You just have to slow down here. Modern fast paced living
isn’t the order of the day. Firstly, the mobile phone signal is so bad that you
cannot access the internet and email messages only pop up occasionally.
Secondly because the main street is so narrow that you always end up standing
waiting for a car, van or pushchair to get out of the way. Finally because we
launched the roll-up dinghy with the little 3.3 HP egg whisk outboard and in
that, you just have to go slow.
It was the outboard’s first outing of 2014 so we had that
usual frisson of excitement that outboard motors generate after winter layup –
will it start?? After a quick clean-up of the spark plug to remove the winter
storage oil, it was the moment of truth. 4 pulls later, it fired up despite
having old fuel in it. We love simple little 2-strokes. It even pumped some cooling water through
just to add to our delight!
The guys on the sailing ship alongside us were still busy
doing stuff. Then the harbour tug came out to play, moving the small commercial
ship that had been anchored ahead of us upstream to the China Clay wharf:
Always worth watching
as they tow them backwards with the anchor dragging up the harbour. No
conservation society is trying to protect this bit of seabed for some animal or
other we guess. Studland Bay could learn from them.
Phil the Nordhavn man had called in more favours than he had
outstanding and managed to get us a lift out for the boat on the 25th.
So, we needed some internet connection to book a hotel / hire car etc etc. That
forced us to go to the one pub in the town that offered free WIFI. Luckily the
tea rooms that had the same facility wasn't opening until next weekend. Result.
The Ship Inn did an excellent lunch with great service too. We
rolled out of there impressed and with the necessary arrangements made too. How
did people live aboard and cruise around before the internet?? It was certainly
a first for us – a pub with a stained glass window:
The history is interesting too – have a look at Ship Inn website
A good walk to Readymoney beach and then a loop around the
town helped work off some of the excesses of lunchtime. It only helped a little
though. Still feeling guilty.
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Thanks for your ideas / cheek / corrections / whatever! They should hit the blog shortly after the system checks them to make sure they will not put us or you in jail.....