Have been a little unwell for the last 6 weeks, due to bad back.  We had a few weeks in France, but during that time developed the problem.  It appears to be pulled muscle or torn muscle.  Hopefully, or finally, it is now beginning to gt a bit bette, and bearable.  When sorted will update the blog.

Been a very difficult couple of weeks.  Do we sell Bloto or not?  We've been emptying and sorting the boat and on Wednesday sailed her to Bursledon for lift out on Thursday.  Yesterday we went back to Bursledon to ani-foul her.  Lovely sunny day, but we still feel unsure about the decision.  I suppose we now sit back and see what happens.  We are away in France for three weeks, so we wouldn't be sailing anyway, but when we get back, if it's not sold, back in the water she will go. Bertie has had a nice new haircut, so is back to feeling cool and more like a puppy!

All nice and spruced up, but do we want to sell her?

Had a rather exciting trip to get to Beaulieu but it was worth it in the end.  Had a great time with Dick and Judith - goodness she is a good cook, and on the boat as well! Had a look at yet another boat while we were there and also went to Lymington with them and had a look at another boat.  Nice trip back home.  Following that, we booked up to see some more boats - Gosport, Hamble and Chichester.  Of those, the one in Chichester looks the most promising - a Westerly Ocean 33.  The rest of the time we have spent getting the Hanse ready for sale.  We will be taking it over to Decason's, Bursledon on Wednesday and it will stay there for a month.  If it doesn't sell, well so be it, we have some ideas in mind which will make it slightly more cruiser friendly. After getting it ready for sale, I must admit it does look rather nice!

However, in the meantime we have to go over to France to make sure all is well over there.  No much success in selling La Pelouiniere so far, but perhaps we will have to work on it.

Today is the Cowes to Torquay and back, powerboat race and it is incredibly hot for a change.  Loads of poeple who have rediscovered their boats after a lousy summer, are out in force at the moment. Bertie is not too happy about the heat, but on Thursday he is off to have his hair cut.

Fingers crossed for boat and house sale - you never know.  At the end of the day, only require one person.

Have had quite an interesting and exciting few days.   Searching for a different boat has been hard work!  We arranged to meet Daniel and his family up at Bursledon, but before arriving at the marina had a sail to Osborne Bay for lunch.  Unfortunately it was a bit roly and I felt sick, so we upped anchor and sailed off.  Gentle sail up to Bursledon, first time we have actually had a proper sail.  Moored up and then started the search for boats for sale.  Decided we quite like the Maxi 1000, but it may be because it's a more grown up version of the boat we already have.  On Monday went to see some more boats, and realised we had some preferences.....  Met Daniel and family and then had lunch at what was previously Moody's.  Followed by nice afternoon walk. 

Tuesday got ready for the sail back home.  It was hot and sunny with a gentle N/NW breeze.  There really are a lot of boats in the Hamble!  Nice sail across the Solent and ended up in Osborne Bay again, where we saw the Ice cream boat again

Ice cream boat making a delivery in Osborne Bay - notice the ice cream cone on the top!

Eventually tied up at mooring after another really lovely sail.  Cannot believe that we have only had a total of three good sails since April! Got home, searched on internet for more boats......  Now getting ready to go over to Beaulieu to see our chums Dick and Judith - she has promised me a bit of cake she has been saving.  Perhaps also to see some boats! Let's see.

Well we've been back just over two weeks, so I felt I should update the blog.  I really messed up visiting my grand-daughter - should really learn to "button it".

We left Plymouth and moved on down to Dartmouth, staying in Noss Marina overnight.  Not too special there.  Expensive, moored alongside another boat and facilities were poor.  However, next day moved on to Brixham - where of course, we ended up having to stay a few days due to bad weather.  I did manage to speak to some guys who had also been sailing round Britain - they came from the Medway, and we compared notes.  They were three boats and fully crewed, and like us, had awful weather!  They told me tales of how bad the Irish Sea was - and I am really glad that we didn't attempt it.  It sounded awful! 

After Brixham we moved on to Portland Harbour - and guess what, we were storm bound there for a week!  Went to Weymouth on the bus twice and Portland Bill once, where we had a fantastic crab sandwich - best I've ever had.  Only 50 miles from home and stuck!  When we finally moved on, we had a lovely sail (finally) to Studland, where we lunched, and moved on in the afternoon for Yarmouth.  And guess what - yep, wind picked up again and we had a pretty awful roly ride.  It was really terrible for Bertie who got stuck in the back of the boat, between moving boxes, which had escaped during the roly passage.  Poor chap.

Arrived in Yarmouth and fortunately got a berth.  It was absolutely packed there!  Mind you, we haven't sailed in the summer for years, so should have expected it.  Finally left on the Monday morning and tied up in East Cowes marina to empty the boat.  Bertie was really happy and couldn't get him to move off the carpet! Moved the boat to its mooring on the Tuesday and then started to catch up on what had happened in the meantime.

As it was Cowes week, last weekend we went down to Esplanade to watch the Red Arrows - which was nice, and on Sunday watched the start of the Fastnet race - which was better covered on the TV! 

Well, would we do it all again - must never say never, but certainly not in our Hanse 301! We have lots and lots of photos that we have been looking at and remembering the good and bad of the trip. We have started looking around for another boat, bit larger and more comfortable to perhaps do more grown up things like cruising, and also the Hanse is probably a bit too lively for future sailing. The adventure is over, and everything feels a bit surreal.  We visited places we would never normally visit, and met some really interesting and super people.  I am sorry that the weather was so awful, but that was completly out of our hands. I think we would like to do another adeventure, but perhaps something a little less demanding.

We're off this weekend, hopefully, to a BBQ in Newtown Creek and then Sunday off to Bursledon to meet our granddaughter again - hopefully they will turn up.  Maybe even look at some boats while we are there. 

Bertie recognised where we were immediately we got off the boat and we were concerned he may never wish to go on the boat again, but popped down the other day, and he was absolutely fine - so looks like there was no permanent or psychological damage there!  However, he really does need a haircut - and has to wait until the end of August, because there were no appointments earlier!

Days 81 to 88
We are back in Mayflower marina, Plymouth.  Went up the Tamar river to Weir Quay going under Brunel's Tamar bridge.  It was very nice and peaceful, but we had to figure out a way to get Bertie to and from the dinghy as there was no pontoon to tie up to.  Well we managed it by hoisting him in and out of the boat.  Not sure he liked it very much.  Next day went to River Yealm (Newton Ferres).  Again very nice, but quite a bit more crowded. No wifi, but more seriously, very poor mobile signal!  Had to tie up to a buoy again, so carried on with our not very nice hoisting of Bertie on and off the boat.  However, we did in the end find a better way, which I think was less stressful for him.  Stayed there four days and it was very hot.  After our experiences in Scotland, the weather was quite a shock.  We are also coming to terms with not having made the full trip round Britain, but where risk is concerned, we took the right decision.

I am off tomorrow for the long overdue visit to see our Grand-daughter.  When I get back we will be moving on to Dartmouth.