Smokies

Well we've just bought a couple of Arbroath Smokies for supper. They are smoked every day here in Arbroath.

We left Peterhead on the first of July hoping the weather would improve. It got worse. The trip to Stonehaven from Peterhead was another motor all the way into a light headwind. Sea not too rough, but by the time we got to Stonehaven the rain had set in.

We had fun and games tying up to the wall. The secret of walls is to have two very long warps, the longer the better, fore and aft, and no springs. You will then hopefully swing gently out from the wall when the tide is in, and drop without hanging from the warps when the tide drops. And plenty of fenders! This worked well, but the ladder climb still had to be done to get ashore. See pic. The tide was quite low and the bottom rungs very slippy.

We were met on arrival by two friends of our friends Don. and Audrey O'Donnel who joined us for a cup of tea whilst the rain poured down.

We decided a treat was called for so booked into the Toll House restaurant on the quay where we had a very nice meal. Second only to the Boat House in Bangor. I had crab soup followed by Monk fish and Gail Gravaldlax and Sea Bass. Had to resrict her wine consumption due to the impending ladder climb. Only allowed her one large glass in addition to the shared bottle.

This morning was not too early a start. We needed to arrive at Arbroath around high tide, 13.50, to get into the locked basin. The gates open and shut at half tide. It was still raining but we hoped for a bit of wind as it was from the East and would give us a tight reach. First problem to solve, how to cast off from the wall with the tide out. I climbed the ladder and re-arranged the warps. Our second longest rope was only just long enough to reach back to the boat. We cast this off, then found the longer rope jambed. Whilst tying the boat close to the ladder I had another climb and managed to reach across to free it.

As soon as we exited the harbour we hoisted sail and killed the engine and had a gentle sail for an hour or so until the wind again died so we motored the rest of the way in thickening gloom.

Now tied up safely in the small marina. The harbour man asked us to reverse in, which Gail did with no problem. We've just bought the smokies but decided on a cup of tea and blogging as the weather is still miserable. But it seems so everywhere.

Not sure whether we shall move south towards Eyemouth tomorrow. All depends as always on the weather.