SV Ostinato: Birthday on the Thames

April 21: We reluctantly crawled out of bed this morning at 6 a.m. after a late night of meeting new folks, accompanied by great food and drink at the Ocean Cruising Club (OCC) annual meeting and awards. Members had flown in from all over the world for the event. How fortunate to be in London when it occurred. The dinner was held on the SS Wellington moored on the Thames. The wine flowed all evening and neither of us regretted this morning that we had skipped out before the final brandy was served.

In the locks to leave St Katharine Docks

Listening to Happy Birthday song

After a few last minute chores, Ostinato was finally back in cruising mode...or at least close enough to get us down the Thames to our first anchorage. We pulled in last in the lock behind Wings, who is also headed to Ipswich to have work done, and one of the Thames River Barges. Once in the lock, the send off group, led by marina staff, Melanie, sang a chorus of Happy Birthday for King. We learned Wings was also celebrating birthdays this month. What is it with cruisers and April birthdays? That, along with the festival spirit of the London Marathon which was going on all around us, made it quite the send off.

Along the way, just after we passed Greenwich, who do we see standing on the side of the river but our favourite Australians, Judy and Merv from Thorang La! They came to wave goodbye....and catch the Marathon.

Judy and Merv wave goodbye from Greenwich!

One last look at the Cutty Sark

The trip down the Thames was uneventful and the weather picture perfect, that is if your picture includes gloves and a hat. Seven hours after leaving our home for the last 6 months, we slipped into the Medway and made our way up Stangate Creek where we put down the anchor for the night. King had ordered a apple pie for his birthday cake so while I was getting my sea legs back as we motored down the Thames, I was also trying to figure out how to make piecrust. What was I thinking?

Thames Barriers give ok to transit

We are both a bit sad about leaving London. We were way over our fair share of fun and we also know new adventures are waiting for us....so, off we go!

April 22: King performed a new trick last night. His cell phone can now make the boat a wifi zone. So as long as we have cell service, we do not have to skulk around town looking for unlocked signals. This morning we were up at 7:30 to get the boat ready to catch the morning tide. The dinghy still laid across the trampolines so that was the first chore of the day....after I had my coffee. Next was getting the anchor up. It was like we had been doing it every day for the last 6 months instead of partying in London. The final chore was raising the sail. Up it flew to the first spreader, then.... Oops. Did I mention the new boom arrived last week? Looks like a few of the lines were not in their assigned spot. After 30 minutes of King rerigging all of the reefing lines while I held the boat into the wind we were off.

Ipswich lock

It was an easy jump in light winds and flat seas. As a result, we were able to take the inland passage up "the Wallet" into the River Orwell. The trip up the river while fighting the current was beautiful. The River Orwell is reportedly one of the prettiest in the UK. Arrived at ipswich Marina at 7:30 minus one alternator. We are hoping its just a fan belt problem. A long 12 hr day. I'm ready for bed.

Ipswich Haven Marina

April 24: it didn't take King long to find the town's essential suppliers. After a few phone calls, off we strolled to the Ipswich Junk Yard. While the Junk Yard did not have what was needed, a bearing "store" was located right next door. Complete ecstasy. Fan belts hung around the wall of the tiny outer room of the business. King actually "Oooooed" as we stepped through the doorway. Mercifully it is close to the boat so I did not have to accompany King on his second, or even his third visit as he worked to find the correct sized fan belt. Good news! We have the best fitting fan belts ever.

April 29: Best laid plans have disintegrated into thin air. We had been waiting for the boat yard to give us prices for our haul out. The "tariffs" arrived by email on Friday, the bad news day. The charge for just the haul out is £1000 ($1500. That's double what others charge. King turned pale. Looks like we will be staying in Ipswich another week as we work out Plan B and I do CPR on King.