday.
Meanwhile there's the small matter of two and half more months afloat, Dartmouth Regatta next on a very busy agenda and no doubt more exciting sailing adventures too.
TTFN...
