It's Sunday evening and all is well in Wells. It has been a fantastic weekend with plenty of sunshine, sea bathing, sea food, samphire and catching up with some old friends. Crossing the Humber Estuary at 6 a.m. on Friday was not exactly a picnic though. Our departure time was dictated by the time of slack tide, which was of course also the time chosen by large commercial vessels - container ships, ferries, tankers and the like - to enter and leave the area. Quite hairy for a little chap like us!
At one point we seemed to be on a collision course with a very large tanker.
... but we managed to avoid it. After that excitement it was again a case of zig-zagging - tacking - to achieve the nearest course to our intended one, being foiled once again by a head wind. By 13:00 we had travelled a creditable 45 miles but we were still 40 miles from our destination, which would have been only 50 miles in total as the crow flies! Just an hour later though, the wind 'backed' as the forecasters put it, allowing us to sail a much more direct course towards Wells. Indeed we then made such good progress that there was time to do some fishing (unsuccessful) before entering the narrow channel into the harbour. Entry to Wells-next-the-sea is tricky and has to be timed exactly otherwise it would be easy to run aground. The harbour master even comes out in his launch - aptly named "Provider" - to meet newcomers.
On Saturday morning we could see why he was anxious that we did not stray off the channel.
Saturday was also an opportunity for the intrepid Skipper to make some running repairs up the mast.
The harbour master kindly informed us that he was expecting several motor cruisers in on Saturday evening meaning that the pontoon would be quite crowded and noisy. So when the tide came up again, we decided to move out onto anchor on the sand, where we could dry out thanks to our lifting keel. The only disadvantage to this strategy for peace and quiet, as we later found out, was that as the tide ebbed and Follyfin settled onto the sand, she landed on a slope requiring us to spend the night on a tilt ... not very comfortable! However, our new position did provide an excellent view of the sunset.
Up with the dawn today, not only to beat the motor cruisers to the showers (well OK that was the real reason ...) but also to prepare for our visitors; Rosemary and Richard live at Ickleton very near to Whittlesford where we used to live. The tender was sent to collect them from the quayside but by the time they arrived the tide had ebbed, leaving Follyfin high and dry again, unfortunately again on a tilt, so they had to walk the last little bit. But they put a brave face on it.
They had told us they would bring lunch but we had no idea it would be such a feast, including dressed crab, delicious prawns, cold meats from our old butcher, and freshly baked rolls! All delicious, even on a tilt, though we had to take care not to let the wine glasses slide off the table.
Of course there was much news to catch up on, not least of which was the fact that they were 'on call' to look after their 2 year old grandchild when their daughter goes into hospital to produce her 2nd child - any day now. After lunch the need for exercise was felt, so off we went on the long walk towards the sea for a refreshing swim. At low tide here, the sea is a very very long way away so we eventually settled for a swim in the channel about half-way to the open sea. Just as well, as it happened, because a phone call summoned the grand-parents back home soon after the swim was over.
The other feature of interest about this place is the extensive salt marsh nearby. This is where the samphire, so-called asparagus of the sea, grows. If you look at the map below showing our location, the whole area to the east/right of our position is salt marsh. On a high spring tide, as it will be tomorrow, it is completely covered by the sea and samphire is perfectly adapted to grow there - just about the only plant that can survive such conditions. And it is delicious!
Tomorrow we set sail for Southwold. Just hoping it won't be another head wind to battle against for the 66-mile journey, as the crow flies that is!
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