Eastward ho!

By Wednesday September 8 the winds were light again and we set off eastwards from Fowey, picking up 27 litres of fuel before heading out. The boat speed under engine seemed disappointing and we made somewhat slow progress on a dark, drizzly morning. It looked as though we might have to head back to Plymouth but with a little bit of NE breeze our speed picked up and we decided we could make it to Salcombe. 

Reed warbler heading for Africa - we hope

Not long before our arrival we picked up a passenger - a very bedraggled and perhaps not fully fledged reed warbler. S/he was only a mile or two offshore but we heard later that Salcombe bad been flooded that day so perhaps our tiny visitor got caught in the downpour. Eventually s/he flew off but we weren't entirely sure they would make it to Africa.

I had totally forgotten about the bar at the entrance, but fortunately the timing was perfect and we came in about half tide. We were met by a Salcombe Harbour launch who helped tie us on to a buoy - just as well, as it had just a loop and no pickup buoy, and I'm not sure David's shoulder was ready for him to hang head down over the bow of the boat.

As we relaxed for a quiet evening - considerably quieter than out last evening in Salcombe - Alex & David noticed a load of ribbon weed hanging from the back of the boat. We cleared some but felt sure there was more still under there, perhaps wrapped around the prop.

On Thursday 9th the winds finally turned westerly and we made the short hop to Dartmouth. For the first time on this trip we managed a bit of sailing, only 30 minutes or so. The visibility was very poor again but we had no problem entering Dartmouth and fortunately Dart Haven Marina was able to find us a berth for what turned out to be two nights. We enjoyed good showers, including one for Sam which, guess what, was locked and only accessible with a resident's tag, but the marina staff got us in.

David's shoulder had been causing him a lot of pain and for some reason our own doctor's phone line and booking system was not working, but in Dartmouth by sheer dogged determination David managed to see a GP who provided appropriate medication, which seems to be helping.

My own tiny beach

View from the headland

Dartmouth Daymark

And I had a lovely run-walk, more of a walk than run to be honest, up to the Daymark and back along the SW coastal path. It was rather fun to be out in my running shorts, t-shirt and little running belt with tiny water bottle, and to meet serious walkers heading east with backpacks, waterproofs, walking poles and much more. I found a tiny beach which I had all to myself for 10 minutes – long enough for a slightly chilly paddle.