Bargains

October 1
We slid out of bed at 6:15 this morning to try to take advantage of a very short weather window to move up the coast 25 miles to Ramsgate. Long underwear ...check, everything stowed.....check. Foul weather gear, life jackets and boots....check, check, check. Gate open to allow us to leave the lock..... Oops. Forgot about the lock! Locked in until 10:00. There went the our weather window. So instead, we rode the train to Canterbury to see the cathedral and look for Lady Godiva. We also took our first step to becoming long term visitors by buying a Senior rail pass.

October 4
Ramsgate is a nice enough place, don't get me wrong, it's just not London....and I'm really ready to be in London. But although we planned to leave this morning for the 2 day trip up the Thames, it was just not to be. Wind Guru and the Met Office finally agreed on a forecast. This may be a first and unfortunately, it was not the one we had hoped for. Wind on the nose against current and no where to duck into if things go south. No thanks. So to soothe are disappointment, we hopped a train to Chatham (30% off with the new rail pass!) and visited the Historic Boat Yard. This included a rope making demonstration in the 1,000 ft long rope making building. King, always looking for a deal, knocked on the office door on the way out and eventually made his way to the "end of the spool room" where he picked up new mooring line for a song. Tomorrow 50 knot gusts are forecasted so its another stay put day.....and an opportunity to put his new lines to the test.

October 6

Hooray for sun!

We pulled dock lines this morning at 8:30 to begin our journey up the Thames. The sky was dreary and although it was forecasted to clear, I would of put my money on more rain. Finally, a small blue patch to the north began to slowly grow until the sky just screamed "happy" at you! We took the South Channel route into the Thames, the shortest but one which meant we had to weave in and out of multiple sand bars. King gets an A for the day. I spent the day sitting outside the bimini just soaking up much needed vitamin D. Ostinato was attached to a mooring ball in the River Medway by 2:00. The rest of the day was spent cleaning the waterline and top sides to prepare for our arrival in London tomorrow. Wahoo! The good champagne has been put in the fridge for a chill. : ) As we settled in for the evening a soft booming in the distance was heard. It turned out to be a massive fireworks display on the Northern side of the Thames. Do you think they heard we were coming?

Dover Castle

White Cliffs of Dover

Ferry traffic outside of Ramsgate was busy

Entering Ramsgate Harbour

Ferries heading to France

Is that the sun?!!!



A quiet night in the River Medway of the Thames