Sunday, June 22. Boat in Calais,

Back in Calais, by small boat, for the first time in 16 years. Loads more bearths, usual modern security system, and a sill instead of lock gates, but otherwise unchanged. Shows how advanced it was when first built in the early 60s.

The sill allows the swell to enter for many hours so the mooring at night is not perfect, but access is extended.

Here to try the canals. However the licence office was closed. Probably as its the weekend. Took the mast down. Getting down easy. Stowing all the bits of string, wood and wire wasn't. 3hours of fiddly work.

The crossing was the roughest ever. Easily beat the first trip round Start Point (when the dinghy went AWOL). Large breakers. Fully reefed and only the small foresail. Stupid. But nothing broke and no leaks.

The pix show the approach to Calais, nice and calm in the lea of the shore and Patsy Rye in the inner harbour pre and post mast dropping.

Have left Patsy Rye there for a week. Will go back with Eleanor to do the first inland leg.

June 19, still in Dover

After arrival in Dover decided to go home to collect a car so 2 month's of accumulated tut could be cleared out of the boat. Hence top pic, Harry the son, helping collect stuff from the boat. And 2nd pic, Eleanor the daughter, driving to lunch.

However that day was the last opportunity to get across to Calais before the winds blew. Tomorrow, Friday 20th looks possible after a wait of 3 days.

Bottom pic is the cliff view from above the main car ferry terminal taken on today's modest walk.

Sunday June 15, Dover

Still here in UK. Very little wind so couldn't get enough distance to do the longer trip to Calais. Dover is about 18miles shorter.

Pic shows a serious fleet of cruise ships along the western arm of the harbour. The middle one is a big brute.

Plan now is to nip home tomorrow to get a car so over 2 months of accumulated tut can be cleared out of the boat. Plus stuff that haven't ever been used, and experience says wont.

Will probably try for Calais starting Tuesday.

Thanks for the comments. Will try and keep the blog going.

Friday 13th June & Saturday 14th. Now Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne

Speedy but quite breezy trip yesterday from Brighton to Eastbourne. Then today took a walk into Eastbourne. Haven't seen this town for many a year. Quite pleasant. Serious number of seafront hotels. Some splendid. Walked to Beachy Head. Windy. Would have been lively to have left today.

Top pic is the view east from Beachy Head. 2nd is the smart Eastbourne Pier. 3rd is Eastbourne from the sea and the bottom one is the marina.

If the weather is right plan to leave tomorrow and to go to Calais. If that happens this will be the last posting - unless a way can be found to get a pay-as-u-go broadband mobile thingy is France. But that'll take time even if successful.

So thanks to all viewers and commenters. The trip wasn't as successful as originally imagined, but there we go. Best wishes to all.

Wednesday, June 11, Brighton

Pix: The boat in the marina and a test. Anyone know what the 2nd pic is?

Lazy day today. Saw the latest Harrison Ford Raiders of the Lost Arc-type film. A bit silly. And did some food shopping.

Haven't done much else. Weather has turned a bit so unlikely to leave until Friday. Will find somewhere to walk to tomorrow.

June 9th & 10th, Brighton Marina

Real summer weather. Red hot journey from Northney to Brighton yesterday. So hot had to hide behind the mainsail at one stage to get out of the sun. Closed the coast and had a good look at the Shoreham-Hove-Brighton sea front.

Bottom pic is looking straight into Shoreham Harbour. 2nd bottom is Hove central. Centre pick is a collection of delightful, grand, Brighton buildings. 2nd down is the poor old West Pier and top pic is sister-in-law and brother-in-law Carolyn and David who stood lunch today - thank you.

Today another hot day. More barnicle bottom scrapping. Walked into town.

Not sure what to do or where to go now. Have a mind to go to Calais and go into the Continental canals. (So Bill S: unlikely to get to the Blackwater, have almost had enough of coastal sailing). Will probably go to Eastbourne first and look at the town as that wasn't done in the other direction. Can't use the 3 broadband in France so to carry on the blog would need to wi-fi or find a local version of the 3 system. Would probably cross from Eastbourne.

Will stop one more day here then if the weather holds move.

Sunday, Jun 9, Northney, top left Chichester harbour

Cowes on a summer's weekend is appalling. All night parties and a rolly night, despite little wind. About 3 hours sleep. Yuk.

Now in nice quiet Northney where the spare gps was purchased and the main gps was sorted on the outward trip.

Pleasant enough journey. Some wind and warm.

Its Shoreham or Brighton tomorrow, depends on the passage speed.

Pic is the boat in the marina.