Day 8, Passage 4
Finally moved from Dover to Ramsgate.

Bloto in Dover marina

Wind was light and finally in the right direction.  Visibility was a bit hazy.
 

Famous White Cliffs of Dover!

Arrived Ramsgate about 1030 and refuelled.  Marina not that special but the marina staff are very nice.
 Interesting architecture but the town is a bit naff.

Inner basin, showing interesting architecture.

Apparently this bnridge/arch was built by POWs from the Crimean war.....

Managed to get some supplies, even found a Waitrose (not the best I've seen).  Anyway it looks as though we will be moving on to Shotley Marina, Harwich, tomorrow, assuming weather stays good.

Thank you all for such lovely messages of encouragement via email, text and the blog.  It''s really good to read them.

 Decision made.  We will be off tomorrow at 7.30. Wind direction and strength are all good.  Today we walked up to the castle in the sun and had a lovely time even though it is very steep to get there.

I was wrong this is a Saxon church and next to it is where the Romans build the first lighthouse.

Edge of castle looking out over the battlements

If you look really hard you can just make out Cap Nez Gris - only 20 miles away.

So that's it, just get ready for tomorrow.

Thank you Annie, Angie and Ruth for your kind comments.

Day 6
Another day of rest.  Caught up with the washing.  I've also now sorted out my clothes, the filing and the charts.  Lockers have been rearranged.... Anyway, had quite a lot of heavy showers, and a lot of very strong winds, so there was never really any chance of us going out today.  Got in the next load of supplies via the most sad M & S I have ever used, it was like BHS in its death throws! As the weather was so bad today, we didn't do any adventure walking.  Although the weather forecast is strong winds again for tomorrow, no rain is in the forecast, so we've decided to try and walk up to the castle.  Still looks good for a Thursday depart, but this time it is likely to be about 7.30. 

Yesterday we watched a boat wrestling with the wind and sea as he came into the harbour.  We met up with him later - single handed! My goodness, that took guts yesterday!

Lucky we can exchange books in the Marina Office, I've just finished a John Grisham book.  Amazing what you can read with the wind whistling in the rigging.....

Day 5
Much to Bertie's delight we made the decision not to sail on to Ramsgate today.  The weather forecast was not too good, even though there was a small weather window in the afternoon which could have proved OK to move on.  However, we decided that it would probably be a bit too risky as it would anyway be wind over tide, so lumpy sea!  As it turned out, the wind did drop this afternoon, but is likely to pick up this evening and tomorrow!   So what to do?  First we tried the Royal Cinque Ports Yach Club, but it was closed.  Then decided to walk past the ferry port and see how far up the cliffs we got.  It was very very steep and we ended up in a National Trust area which looks after the White Cliffs.  Gave them a quid to help them in the upkeep, and trudged on.  All had aching feet by the time we decided to stop and turn round, but the views were pretty spectacular.

The White Cliffs (or part of them!)

Turn around and there was a Norman Church 

and a bit to the right Dover Castle, lovely

We popped in to the Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club on the way back, but they would only let Bertie in if we sat outside - a bit cold for that!
As the weather is still not good for tomorrow, there is the very slight possibility that we may walk up to the castle...... if our feet can take it.  I also have to get more supplies in as we seem to be eating our way around - as usual!

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Day 4

Dover castle

Lovely Georgian building

View of Castle

Think everyone may have seen this!

Following the weather forecast for today, we decided to have a day of rest.  Forecast said F5 for this afternoon, and although the morning was still, low and behold the wind is here this afternoon.  Very cold and overcast again.  Bertie is happy as there is no sailing today.  Dover is not the most exciting of places, or perhaps I missed something.  Took a few photos and picked up some supplies

Day 3, Passage 3
Another overexciting day in our adventuring! Wanted to leave Eastbourne at 0830 only to discover there wasn't enough water the other side of the lock.  Anyway finally went into the 0930 lock and unfortunately just after we locked out into a very narrow channel I managed to wallop Bertie on the head with a fender.....He was, as you would expect, totally stressed. Managed to start sailing away from Eastbourne at 1000, with the wind behind us.  Most of the time we were managing 6 knots.  It was a bit dull and overcast, so the only photo we managed to take was of Dungeness Power Station.

Dungeness power station

version 2

As we approached Dover, it all became a bit fraught.  Although the sun came out, the waves got rather huge, and we were absolutely whizzing along.  However, entrance into Dover therefore became rather more exciting than we really wanted.  Had to get the main down before we whooshed into the harbour wall, then once inside the harbour it didn't appear to be obvious where the marina was.  Eventually found it, got sorted and looked after. Managed to average 6 knots and the trip was 1 hour  less than we had anticipated (thank goodness).  We are now settled in and will be here tomorrow, because the forecast for Sunday is not too good.  Better take Bertie out for a walk now as I really need to creep round him.