Preparation to leave England

Even though the winter had been mild so far we decided to leave as early as we could, so preparations were made and appointments were made to be ready by Mid February not expecting to leave then but to be ready for the first weather window which we thought, judging on previous years would be March.

I started filling up the freezer with Organic meats and chicken and Wild Alaskan Salmon, buying the specials as they came up.

Mike serviced the motors, checked the sails and rigging and did odd bits to make life easier.

I had an eye specialist’s appointment on the 9^th so the 10^th of Feb would be our earliest leaving date. I have a bad shoulder and had just started Physiotherapy but I would have to take what I could and do exercise in the mean time, Mike was allowed to come to the one session to see how to Massage to help me should it all freeze up again. I also had a Dentist check and had to have a crown glued back on. So it was going to be a busy week. We started to make preparations to leave as soon after this as the weather would allow.

Some of the other sailors on the dock were sceptical of our leaving especially as it was February and all the books say you must not leave at this time. I am sure we were the subject of many a conversation in the pub, we certainly got some comments.

Monday the weather was looking good and we decided to get ready. I caught the free bus to ASDA to do the victualing (food) and was sorry to say goodbye to the bus driver Sandy who always went out of her way for everyone she certainly is a credit to her company.

I wanted at least 2 weeks food on board before we had to victual, I know how much it cost and what I could get but in Spain and Portugal you would have the language problem and I did not know how much it would be. This turned out a sound plan as food is more expensive in Spain and Portugal, about double and organic four times as much.

Tuesday we put the boat up on the slip, Mike went into the six degree water to scrub off all the jellies before the Tide went down and it dried and made the removal more difficult. I had the hot tea and soup ready. Hans and Diana our friends came to help him which was way beyond the call of normal friendship. It was also Market day and I had ordered lamb, liver and steak from my organic farmer friend Peter of Nancarrow farm. His meat is the best ever. Get some of the veggies from the veggie sellers and say goodbye to my very good friend at the Organic Veg stall, Lydia. Buy some smoked salmon, olives, and eggs I would miss all of my friends at the market.

Wednesday we put the boat back on the slip and Mike painted the boat, this time in the dry. I went to do physio, dentist and get some more essentials.

Thursday and our last day we thought, and the Laundry had to be done and got a bit hectic with Physio and eye specialist appointments and so I had to leave the Laundry in the drier and rush off, I asked Denise if she could just take it out the drier and I would fold it when I got back, She had folded it for me which saved me a lot of precious time. I felt so blessed to have such good friends. Mike had to pick up gas and fuel, and ended getting the charts for me as he went to the Bosuns Locker chandlery for the gas,. I had walked a lot in the last week, up the hill to the Physio, down to the dentist, back up to the laundry, at least I would be fit to go. Fortunately my friend Diana offered to drive me to the next door town to the specialist and then stop on the way back at ASDA to get the last minute shopping otherwise trying to catch the buses to Helston and back would have taken up most of the day.

Our Pastor and wife came to say goodbye, unfortunately when I was at the eye specialist,  the church would be the most difficult to leave, I did not want to say goodbye to all of them but rather think it would not be a permanent parting as one day we would meet again.

Our Pastor, Roger,  on board having lunch with us with his two daughters and Mikes daughter Ang, on the left.

.Rogers friend, wife Mandy and Son Eli.

Roger and Mandy's youngest daughter, The Captain, she spent most of the day steering and did an excellent job. 

On Thursday evening I cooked up two big stews, a Chicken one in the pot and a Dutch Balletje sop. (Thick vegetable soup with small meat balls spiced with a bit of nutmeg), in the pressure cooker so as not to have to cook for the first two days. The pressure cooker vacuums and keeps the food for at least 4 days, especially in British temperatures.

Friday we had planed on a 0500 departure to catch the tide, The weather was foggy, wet and with a SW wind so we decided not to go,  but our friend Nick had pitched up at 0500 to say goodbye, as did the Family from Eau de Vie, with Misty the Cat,  Mike had just got back from his Jog, the family went back to bed and Nick came on board and had some breakfast and spent some very special time with him. He is a fascinating person with a heart of gold and a head full of knowledge, especially on plants and he and Mike spent a lot of time discussing the foraging from the wild part of life.

We borrowed Misty from our friends on Eau de Vie for a cat fix. When I met Mike he hated cats, being allergic to them, then we went to visit my friends on Bonniedale farm (www.bonniedale.co.za) where my old part African wildcat lived. She jumped on his chest and licked his eye, he thought the end had come, he would break out in hives as he normally did, but no reaction. He soon fell in love with her and now he adores cats this led to us getting our own cat, Theraputix who now stays on the farm and after whom we named our boat, well, you got to name a cat after a cat do you not?

 Misty is part Scottish wild cat and such a character and of course Mike does not react to her so he spends hours playing with her and she loves sleeping on him, as did Josh the other cat on the walk on but he did get streaming eyes and itches from him but thought it worth it.

Our friends from Eau de Vie with Misty the cat. 

Saturday was a 0600 departure but although the wind had swung to SE it would be a tight beat and the wind was strong whereas on Sunday the weather was predicted to be ideal a light NW wind building and continuing for 6 days, from England down to Spain, right across Biscay, What a present, God was certainly kind to us. To have such a weather widow in summer is rare, let alone in winter. Nick was on the dock at 0600 to say goodbye for the second time, but did not stay this time, he was afraid of eating all our victuals.

Friday and Saturday were much needed relaxing days, and at least we would leave well rested.

Sunday came and Nick was on the Dock to finally say goodbye, (I think he was relieved), we would miss our chats with him. We woke the Family up and they cast off our lines and Nichola ran round to the end of the dock for a final wave, Henridavid, I know, would of liked to but he had left their boat without shoes and his feet were frozen. We waved them goodbye with tears in our eyes. We would certainly miss all our friends we had made and Falmouth but the weather is too cold for us tropical birds so it was time to head S to the sun. Our biggest proplem of course is that we were both born with IFS, Itchy Foot Syndrome, we just got to keep travelling. One day when we are too old to sail we will get a camper van and just keep moving. When we are too old for that we will just move on into heaven..

 Falmouth Main Street, with the Oyster Festival Procession. 

 Our Snug "winter village" berth where we spent the last 4 winters.