Front Row Center

April 24 - London:  The count down is on.  Bill Harris has joined us and while he and King finished up last minute boat chores, I started a search for bargain show tickets and worked at picking up those final items we simply can't live without....I have to say, thankfully, those are becoming fewer and fewer. This is a good thing since you can only bring back so many jars of Banana Peppers, Heinz Dill Pickles and Hooters Wing Sauce from the States without fear of what the fallout might be should they break and contaminate the entire luggage hold of the plane.  I had already decided if there was a large dark stain on the outside of our luggage when it was spit out of the carousel, I would simply walk away pretending it was not mine. A big thank you to Delta baggage handlers for not making that necessary.

Goodies from the States!
Banana Peppers left center next to the Wing Sauce...and the antacid

The only musical we saw twice...."Once"

Its been a wonderful Spring in London.  We have been packing in the theater these last few weeks.  Once (for the 2nd time, thumbs up for the new cast), The Merchant of Venice (performance took place in a church we just happened by), and Handbag (2015 Oliver  Award contender) were all on the list.  How lucky are we!  As has been our MO, we ventured out early to stand in line at the box office for day tickets and have been rewarded for our efforts with front row seats for a song! Well....not a song, they would have taken them back if I actually had to sing for them. Thankfully, the weather has been mild so, besides dragging our butts out of bed, it has not been tough duty.

Sharing a beer at Molly's

Following our evening at Once, we set out in search of an ATM.  A young guy noted the "searching look" and showed us where one was hidden close by. We chatted and before I knew it, King had agreed to go down the street to a gay bar at Molly Moggs (otherwise known as "the friendly, intimate, local drag den in the center of town").  The crowd was spilling into the street and it was standing room only!  King has disposed of my incriminating pictures of him being sung to by Dame Julie Paid but you only need use a bit of imagination.

The Merchant of Venice was in a whole league of its own.  The venue was St. Leonards, an 18th  century church in Shoreditch that is still in use but looks a bit down on its luck.   This was not a big budget operation....what do ya want for £8 Concession? We arrived at the appointed hour to find one other couple and the placed locked up tight with a note tacked to the door announcing that doors would be open a bit later.  The "crowds" did eventually grow (I admit to using that terminology loosely) and I can only guess that the group arrived at some critical level to support the commencing of the production cause the doors were finally flung opened allowing us to enter.  As has been our practice, we targeted seats in the center, front row (pew, in this case).  The play started as soon as the "crowd" was settled.  Soon after, a welcome warm heat began hitting the backs of my legs.  Mmmmm...I was chilled to the bone from the extended wait outside so my first thought was "isn't this lovely".....however, after about 10 minutes of heat blowing directly on the calves of my legs, I start getting a bit uncomfortable....surely it will turn off soon.  I begin to squirm, stretching my legs one way and then another, looking for some relief.  I search around the room for an exit but, of course, I'm sitting front row center.  There is no way possible I can move without becoming part of the play.  I'm trying to nonchalantly feel under the seat in search of a knob to turn down the blaze that is setting the backs of my legs on fire but none is to be found.  Just before I burst into flame, the heat magically stops.  Intermission arrives and the first thing I do is drop to the floor to determine what the hell is happening.  I find an electric strip heater attached directly under my seat.  It cannot be moved, it cannot be turned off.  Do we move......of course not, we are in front row, center seats!  Intermission was not your typical wine from the bar and/or ice cream offerings.  Several of the cast pulled out a cart and announced hot tea and coffee was available for 50 pence a cup.  Brilliant (and dirt cheap by London standards)!  By the way....the play was outstanding.

St Leonard's becomes a street in Venice

When not hanging out in the early morning hours at theater box offices, we made time to visit

British Museum gets the best of Bill & King

the Victoria and Albert and British Museums, along with a last visit to St Paul's Cathedral (our all time favorite) for evening song.  We also managed a long awaited opportunity for a guided tour of Parliament led by the local MP. It's a practice that our Florida Legislature could certainly learn from.

You want me to take the boat where!?

King took his ICC (International Certificate of Competence) test which certifies that he is capable of managing a boat and CEVNI the Inland Waterway test.  I tagged along as moral support and crew.  We attempted to convince the folks at the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) that surely crossing the Atlantic Ocean should count for something, but no.  Actually, it's only been a couple of years that Americans were allowed to take the ICC.  Since the U.S. doesn't offer the extensive boating courses like the Brits, Americans were in a type of Catch 22; technically not required to be licensed but local officials, especially on inland waterways like the Rhine/Danube, want to see your license.  We decided to play it safe.  The CEVNI was actually a bit of a bear but the ICC was a gift (expensive.... but still a gift).  The entire process was completed in Limehouse basin and Regent's Canal.

It was hard to focus on boat chores when the London Marathon trotted by the marina.  A gazillion people, many dressed in costume.  As the afternoon wore on, runners who had pledge to raise money for charities struggled to stay the course some barely walking. Spectators, on the other hand, made the event into a huge happy drinking party.  By early the next morning, all remnants of the party and race were gone.  London was back to business.

Is that a bride? Looks suspiciously like a guy!

 April 28 - With the end of the month approaching fast, we finally stopped playing long enough to get the head sail back up, scrub off the winter dirt that had accumulated on Ostinato, put the dingy back on its davits and tie down the new passarail King found on Ebay.  It must be time to leave.

Our 15 minutes a day of Sunshine!

One last Monday morning breakfast meeting with the small group of cruisers who have yet to depart

The group has dwindled to just a few.
Our last Cruiser's Breakfast 

St. Kats and then back to the boat to begin the task of stowing hoses, power lines and rolling up the canvas enclosures so we are once more a sailing vessel vs a house boat.

Departed St. Kats at 14:00, leaving just enough time to get the anchor down in Stanstead Creek in the Medway before sunset at 20:00.  The sun peaked out as we motored out of the lock and followed us down river.  Unfortunately, the wind was 15k from the W so with the current from the E it made for a bumpy ride.  I felt bad enough that I did not want to go below to our cabin to dig out the ear plugs King had given me for Christmas.....my latest magical cure for sea sickness.  After a quick dinner, everyone fell into bed. It was an emotional day.  I will really, really miss London.

Ostinato at anchor in Walton on the Naze

April 29 - Departed the Medway at 10:30 and motored out the Thames to the North Sea and up the coast.  The forecast was good so we decided another night at anchor would be a welcome treat.  Still in search of that elusive patch of sand to dry out Ostinato, King decided to check out Walton on the Naze.  The Pilot Book's first reference is:  "it would be unwise to attempt entry to the area at all in strong NE winds.....".  Of course, the winds are from the NE today....only 10K, so not to worry.  However, it is low tide and the tide is running like it's on steroids....hmmm.  The real attention getter was the 1 1/2 pages of instructions on how to get up the channel!  To King's credit, we only ran aground once.

April 30 - What looked like a ditch as we arrived now appears to be a wide river.  The anchor was laid in 8 feet of water last night and pulled up this afternoon in 16 ft.  As we waited for the tide to turn, we put the dinghy in the water and explored the area a bit.  Birds are nesting along the shore so I was able to pull out my binnoculars and bird book again.  Besides the nesting birds, the marinas are busy putting boats back in the water.  A sure sign of Spring in the UK.

We are now back in the Ipswich Haven Marina...our 3rd visit.  We pass Dora Mac, one of the winter cruisers from St. Kat's and also see Wings sitting ashore waiting patiently for one of last year's St. Kat's people to return. It will be great to see familiar faces and catch up with friends at the OYC.

Below are some random pictures of our last few days in London.

Thames barges at St. Kats

The good-byes

The St. Kat's bridge is raised for Ostinato to depart the marina into the Thames

Last walk across Tower Bridge

The Art Gallery we were tied up next to...see No Entry sign...read next picture

Our daily view of London Tower Bridge
between the 2 buildings.........I didn't say it was a great view!