Belgium

We’ve been flying like a rocket ship, this morning we were only 40 miles away from Belgium. We picked up our pilot at 1500 and by 1900 we were docked. Getting in was horrible, very tight squeeze and the wind was pushing us down, after squeezing through another skinny lock they wanted us to turn around. Robin gave it a really good try put with the wind pushing us on to the dock and to many other boats around we couldn’t do it.

The English Channel

It’s a good day at sea, well the English Channel really, sunny, breezy and a bit cold with emerald coloured water. I made broiled grapefruit today, not everyone ate theirs, which meant there was more for me, I had people save the rinds so I can candy them.

Zach and Andrew

Zach and Andrew showed up today, we thought that Zach might end up sailing with us, but last night they went to the Circus to see Cookie and Maisie, he’s running away to join them for 2 weeks. But he did bring a new coffee pot like promised.

This was our last day in Plymouth, we got off the dock around 1900 and we’re heading for Belgium as fast as we can. Another busy tour day with the usual things of people going the wrong way, under lines and asking silly questions. I helped out during lunch so that people could actually eat.

I also finally heard from Marcia, she’s come in Belgium to relieve me of my cooking duties. At first I had really mixed feelings about it, I’d got back to being a deck hand and that would be it, but I talked to Robin about it and I’ll just be a day man. I’ll help out in the galley, learn from Marcia and still make bread and on days I’m not doing that I’ll be the official leak seeker because I’m good with NP1.

Shopping

Today was a good tour day for the boat, about two thousand people went through. I also finally go to go shopping, everything was really crowded because it was Lord Mayor’s Day. The Mayor goes out into the town with a parade and shakes people’s hands, shows the public who he is. There was lost of family fun things set up, kid friendly this and that, best of all there was a big thing of tarps set up like a big club house.

CG inspection

Back to work we go. This morning when the coast guard guy came to do our inspection we thought we could open up shortly after, it wasn’t until after 1300 that we opened for tours, and it was a really slow day. The coast guard was around forever, inspecting every crack, apparently there are a few things we need to fix up within the next month.

Adventure in the whaler

Today was a great day off, Richard, Jesse and I took the whaler and paddled across to the other side. There was a small tower thing that we wanted to check out, it was really quick to get there, Richard and I paddled while Jesse used a make shift rudder. We explored that part and then went off for Drake’s Island. It was an amazing find, some old abandoned army barracks or something that looked like the secret garden.

Approaching the lock.

On the other shore.

Turret.

Richard handling the bow line.

Seagull chick.

Seagull eggs.

Richard and Jesse to the rescue.

Tide going out.

Old barracks.

The hoe.

Pirates 4

Took an easy day off, have big plans for tomorrow. A big group of us went to see Pirates 4 in theaters, it was good, not enough boating for us though.

Plymouth Gin Distillery.

Bottles.

Gin and tonic bottles.