‘Let’s have a party to see you off on your journey’ She said....

....and  indeed the realisation matched the expectation last night when we were delighted to welcome friends neighbours crew mates and family to a Garden Party (in the garden!)The weather was kind despite a series  of thunderclaps and we all went to bed well oiled.

Many thanks to all those who came to ‘See Us Off’ and for all the generous gifts

Today my friend Jimmy from the Solomon Islands had a go in my dugout canoe on the local river and my other friend Steve tried out his coracle. It was great to see two primitive craft from opposite sides of the world  together in Southern England. Itis now a week before planned departure so let’s hope the forecast of strong North Easterlies next weekend is wrong.

Only time will tell!

Keep your fingers tightly crossed

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Down the creek with a mechanical paddle

After a certain amount of huffing and puffing and with an embarrassing level of public attention we managed to leave Iron Wharf in good time for the tide

After touching the mud a few times and as a consequence engaging in much revving of the engine we were pleased to see that the ‘blue smoke out of the exhaust’ problem resolved itself and we safely negotiated Faversham Creek and found ourself back in The Swale by high tide.

We are now securely attached to the mooring with minimal leakage.....the boat at least...and fully charged batteries.

Another proverbial step in the right direction towards our departure  Northwards in a fortnight

Here is a picture of negotiating Faversham Creek

The moment of truth

Well at long last the boat is probably ready for launch day.

There are several anxieties preying on my mind

Will she float?

How bad will she leak?

Will the engine work?

Will the depthsounder function? 

.....The list continues....

Anyway my friend Steve says that I worry too much and that everything will be fine. I hope his confidence is maintained after his 2 week stint with me up the East Coast!!

The first picture is of my friend Dave who came for a cup of tea. He hates boats and is pretending to relive a recurring nightmare of being run down at sea.

The second picture proves that Calismarde did in fact float ready for the always interesting trip down Faversham Creek back to the moorings