Waking in Dartmouth on a perfect Autumn morning after a cracking night out (Toni and Nuala - the craique was good!!) was a treat. Our neighbours on the pontoon didn't seem to have appreciated our company overnight and cleared off pretty smartly, leaving us to hold our own against the ferries plying back and forth from Kingswear.
From our berth we look up at Britannia College, the houses of Dartmouth and Kingswear cascading down the hillside to the narrow streets and restaurants off the waterfront.
Plenty gong on around here .... a Borders Patrol Vessel coming up river, Golden Vanity, one of the Brixham trawlers berthed ahead of us, left this morning and Chay Blyth's Round the World Yacht, British Steel is moored just across the water.
The threat of Happy Hour never materialised as first off we posed on the quay for official photos, then formed into gangs to support the mast climbs, Margarette, Louise, David and Tracey on the main mast and Carl, Donna, Norma, Charlotte, Sean B and Sylvia who made it up to the first platform on the fore mast. Top of the mast was dusted by Wonder Woman Helen in gold shorts and mauve swansdown who snaked up ahead of Sean, who was sponsored by the Green Army. Also up the Main Mast were Rachel, Dr Dale, Vince, Watch Leader David and Chris.
Cookie Dave served up a storm....alfresco buffet and again at dinner....as the lights came on along the waterfront, Vicky was presented with a huge chocolate cake, after all it was her birthday and, she said, the best one ever.
As we prepare for another night ashore in the watering holes of Dartmouth, we toasted the achievements of our climbing stars and sang 'Happy Birthday'.
fwd port