Crossing the Channel

From Gillingham we planned to do the Channel crossing in two steps, firstly from Gillingham to Ramsgate, then from Ramsgate to Calais. We left Gillingham around 2pm, reaching Ramsgate about 8:30pm that evening. Emma had go to sleep quite happily as we motored along and we settled down to a fish and chip supper.

We had originally planned to leave Ramsgate the next day at around 2pm, but Andrew, Roy and Stephen reviewed the weather, saw that some more bad weather coming in, so decided to catch the earlier tide and leave early in the morning instead.

Leaving Ramsgate harbour

From my point of view, the crossing was pretty uneventful as I wasn’t actually in control of the boat; I was just looking after Emma. I am trying to persuade Stephen to write blog post about the crossing from his point of view, hopefully he’ll get round to it quite soon.

Emma turned out to be the best sailor of all of us! As I have mentioned before, Stephen and I are not very good sailors (inland waterways are fine – hence this trip involves very little time at sea). I start feeling queasy very quick, but I am generally fine so long as I either (a) keep watching the horizon or (b) lay down. Emma seems to be completely unaffected and is quite happy to watch the iPad, well away from windows, eat, drink & carry on as normal! I just wish I could do that!

We reached Calais in the early afternoon and had to moor on a buoy in the harbour whilst we waited for the tide to be high enough for us to get into the harbour, which we were able to do within a couple of hours.

We then moored up and waved Andrew and Roy off as they walked back to the ferry port to catch a ferry home.

Roy & Andrew in Calais

At last! We were in France!

Gravesend & Gillingham - The Waiting Game

After our stopover at South Dock Marina in Southwark, London it was off down The Thames towards the Channel Ports, so we could cross to France.

Given the continuing bad weather and our inexperience with wide, tidal rivers we decided to make a short-ish hop to Gravesend, rather than try for a longer voyage all the way to The Medway. Having spoken to Andy at Embankment Marina, Gravesend we established that as you need to enter the marina via a lock, it wouldn't be possible to go into the Marina immediately, but a brand-new pontoon on the Thames itself had recently opened, and we could moor there overnight.

Almost straight away we were in for some excitement, as the RNLI Lifeboat at Gravesend had been called out to tow in a boat whose engine had failed in the Thames.

I've been a fan and a supporter of the RNLI for many years and it was great to see a successful rescue happen. The boat was towed in and moored behind us on the pontoon whilst they waited for a new engine to be brought down from Ipswich.

The night on the pontoon was pretty rough, with high winds plus the large wash created every time the Port of London pilot boat went out (it felt like every 10 minutes, but I'm sure it wasn't really), so as it became clear the weather wasn't improving, we moved into the Marina when the tide was high enough to allow us through the lock.

Andy, the marina manager, couldn't have been more helpful during our few days stay. Always on hand with advice and information, nothing was too much trouble for him. Emma fell a bit in love with him and would repeatedly ask "Where's Andy?" if she couldn't see him around the marina!

We also met Andy's brother, Malcolm and his partner Margaret. Malcolm is a Thames Lighterman who divides his time between London and Devon. He's also a part-time pirate and gave Emma a Jolly Roger flag, which immediately had to be put up in her cabin.

Malcolm, Margaret & Andy at The Embankment Marina, Gravesend

After a couple of nights the weather improved enough for us to move on down The Thames and on into The Medway to Gillingham Marina, where again we had to wait for the weather to improve enough for us to cross the Channel into France.

Whilst we were in Gravesend I developed a bit of a soft-spot for the town. Yes, it's a bit run down in places, but there are some wonderful buildings, a lively town centre and it's all in walking distance. Unfortunately, I can't really say the same for Gillingham.

Again we had to lock into the Marina and we were directed in to "Berth 3". The winds were very high and after several attempts at getting into Berth 3, we had to give up and moor in an unofficial space, with help of our new neighbours on "Floating Fun". Trying to get into Berth 3 Stephen had felt the boat pushing against something soft, under the water. We reported the problem to the Marina office who just looked at us like we were mad. It was only a couple of days later our neighbouring boat reported the same thing to us and said they'd found a mudbank. They also told us that Berth 3 was notorious for being the m ost difficult spot in the Marina to get into. We duly reported the mudbank to the Marina who really didn't seem to care. Although it was smart and new, this summed up my feeling about this Marina.

But, we did have some visitors during our stay, which was great. Our friends, Malcolm and Lois came down and took us for a wonderful pub lunch. Malcolm is a native of Gillingham (although now has escaped to Dorset) so took us for a tour of the highlights (houses he lived in, church he was christened in) and was able to recommend a good local beer in the pub (Spitfire Beer - wonderful!).

Finally, there was a weather window and our pilots, Andrew and Roy, decided we should be off. The trip across the channel was to be done in two stages, to take advantage of tide and winds (if you travel with the tide and wind, you use less fuel). Firstly to Ramsgate, then overnight there and then across to Calais.

Supplies were got in (milk, cake, biscuits) and Mum & Dad came down to see us off. Finally, at about 2pm, we left Gillingham.

Mum, Emma & Dad just before we left Gillingam

Whilst I really enjoyed travelling along the Thames and the Medway, it didn't really feel like we were really doing the trip we planned whilst still in the UK, so much as I dislike sea trips (I get very seasick) I was a relief to be away.

Through Central London - Our Luck Improves!

We were up bright and earlier after mooring overnight beside Simon & Nunzia on Swan Island and, thankfully, the engine burst into life!

Motoring towards Richmond Lock we had a real unexpected treat. We had planned to move through ahead of all the Jubilee boats, since 1,000 extra boats in London mean a lot fewer mooring places, even counting the additional places laid on at West India Dock Quay.

We had expected to see a lot of Pageant boats, but what we hadn't expected to see was the Jubilee Barge itself! It was moored up at Richmond, and the painters were still at work, putting the final touches to it. It looked fabulous in the early morning sunshine.

Jubilee Barge at Richmond

According to the tide tables, Richmond Lock should have been open so we could go straight through, the tide being high. However, the tide was about an hour late, so we had to lock through - I hadn't realised tides were so variable, I assumed they were pretty much fixed.

On through London and under all the bridges. I was surprised by just how many there are and how close some were together. Emma was excited by all of them, especially when we saw a red double-decker going across one.

We went by the Houses of Parliament just as Big Ben struck 11 o'clock and then on past were I used to work, by Southwark Bridge. It was quite a while ago that I worked there, but I was amazed by just how much had changed - I recognised two buildings (the FT offices and a great pub, The Anchor at Bankside).

Houses of Parliament

Thanks to the influence of her favourite TV character, Peppa Pig, Emma has come round to the idea of wearing her life jacket (Peppa always wears one when she's on Grandpa Pig's boat - thank you, animators!), which is essential, especially on a river as deep, fast and busy as the tidal Thames. We also have a tether-strap, which means we can fasten her to a rail on the boat (it's not as cruel as it sounds, honest! She doesn't even realise she's attached!)

Captain Emma

We had managed to persuade South Dock Marina to push our booking forward by one day, despite how busy they were with pre-Pageant bookings and other work and we got there in good time to get through their lock. Stephen expertly manoeuvred us into the rather tight space we had been allocated. The marina was pretty full, but they seemed just as busy with boats arriving by crane and needing to be craned in. Emma and I made an expedition to Surrey Quays shopping centre and re-stocked with our essentials - bacon, hot-cross buns and milk, while Stephen got down to the serious business of plotting our next-day's journey through the Thames Barrier and down the Thames.

South Dock Marina



Not A Great Start!

Thanks to the slow moving and pretty incompetent Maritime & Coastguard Agency, we were delayed in setting off on our trip by several days, which seemed like several weeks.

Before we left we needed the all important Part 1 Registration Certificate, which proves we own the boat and has to produced to foreign maritime authorities. Their website was not entirely clear on what forms were needed in our situation and what the fee would be, so Stephen rang to check, explaining the circumstances carefully, then sent what they requested.

There then followed several weeks of waiting, chasing, being sent more forms, replacement forms and requests for further fees. None of which had been requested or even mentioned in that original phone call.

Finally, we got so fed up waiting, we agreed to pay their "expedition fee" of £180.00. Still no certificate. Next day, still no certificate. Had they sent it recorded or special delivery? No, apparently "expedition" only means first class post. Would they issue a duplicate? No.

It finally turned up, three days late, having been sent by second class post. I have asked for my £180.00 back. They haven't replied yet.

Anyway, we were, at last, underway!

A wonderful trip in glorious sunshine from Caversham, through Henley, on to Windsor (stopping for a trip on the Windsor Wheel - wonderful!) then to Kingston-upon-Thames, where my Dad met us (having driven to ours to collect the Certificate I talk about above - thanks Dad!).

 Emma waiting to go on the Windsor Wheel

The Windsor Wheel - 60 metres high

We planned to leave Kingston at about 7am the next morning, get through Teddington lock, onto the Tidal Thames and then through Richmond lock. We had a mooring space booked at South Dock Marina, but you can only enter two hours either side of high tide, so we needed to make good time to get there, as it's about 4-5 hours from Kingston.

So, we were up early, only to find thick mist. Couldn't see a thing. So, we waited nervously for half an hour and it cleared a bit. We were underway but our 30 minute contingency was gone.

On to Teddington lock, and the engine starts to heat up. And get hotter. And hotter. We get through the lock and the engine won't switch off. We repeatedly press the stop buttons. Nothing. Stephen climbed into the engine area and switched off the fuel. Still it kept running. He stopped the air getting to the engine but that didn't stop it either. Finally he located the stop lever buried on the side of the engine itself and that did the trick.

Luckily, we have a wing-engine, so we limped, with considerable difficultly, to Swan Island Boatyard where we moored next to Simon & Nunzia's Dutch Barge and the wonderful Joe Eves came straight aboard and spent the whole morning fixing the boat with Stephen.

Stephen fixing the boat

Apparently the two problems were completely unconnected and it was just bad luck that they happened together. The overheating was caused by a disintegrating impeller (although what caused that, we don't know) and the non-stopping engine by an electrical fault.

Simon & Nunzia kindly offered to let us moor against them overnight; an offer which we gratefully accepted!

Simon & Nunzia's Dutch barge

Next stop - right through Central London!

The Pershilla Cookbook - Nanny's Cheese Straws

Today is Pershilla's moving day. Stephen is down in Watchet and has just phoned to tell me that the Lyndon from Davlyn Marine was there bright and early and that Pershilla has now been loaded onto the lorry and is about to set off on the journey to the Kennet & Avon Marina, her temporary home.

So, boat on lorry & heart in mouth, hoping she fits under all the motorway bridges.

Therefore I need some distractions. Shall I take all the boxes of books to the loft, or shall I make a batch of cheese straws? Cheese Straws it is.

These are known in my family as Nanny's Cheese Straws, as she is the expert at making them. She's just moved into a new residential home, so isn't doing her own cooking any more, so I am baking these on her behalf.

This photo is about a year old now, but I think it's a great one of Nanny, Emma & I.

The ingredients are all kitchen basics and the equipment you need is pretty minimal. I know this, as I decided to make them having spent yesterday packing up my kitchen. So, where I would normally have used a mixing bowl, I used a casserole dish and a highball tumbler substituted very well for a rolling pin.

Ingredients
225g self raising flour
100g lard                             )  the exact proportions & type of fats aren't important
50g marg/butter                    ) just make sure you use 150g in total
125g strong cheese, grated
1 egg
Large pinch of: salt, pepper, paprika, mustard powder
Milk
Optional: Poppy Seeds

Thrifty tip: Use a bit less cheese and a bit more mustard powder - mustard powder always brings out the cheese flavour

Method:

1. Weigh fats and flour and place into bowl. Rub in the fat until it looks like breadcrumbs
2. Add the salt, pepper, paprika, mustard powder and (if using) poppy seeds
3. Stir in the cheese
4. Mix egg and add milk a little at a time until it is stiff enough to roll out
5. Cut into strips or use cutters, as you prefer
6. If you want to, you can brush the top with egg or milk and sprinkle with more grated cheese
7. Bake at about 200c for about 13-15 mins

This is what it will look like after step 4, with some additional cheese sprinkled on top.

And this is the finish product!

Hope you enjoy making & eating them; I'm off to shift some boxes into the loft!

Out of the Water and Onto the Hard

We have been seriously thwarted by the April weather over the past few weeks. We needed to get Pershilla craned out of the harbour marina at Watchet and onto the hardstanding for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, the underside needed to be inspected, pressure washed and new anodes fitted. Anodes are either aluminium or zinc and are fitted to the underside of the hull to reduce corrosion of the hull itself.

Secondly, and more nerve wrackingly (is that a word?) the overall height of the boat needed to be measured.

Pershilla is currently at Watchet on the north Somerset coast. Now, I love Watchet, but it's a long way round the coast from there to the Thames and Channel ports, which is where we want to start the trip from. It's a beautiful coastline and there are fabulous places to discover all along it.

But, there is a very important reason why we like inland waterways rather than coastal trips - we get seasick. Really, really seasick.

So, Pershilla needs to travel to the Thames by road. But we had no idea whether she would be low enough to fit under the various bridges between Watchet and Caversham.

With George at the helm of the crane (BTW, George features in Shane Spall's book - The Voyages of Princess Matilda, as seen on BBC4) Pershilla was lifted slowly and carefully up out of the harbour

Up and over the harbour wall and safely onto the hardstanding

You can see that the radar hoop has now been hinged, so it can be lowered, reducing the height, but we weren't certain that would be enough, so it was out with the tape measure and a few more nervous moments before Stephen worked out that it was just (and we are talking a few centimetres) within the maximum measurement given to us by our boat transporter, so thankfully can be moved by road, which will take a few hours, rather than by sea, which would take 7-10 days and a lot of seasickenss tablets!

So, packing goes on apace at home (I feel I am living in cardboard city!) and our new estimated date of departure is mid-May!

A Present for Pershilla!

I have been slacking a bit on the blogging front, but the truth is, not much boat related stuff has been happening. We hope to be off to Watchet this weekend, but are waiting to a better wind and weather forecast before deciding.

So, it's been the normal home stuff - work, home, nursery, chores - truly yawn-tastic stuff.

But look what my lovely neighbour Bill bought for us:

A beautiful new Red Ensign for us to fly when we are sailing!

The protocol is that you fly your country flag (the Red Ensign for UK) to show where you are from, the flag of the country through which you are travelling as a courtesy to them, plus flags/pennants of any sailing clubs you are a member of, so other members can come & say hello.

Fingers crossed that the forecast is good, so our new flag can get it's first outing.