Yesterday we walked into the town and met Charlie who is
re-fitting his old sailing lugger, which has no engine. ‘How do you get it out
of the harbour?’ we asked. ‘I drop an anchor over there’ he said, pointing to a
position just out from the harbour wall, ‘and haul her off the quay then just
raise the sails’. Hhmm. Easy then? ‘What about bringing her back into the
harbour, you must need some help for that?’ we asked. ‘Well I just sail her in
and run her onto the mud, then let the sea do the rest as the tide comes in’ he
answered! Anyway we got ourselves invited aboard Iris to view things from deck level.
Iris looks very smart, but apparently there is still much work to do below
deck! We retired for coffee and scones at the shop just across from where Iris
was berthed. Later we walked to Berry Head and looked out from the cliff-tops
over the sea we had sailed in from Dartmouth.
Berry Head was fortified from iron-age times but more recently in the 1700s to
protect against an invasion attempt by Napoleon. It was also a defence post in
WW1 and WW2 and now hosts a lighthouse and radio beacon to assist modern
traffic. It also has a coffee shop!
Today was the food and music festival of the sea in Brixham.
We took a quick look then made the journey to Dittisham, by bus and river
ferry. It is still just as picturesque there as when we last visited. We also
spoke with a group of sailors on the table next to us in the Ferry Boat Inn;
they were very impressed to hear of our shortly to be completed
circumnavigation of GB and asked how they could make a donation to our cause,
which was very kind. The marina here in Brixham has also given us a free night
which is also very welcome! Thank you Brixham marina. Tomorrow we plan to
depart around 0630.
Joke:
Broken pencils are pointless!
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| Charlie's Lugger, Iris |
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| The crew talking to Charlie |
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| Looking out from Berry Head towards Dartmouth |
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| Old Brixham trawlers ready to take part in the festival |
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