Robin's Bloggin's

This evening was a perfect combination of cycling, boating, lovely countryside, family time, good beer, pizza and even Indian food!  Damon and I had long been planning and scheming this adventure.  We snuk out of the office just after 16:00, joyfully leaving the hassles of the day astern, donned Lycra, collected our bikes and headed for the Hythe Ferry terminal.  After a day of gloomy skies and drizzle, the skies cleared and the sun came out.  The Queen Mary lay at her berth looking majestic.  We piled onto the small ferry and got into jocular conversation with a couple of other cyclists.  As we steamed across Southampton Water, the liner 'Norwegian Spirit' was putting to sea. We alighted at Hythe Pier and had an interesting start to our ride, dodging the gaps between the pier planks - Damon by studiously steering a straight line, and me adopting a slalom strategy.  I nearly got my wheel stuck in the gap, but just got away with it. Our ride was abs...

It's a little overcast today, but I still delight hugely in the great view from my desk at work.  As an oceanographer, it's a great inspiration to be able to look at salty water whilst sitting working at my desk, though often a distraction too. Today the Queen Mary 2 is in town, taking onboard a new cargo of rich, overweight passengers for a glamorous spin across the ocean.

A near-perfect journey to work this morning.  Riding with Damon on a beautiful late-May early morning on our super new route from Salisbury to Southampton through the New Forest.  I took my road bike, Bernoulli, for the first time on a work ride.  It felt great to be travelling so light.  A really splendid way to get to the office!

Craig, Paul and I met at Warsash on a rather dreary and blustery Wednesday evening for our regular Thursday paddle (day change this week for Mike, who didn't make it after all!!). We togged up and paddled out into the bustle of a club dinghy race.  We made our way steadily to the mouth of the Hamble, and out into Southampton Water, as did the fast-sailing dinghies.  Wherever we paddled, they seemed to want to hack though.  Eventually, we got into clear water, and made our way across to the Fawley refinery terminal jetty, and continued into the calm waters and sanctuary of Ashlett Creek.  We pulled up on the sailing club jetty, and stopped for a brief but enjoyable picnic.  We then paddled back into the gloom, having to wait some time for a car transporter ship, then a Red Funnel ferry to pass.  We then crossed back with a fair wind behind us, and made our way back to Warsash as the light faded. Despite the gloom, we had a fine paddle. ...

A true red letter day for me.  We finally got Sea Glass in the water, with the splendid help and great company of Colin and Nick - very many thanks.  After lots of tinkering in the sailing club compound whilst waiting for the tide to come in, I drove Sea Glass on her trailer round to the slipway with some considerable trepidation.  It was great to have Nick on hand to give lots of helpful advice and reassurance. Sliding Sea Glass off the trailer took some time - she was teasing us and not really wanting to get her bottom wet.  After some pushing, pulling and rocking, she eventually started sliding off the trailer into Ashlett Creek.  We then swung her round and brought her alongside the quay. Soon afterwards, we fired up the outboard, very much to my relief and delight.  It purred beautifully.  We then put to sea, into quite a stiff breeze and grey sky.  Out past the terminal jetty and into Southampton Water.  We hoisted the staysail and ...