Yacht Seaduction 2023

7th July – Thursday (contd.)

Not long after we got settled on our mooring, we were paid our first of three visits by one of the Dart Navigation harbour masters collecting mooring fees/river dues. Since our last visit in 2012, technology has come to the river Dart; no more handwritten receipts here, details are recorded on an iPad and an electronic receipt is sent via email immediately. Very impressive!

We then prepared from scratch one of Carole’s favourite suppers of escalope of pork with spaghetti and a tomato, onion and mushroom sauce, which was not a disappointment. After washing up and tidying away, we settled down with our books, with radio 2 playing in the background.

8th July – Friday

After a good night’s sleep, despite the noise of the water slapping on the bow as the tide turned after midnight, we woke to a grey sky, but at least it wasn’t raining. We breakfasted, washed and dressed and then Chris got the outboard engine ready and mounted in the dinghy so we could go for a buzz round and go to shore. The sun was now trying to peek out from behind the clouds and it felt quite warm. We got into the dinghy and Chris started the outboard engine and was most impressed that it started first time as it has not been used since last summer. We had a quick buzz about, then went ashore to get rid of our rubbish and have a short walk. As we climbed the hill, we remembered how steep some of the roads can be down this way. We returned to the boat for lunch and a drink and then, to earn our buttered scone with jam later, we both got back in the dinghy to go round the boat cleaning off the weed and dirt that had accumulated along the water line since leaving Ipswich just a month ago. It was pretty hard work, as one of you had to hold the dinghy away from the boat while the other scrubbed and cleaned the boat. You also remember how long the boat is, too. Anyway, the job got done and done well. We certainly earned our treat!

Supper was a Chinese type stir fry washed down with a nice glass of red. After clearing away, we played cards until bedtime. The water was much quieter tonight and Carole wondered whether this was because there was now a new moon. Anyway, we both had a good night’s sleep tonight.

9th July – Saturday

We awoke to a pretty grey day, although it was not cold and at least for now, it was dry. We decided to take a water taxi to Dartmouth to have a stroll round and have lunch out. Chris rang and we were booked in for an 11.00 pick up from the boat, which gave us an hour and a half to wash, dress, breakfast and tidy up, which we did with ease. The water taxi picked us up and we joined another couple, who were duly dropped off at the landing stage just across from us at Dittisham. After a few minutes’ wait for any other passengers, we then headed into Dartmouth with a cool wind blowing.

We had a walk around the various shops here (it’s pretty much geared up for tourists; nice to look at, but mostly overpriced), then we climbed up some stairs which seemed to go on forever and eventually found a nice little pub that promised fresh crab salads, which was what we fancied eating today. We chose some cloudy cider to go with it and, for once, we were very happy with our choices. The harbour front was buzzing with holidaymakers eating fish and chips and pasties and ice creams. Note Chris hasn’t bought a pastie … yet. We walked to the water taxi pick up point and returned to the boat by about 2.30. Chris amused himself by waving to the passing ferries to see how many wave back. Chris said the average is about 6!

After a nice cuppa, we both donned protective gloves and began cleaning some of the black marks off our white work in the cockpit with acetone, which Chris informed me is used by all the professionals. By the time we had finished, a damp mist was coming in over the water and we disappeared below to get warm and eat the last of the scones with butter and jam.

We didn’t need to cook a meal tonight, so Chris cooked off the last of our sausages, which we enjoyed with mustard and ketchup. Chris then boiled a kettle and washed up, while Carole finished updating our Blog.