SALTMARSH ADVENTURE DAY 0 AUGUST 12 TH ESSEX ENGLAND FIRST THOUGHTS

Transcription

1 SALTMARSH ADVENTURE ESSEX ENGLAND FIRST THOUGHTS DAY 0 AUGUST 12 TH IN MALDON 12 HOURS BEFORE EMBARKING When you wake up in the middle of the night by the steady pitter paddle of rain and drops of musky sea water falling on your bunk it s hard to know what you re in for, but when you ve come 7,586 km around the world, you have to have a little bit of faith that it was meant to be. - Theodore Fenske

2 START OF VOYAGE DAY 1 AUGUST 13 TH EMBARKING ON THE CAMBRIA Started off in Maldon Essex. Where the other recipient of the James Myatt Trust International Sailing Exhange, Annie Macintosh, and myself enjoyed a morning run around the Blackwater Estuary, and a brief stroll around the town before setting out. Once given the run through by the skipper and first mate we received an initial pull from a resident tug boat until we could sail up the River Blackwater and out of Maldon. After having a short feel for the barge Cambria, we encountered a sudden drenching of local weather. After drying off we once again enjoyed the cool breeze coming off the salt marshes of Essex. Later we were able to anchor across from Brightlingsea at East Mersea. Where we had Spag-bowl (spaghetti) for dinner. 2

3 Our day in Maldon 3

4 DAY 2-5 AUGUST TH ABOARD THE CAMBRIA Day 2. August 14th Sailed North, technically referred to as down as one is going away from the capital of London, past all the towns-on-the-sea (Clacton-on- Sea, Holland-on-Sea, Frinton-on-Sea) to Anchor just outside Walton Backwaters. Once there we rigged up a few Dinghy s to enjoy a sail around the entrance to the Backwaters. We came back after Dinghy sailing to have Toad-in-the-Hole for dinner, " which was quite an odd name but surprisingly delicious. Day 3. August 15th Sailed further up to the Backwaters after waiting for the tides to change. Then we visited Walton on the Naze whilst staying anchored at Walton Backwaters. Later in the evening we visited a nearby creek to find a mixture of harbor and red fur seals resting on the mud banks, enjoying the last few rays of the setting sun. Once back aboard the Cambria we had a dinner of Bangers and Mash, (still unsure of what it was that we ate, but it tasted good all the same.) Day 4. August 16th We were treated to a special Canadian breakfast of pancakes # with real Canadian $ Maple Syrup, specially brought by Annie. After breakfast we rain proofed all our bunks and gear by putting them in sanitary garbage bags; then the whole crew proceeded to suit up in full rain gear, with an added style of flips flops from the Canadians, before venturing outside into the downpour that awaited our 30min barge boat (Motor boat) into Walton on the Naze. While not huddling together in a sopping wet mass on the way to the Walton Harbor, we could hear and see some Sheep grazing along the damp grassy banks nearby. The moment felt like a classic English stereotype of the countryside, filled with a calming beauty. Upon arriving into Walton, we were treated to a classic wet day tradition of going to the pier to escape from the rain and enjoy an 4

5 Walton Backwater Creek 13

6 afternoon of laughter and luck at the arcades, where Annie won a Forever Friends teddy bear that was decided, as a crew, to be called, Jonathan. Day 5. August 17th Still anchored in the Walton Backwaters, we decided to do some dinghy sailing. So, after a hardy breakfast we rigged up three toppers, % that so happened to have top hats on their sails, and a single laser that was immediately claimed by Stretch, being the tallest crew member at 6 5. Once all the boats were rigged, we set out to enjoy a few hours of sailing. Annie was the first to test the waters, followed shortly after by Dan. He managed to pull off a dry capsize, but then got a taste of the murky flat waters a few minutes later. Amazing enough, all of Stretch s 6 5 frame and laser managed to stay dry. Izzy and I got our first and only taste of the muddy waters after staying dry for nearly two hours! Shortly after, the sun disappeared behind the clouds and everyone felt a little chilly, so we headed back to the Cambria to be pleasantly treated to a Pickle Surprise lunch. Having everything from pickled beets and onions to gerkins, and my personal favorite pickle-lilly. Once everyone had their fill of pickled dishes, we cleaned up and decided to head to the beach for an afternoon barbecue and bonfire. Filled with inside jokes, beach games, heart-to-heart talks, and captivating English scenery, it is still one of my most favorite memories. 5

7 6 Walton Backwater Sailing

8 DAY 6-9 AUGUST ST ABOARD THE CAMBRIA Day 6. August 18th The Cambria set sail, leaving Walton Backwaters to sail up (south) past Frinton, Holland, Clacton, Jaywick, and Colne Point. Once again we anchored just outside Brightlingsea, where we stayed until we took the barge boat into Brightlingsea to stroll around town and have traditional English fish & chips with a special knickerbocker glory & for desert. The crew decided to finish the day off by heading down to the local harbor pub, where all the harbor masters and barge captains go to wet their whistle. At the Green King ' we enjoyed a Guinness or two. Having finished our drinks, we made our way back to the barge boat and the Cambria for a game of Sevens. Day 7. August 19th The following morning, we sailed up (South) further into the River Blackwater tacking along the way, past Haybridge Bassin, to arrive back into Maldon, Essex. Once docked, we tidied the mooring lines and said our farewells to Prudence. Having arrived back into Maldon from our adventures at Walton Backwaters, the whole crew enjoyed a celebratory round of Ghost-ship, at the Queens Head! Day 8. August 20th Having the day off from cleaning up the Cambria, Dan, Izzy, Annie and myself went to Colchester to see the old castle that has been turned into a historical museum; was quite small but fun. Afterwards we enjoyed a stroll through the castle grounds seeing the mixture of old decaying walls and a beautiful display of local wild flowers. - Then we decided to grab some midafternoon grub at Cafe Med. Ending our visit to Colchester with some much-needed ice cream. 7

9 12 Aboard the Cambria

10 Day 9. August 21st After having a day off, Annie, Dan, and myself, along with the crew of Richard, Hillary, and Stretch, started the tedious work of cleaning up the Cambria in order to have her spick and span to hand off in Gillingham, Kent. After working for a better part of the day and feeling completely exhausted, Sea Change Sailing Trust treated us to a very traditional and fancy Cream Tea with buttered scones. I learned that cream tea is a classy way to say, have some tea with as much cake as you can comfortably, or not so comfortably, stuff down. Annie and I repaid this treat with a gift of assorted local Maldon chocolates. Once feeling thoroughly stuffed and replenished, Dan, Annie, and myself met up with Izzy to enjoy a game of Bowling / where we used our already established nicknames of Dopey, Happy, Doc, and Bashful (from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs). Happy (Annie) decided to take the lead and was quite content to stay there with Doc (myself) trailing three points behind her, after a fowl attempt to bowl with the opposite hand. Izzy then said her farewells with the promise to try and stay in touch; which gave Dan, Annie, and myself the opportunity to experience as many English Pubs as we could muster. We explored the Queens Head, Black Rabbit 0, and Crown & Rose, 1 or locally called Spoons, all the while I was on the search to reestablish myself with a local favorite called Ghost-Ship; sadly, this did not happen, so I settled for a Guinness. Day 10. August 22nd Setting out from Maldon once again, with only half the crew, we sailed across the River Thames for 15 hours straight to arrive just outside Gillingham, Kent in the River Medway. Day 11. August 23rd Upon Anchoring on the River Medway by the north side of Hoo Island, we experienced a proper torrential downpour that soaked the whole crew to the bone. In the evening, we had a lovely motor around the Island of Hoo, seeing the contrasting sides of the commercial waterfront of Gillingham with the village of Hoo harbor. 8

11 Day 12, August 24th About midday, the Cambria got a tow from the steel Barge Niagra, like the falls, to help dock in Hoo Harbor as the Cambria remains a traditional River Thames barge without an engine. Having arrived in Kent and bid our goodbyes to Stretch, Richard, the skipper, took us into the town of Rochester where we saw the cathedral, then the ruins of the old castle, before taking part in a long-established local custom of enjoying a few pints. FINAL THOUGHTS DISEMBARKING THE CAMBRIA I enjoyed so many things on my Saltmarsh adventure, including conversations regarding the difference between a cookie and a biscuit, the distinctions between Canadian and English education systems, and of course taking in the beauty that England s East coast can offer. Each memory has grown fonder with time. This has been a unique and rare experience, almost akin to traveling back in time, especially when you have to manually crank an unstinting amount of chain in a blistering torrent of rain or maintain a steady course alongside the changing tides without the help of hydraulic steering! It is with deep appreciation that I wish to thank both Sea Change Sailing Trust and SALTS for providing such a memorable experience. So, with my final thanks, I share a few parting words that capture my adventure. Cheers, Theodore Fenske! 9

12 The Sea s Sway In thy own bed thee lay, Incrusted in a muddy bay, Waiting for the gentle sway, To drift yee off till sunny day. - Theodore PJ Fenske 10

13 The Old Sea-Captain Haggard by the crashing waves, Sculpted by the everchanging winds, Trained by the unforeseen storms, Altered by the shifting tides, Restored by the morning salt, He is one with the sea, the sky, the waves, the wind he is one. - Theodore PJ Fenske 11