As we travel around, we notice a wide range of 'Facilities' available. These range from the very basic (Caledonian Canal) through the generally adequate, to those that are really pretty good. However Salterns stands head and shoulders above the rest, with loos that would not be out of place in a 5 Star hotel. Everything is of the best quality, sparkly new, spacious and squeaky clean. Full marks to you Salterns - although I thought the second Geisha girl was perhaps a little tardy in presenting me with the pearl-handled toothbrush...
We left Dartmouth (no showers at all!) early on Wednesday and after saying goodbye to Mark, Jo and Adam who are returning to the 'real world' via the steam railway to Paignton. The crossing of Lyme Bay and around Portland Bill is not trivial, although it seems nothing on land. The scientific phenomenon known as the 'Goldfinch effect' was fully in evidence and showed the unerring attraction of strong winds to our bow. We sailed for a few hours and then gave up and started the motor as the adverse tide strengthened. That said, it was a lovely sunny day and the cliffs of the 'Jurassic Coast' spectacular.
Approaching Portland, the tide was with us as we had expected and we romped into Poole just as the sun was going down, at the dizzying speed of nine knots*. A long day but a satisfying one as we clocked up a lot of miles along what we have come to think of as the homeward stretch.
*10.3 Mph
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| The mysterious case of the missing helmsman |
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