Well it's been quite busy, and I am desperately trying to keep the blog up to date.  Last Wednesday we managed to sail over to Warsash.  First sail there for absolutely ages.

Well that's Warsash sailing club.  Small changes, but food was good.

Hamble river.  As usual packed with boats.  More so that our side of the world.

Storm clouds - so decided to clear off and get home.

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday we made the decision to go off to Yarmouth for a couple of day.  As you can see Bertie takes a very active part in this decision making process and is a very helpful member of the crew.  Those ropes look quite warm.

Yes he did wake up, and decided to sit with Perry who was about to have a biscuit.

Tied up in Yarmouth, but Bertie saw another boat which has a dog on it.  Couldn't believe it!  Just stared!

Walked to Fort Victoria for a cup of tea and a cake, and where Bertie gets a free sausage.  Obviously this is his favourite cafe.

Where's my supper?

Still staring at other dogs, until rudely interupted.

 Yarmouth was pretty calm, although a bit on the chilly side, but at least we had sunshine.  Left on Tuesday midday (a little early), and the sea was a bit rolly, which meant Bertie had to make us feel really bad while he slept on his pile of ropes again!  However, as we were nearing Cowes we had to put a reef in to allow this other chap to pass.......

You can just see him, it is Ben Ainsley!  Pretty impressive stuff!

 Forgot to add the fact that I have been painting as well.  Different workshop this time, much more textural painting

I did in fact do two paintings, first one with just fingers, but this one was with fingers and sponge.  It is actually a view down the solent from Fort Victoria.

Another textural painting which I did last week, this time with fingers, sponge, paper and knife. Just in case you are not sure, it is of the Needles, again taken from Fort Victoria.

We are now in the processing of packing the boat up, because we will be off to France next week.  Still have one more painting session so hope to complete the blog before we go.

Oh dear doesn't time fly.  April passed a bit quick and here we are in May.  The exhibition went fine, but clashed with Anna's daughter's christening. Couldn't do both. Hope she understands.  Meantime we have been sailing at every opportunity.  We have visited Lymington for a weekend and Gosport for a weekend.  Finally made the bit decison that we should venture further afield and get out of the Solent, so last Monday we packed up the boat and off we went.  First stop was Yarmouth.  Following with an early start next morning.  Through Hurst narrows past Hurst Castle and then saw the Needles.  It's a bit difficult to take photos from a boat and at a distance, but hope the pictures don't appear too bad.

Having got through Hurst narrows, Hurst Castle felt awfully near.

Next viewing was the Needles.

We carried on into Poole harbour.  Had to pass chain ferry (much bigger than the Island one) then on into quite a packed waterway.  Went into Salterns Marina and stayed the night there.  Nothing going on, apart from huge, and I really mean huge, motorcruisers!  Next morning left about 1030 heading back to the Needles.  Saw Great |Harry Rocks.

Great Harry Rocks from quite a distance. 

Lovely sail from then on, although Bertie was pretty bored.

Bored Bertie

Similar to another photo done earlier - subject never changes!

Here we are sailing along

Took a photo of Needles from the other tack this side!

Now it's on our right side going back into the Solent.

We went back into Yarmouth, but left very early next morning to get to Gosport on Thursday as I had a meeting with excolleagues on Friday.  Left Gosport on Saturday morning, along with what felt like 10000 other boats!  Pretty hairy stuff as entrance to Portsmouth is a bit narrow.  Then we went to Buckler's Hard (Beaulieu), to finally meet up with Dick and Judith.  Tide against us getting into Beaulieu river and it was nearly 4 miles to get to the Marina.  However, all was well meeting them.  Left Sunday morning and back to our mooring.

Boat is good and we are now considering where to go next as we have only two weeks left before we go back to France for the summer.