On Sunday evening, after we moved from the rally pontoon to a swing mooring, we were much happier. Apart from the feeling of being at anchor, here I also had a mobile signal. I was able to catch up on my online stuff and update my blog.
We knew before we left Gillan that we were going to get stuck somewhere, even back then, the forecast was showing strong southwest winds. We could have gotten out of the Yealm River, but we would have to shelter somewhere else, and the Yealm has everything we need, shops, pubs for meals out, plenty walking for exercise. We had always liked the Yealm River but never had the time before to explore very well. This week, we would get of chance.
Monday was a lovely day, and l kept myself busy with a run ashore with rubbish and then along the road to the co-op for shopping. Once back aboard, Vicki had cooked brunch, and after washing up, we went ashore for showers. I hadn’t ever seen the tide, so low. Only the outside of the pontoon was still floating, and we could only land upstream of the pontoon because the downstream side was just mud.
After our showers, l when for a walk on the path towards Wembury, l didn’t walk all the way but had a nice walk anyway
In the evening we went to a pub meal at the Ship Inn. This used to be our favourite Yealm River pub, but having changed hands, the Ship Inn isn’t as good as it used to be. But the Swan Inn wasn’t doing food on Monday.
Tuesday came in wet and windy, nether of us left Elektra all day
Wednesday started much the same, but we needed more shopping, so l went ashore for a walk and then to get shopping, the rain stopped and the sun came out for a bit, but I hadn’t been back aboard very long before another heavy shower came though. But in the evening it came nice again so we went for a pub meal at the Swan Inn.
Safe is one thing, but comfortable is another. During the night, the wind was howling into the Yealm, the mooring pick-up chain was grinding away on the bow roller, and the standing rigging was vibrating. It kept me and Vicki awake, and in the morning early, l was out padding to bow roller. When the harbour master came along late in the morning, l asked him if there was a more sheltered swing mooring available. He said, l expect so, and he came back later to tell us where. So we moved from the mooring we were on 25kts to a more sheltered 8kts, almost wouldn’t know it was windy.
The forecast wasn’t showing much calm weather for another week, we didn’t have to leave, but we needed to get to Fowey by the evening of Friday 19th September for the CA rally which l had organised. This day, being the 11th, we had time on our side.
Thursday wasn’t a bad day, some nice hot sunshine with a few thundery downpours. Each time we thought of leaving Elektra for a walk or to go for showers, the heavens would open, and maybe we won’t bother.
On Friday, a week after we first arrived in the Yealm River, it started sunny.
To be continued……
Love Sailing 