Back to Lymington, being eclipsed and sociable

We liked East Cowes. As a "Boatfolk" marina we had free berthing and they also gave us free power too. 32 amps of happiness. The happiness had to end before the weekend though as they were full - kind of a reoccurring thing in the Solent this year. We had organised a berth back in Lymington on our favourite Dan Bran pontoon, This meant we had to throw Tina out into the rain early in the morning so we could depart before the tide picked up too much (see the last post for info on tidal flows in the river there). 

Backing out of the marina in the rain did not feel right after several nice sunny days but it had to be done. For the short run to Lymington with the tide behind us Izzy showed how unimpressed she was with a 9am departure by sleeping on the crew's legs in the pilothouse:

but the poor captain had to pay a little attention even though the Solent was nice and empty for once:

We arrived in Lymington well before the expected 12 o'clock changeover time but the nice and well organised harbour folks found us a slot. With plenty of the day left Tesco was visited, Izzy walked and the favourite shop "Humbug" raided for an ice-cream. Alex and Gisele were coming to Lymington too, in their HUGE Nordhavn 55 called Lady Grey. They had called the harbour and been given a berth which was suitably sized. A few minutes before their arrival, the crew spotted a yacht heading into the nice long run of empty pontoon. She scuttled off, with Izzy for protection (er??) and shooed them away. Good thing as the Nordhavn would have squashed their rather lightly built charter yacht quite nicely.

 You've seen Lady Grey in earlier posts but as a reminder of her size and imposing presence, here she is arriving:

Somehow bows on she looks even bigger - Alex on the flybridge is no midget by the way:

Greetings done, Izzy soon checked out the boat and made herself comfortable in the pilothouse in just the right spot to get cuddles from Gisele:

Strangely, Lady Grey has two dog baskets on board - but no ship's dog. Gisele is ever hopeful. So, Izzy happily took over a rather plush one:

which is well colour coordinated with the carpet too. The humans had plenty to catch up on after not seeing each other for many many months:

whilst poor Alex was slaving in the galley preparing dinner:

OK - maybe that picture has rumbled us - two wine glasses on view and a Fever Tree tonic bottle too.....

A most enjoyable evening indeed. We waved them off the following morning, they were heading for Cowes:

Somehow Lady Grey looks even bigger in the sun - must be heat expansion. 

Anne, who was supposed to collect her dog, managed to have a bad reaction to her second Covid jab so that became delayed. We kept the poor doglet for another night and dragged her to Hythe as well. Another spot for her to take over a sofa:

You know the old saying about bad pennies? Well, sometimes nice ones arrive too. After the weekend Alex, Gisele and their huge (did we mention huge before?) Nordhavn arrived back in Lymington:

That gave us the opportunity to spend more time with them and also introduce them to Roxy and Indie the two labradors. Oh, they also met Norman and Julie the dogs' owners who arrived in their new HUGE Cathargo motorhome. Two spaces in the Bath Road car park and lots of envious glances from other motorhome folks who drove past. Somehow we are feeling very eclipsed. Until it is polishing and washing time when our little 47 seems much larger.