Well only a week since my last post, so this must be a miracle!  I didn't do much in the week, but attended part 2 of the oil painting workshop on Thursday.  It's getting a bit tough, but must persevere.  Carried on with it at Friday's painting session at the Royal Victoria.  Arranged to meet up with Dick and Judith at Buckler's Hard on Sunday, so got some bits and pieces ready.  Left on Sunday an hour before high water.  What a fantastic day and sail we had.  A sparkling day, got off Newtown before we turned and headed back to the entrance to the Beaulieu River.  Dodgy entrance, but got in any way.

sailing West towards a huge fleet of boats that appeared to be coming out of Lymington.

Difficult to quantify the number of boats, but there were hundreds.  There appeared to be a race going on.

 Arrived in Buckler's Hard about two-ish and met Dick and Judith, who fortunately took our line (better than making idiots of ourselves) and had a great afternoon and evening just chinwagging.  Very quiet and calm evening, and woke up to sunshine on Monday.  Dick and Judith had to clear off home, so we were left on our own until our afternoon departure.  Had a few walks with Bertie and then had an extra long one to find out how far up the Beaulieu river the boats were moored.  Never got to the end, it just went on and on.

As you can see the boats just went on and on..we must have walked a total of 4 miles.

Looking at some of the moored boats by the marina at Buckler's Hard.

 Well after wearing Bertie's feet out, we got ready for the departure. It took half an hour to get to the mouth of the Beaulieu river, and then forty-five minutes to cross the Solent and get to East Cowes - tide was with us all the way.  Had supper on the boat, then home.  Not sure what's next on the sailing agenda, perhaps I need to rename this blog, as I haven't done any painting.  Better work on that!