We had arrived in Salcombe midday on Monday, in the afternoon we were both just happy to rest, l lowered the dinghy and fitted the engine.
On Tuesday we went to Salcombe Town over high water, first we needed a supermarket for shopping, with Vicki not able to walk far l motored the dinghy down the river, around Snapes Point onto Batson Creek and across the drying area towards the fishing boats pier and along the creek running west behind Island Street to the steps upto the road. From there it’s just a 30 yard level walk to the “Coop mini-market”. Shopping done and back to the dinghy which l then motored back down to the inside of Normandy Pontoon. We used the showers, did a little shopping in town and had a pub lunch. Before heading back to Elektra for a rest.
In the late afternoon l pumped up the paddle board which l had bought second hand, in the past (35years ago) l used to go windsurfing, l thought, how difficult can it be? Well l wasn’t expecting to stand up on my first try, so l motored the dinghy over to the shore shallows where l tried kneeling on the board! Well l discovered l have lost all sense of balance in the last 35years! It was fun trying but l expect l will be swimming most of the time! Back to the drawing board!
On Wednesday we decided a rest day was needed but it was a lovely sunny day and l was going for a walk. Dave Penn messaged me, they were in the Yealm River and it was raining, within an hour it was also raining in Salcombe. It cleared off around 1500hrs and l went for my walk.
On Thursday the plan was to visit Kingsbridge at the head of the Salcombe River, by dinghy, going up with the tide and returning later with the ebb tide. Going to Kingsbridge we needed to follow the channel markets as this was about half tide and the surrounding area was dry, but we didn’t ground anywhere and attached our dinghy to the pontoon and then walked slowly into town. Looking in a few shops and Vicki bought a book from a bookshop. Then it was off to a pub for lunch. Followed by a slow walk back to the dinghy only stopping for an ice cream on route. Before making the rest of the way back to the dinghy. Then back down River again, all the other boats where still following the channel markers but l just cut the corner because it was now high tide.
Back at Elektra looking at the weather forecast, the choices were nice weather and little wind on Friday or rain and strong northeast win to blow us northwest on Saturday, we decided to leave on Friday. With the discussion made, l took the recycling and rubbish down River to the visitor pontoon bins. Then returned and removed the outboard to Elektra’s pushpit and lifted the dinghy onto her davits. Next Vicki and I removed Elektra’s cockpit enclosure as it was now dry but will be wet with condensation in the morning. We then sat down below opened a bottle of red wine and played Scrabble.
Love Sailing 