What a great weekend ..

[exfinnsailor]

All went to plan .. Nice steak in the Ramsholt as usual Friday night .. Saturday morning dawned and Mrs Sea Mist II was ready at 0630 for a 0700 departure .. Had about two hours of favourable tide and was certainly feeling the worst for wear after the previous nights over indulgence and our rescue of three people in an inflatable .. They were rowing between boats and could not row against the tide .. Three in a small inflatable .. It was reasonably dark at 2100 and we were the only boat out with an engine on .. Good job their friend spotted us and pointed out their plight .. We towed them to their friend boat and left them to enjoy their evening ..

Sea was a bit choppy and as usual the wind was comming from the direction that we wanted to go .. We decided to motor and then a sail up the Orwell .. Out came the HOT Sausage cobs and we motored up the coast .. Had to wait outside the enterance for a Ferry and Container Ship to pass and the headed in .. We had been motoring into 16 knots of wind and as soon as we entered the Orwell 3 knots .. So we picked up a mooring and stayed for a cuppa ..

Motored upto Ipswich and into Haven Marina where we made a complet hash of getting into a berth that was to wide for the boat .. We finished up corner to corner and decided to back out and have another go .. Dropped Stephanie off and she walked back to our winter berth .. D3B also arrived to view the excitement and lend a hand ( Thank You ) .. Reversed in spot on ..

Welcomed Doug onboard and then departed with Doug to get the car from the Ramsholt ..

Joined Doug later with Mrs Sea Mist II onboard STILL DUNNO .. After a couple of bottles on wine and Stephanies G&T's we set out for an Indian Restaurant that we had been to before ..

Well the bottle of wine was ok .. Stephanies meal was ok .. But the rest was a disgrace .. We even got soggy Popadoms .. I ordered a Jalfrezi that arrived looking like a bowl of hot brown thick soup with meat in it and some green chillis .. Now I enjoy a Madras but a I fancied something a little cooler not considerable hotter .. A complaint followed and a new bowl of brown thick soup turned up .. Fresh out of the microwave .. YUK .. No flavour at all ..

Doug's was no better but he managed to eat more than I did ..

An argument at the pay desk followed .. The offer of just taking the meal off was rejected .. I paid for 1 main and the drinks ..

Stephanie says she will cook a Curry on Sea Mist II next time .. You will be most welcome to join us D3B ..

We visited Shotley Sunday morning .. High winds .. Rain .. Etc .. and YES we did see a couple of boats out with sails up ..

[Kioni]

Super - yes, this morning was quite exciting wasn't it? We all had full sailing gear on just to get the stuff off the boat and up to the car to come home!

We just spent a week on the boat and didn't go sailing once!!

I know, shame on us, but we have spent a great week reconnoitering the area for cruising trips next year, getting a few jobs done on the boat, meeting new people and becoming acquainted with Essex hostelries we haven't been to before (highly recommend The Chequers at Goldhanger if anyone makes it there)

We like Ipswich Haven - suggest you try Kwons Thai restaurant next time, have the crispy chilli fish it's amazing.

Are you in there for the winter?

Will try and pop in at some point next time we're up there.

[MoodySabre]

Originally Posted by Kioni

highly recommend The Chequers at Goldhanger if anyone makes it there

January before last we had a forum walk from Heybridge that stopped for a splendid lunch at The Chequers



Perhaps we might do another winter waterside walk early next year????

[exfinnsailor]

Hi Kioni .. Yes we will be in for the winter .. May stay longer ..

[wherry]

Had a nice sail Saturday and made fast on Hapenny Pier listening to Norwich beating Stockport!! and ready for a run ashore in Harwich then chickened out after hearing the CG forecast for Sunday!! I beat a hasty retreat for Ipswich and enjoyed a quiet night on the boat.
Glad I did, I think that would have been a bit bumpy on the pier, but I drove down to Landguard Sunday morning and watched the squalls obliterate any view of Dovercourt. I saw one of the Offshore Scout boats attempt to come back in to Harwich carrying a bit too much sail and broach next to the dredger before disappearing in the murk,
A slow drive back to Norwich via Felixstowe Ferry where the kitesurfers were having fun and Southwold (lots of breaking seas off the entrance).
Seems the weather forecast was pretty close this weekend

[Kioni]

Originally Posted by exfinnsailor

Hi Kioni .. Yes we will be in for the winter .. May stay longer ..

Cool, we'll look you up.

Ipswich Haven a favourite with our kids, nice to know more people in there next time we visit.

[Kioni]

Originally Posted by MoodySabre

January before last we had a forum walk from Heybridge that stopped for a splendid lunch at The Chequers



Perhaps we might do another winter waterside walk early next year????

Great idea - it is a most excellent pub

Nice walk down to the sea wall as well

[paulnoyland]

Originally Posted by Kioni

(highly recommend The Chequers at Goldhanger if anyone makes it there).

Hi Kioni,

We had a meal in the Chequers on Saturday evening, excellent as usual, and good beer!

I'm on A pontoon in Tollesbury and will endeavour to say hello the next time I see you onboard.

Paul.

[Kioni]

Hi Paul, yes please pop over although we may not be down for a while. Which is your boat?

I was told all the posh people are on A, are you allowed to mix with denizens of the lower order pontoons?

Most people are keeping away from us, something about having to buy calendars...