Early July – Milford Haven to Padstow

30th June 2021 – To Padstow Overnight

Correction to last post.  The Dolphins are Porpoise (I call everything Dolphins) and the Seagull was a Black Legged Kittiwake.  Thanks Paul H.

Before an overnight trip there is obviously some apprehension.  So hairdressing is a good way to use a few hours, dyeing and cutting.

 

Milford Haven Lock.  It was a hot and sunny day and very unusually we entered Milford Haven lock at 5.50pm in shorts. 

After visiting the museum it was so much more interesting, passing the Gas storage terminal on the way out of the Haven.

One of the impossibly large tankers.

All well in the evening sunshine.  We were then contacted by the Castle Martin Firing Range to inform us practice was taking place.  They had seen us on the AIS and called on the VHF radio.  We were told to stick to a heading of 180 degrees, which was only slightly different to the bearing Mick had planned.  Over the next few hours we could actually hear booming noises.  We hoped they were good at their jobs.

We watched the sunset, while repeating the oven Lasagne routine, as it was so welcome last time.  After which Mick retired at 10.00pm until 01.00am.  Once night fell, it became very cold.  Even with the radio for company, there were few stars and I was glad to be relieved at 1.00am.

I then slept 01.00 til 05.00.  Mick rested after but did not sleep again.

We had a terrific dolphin display during the evening, while crossing the Bristol Channel.  The sea was calm and a small pod joined us at about 9.00pm.  They stayed for a good few hours and into the night, but was very difficult to see them when it was dark and there was no moonlight.

Four Porpoises surfacing together.  Mick snatched this from a Video Clip.

Large shipping in the Bristol Channel and a constant mist.

The mist had mostly cleared when we arrived in Padstow.  The River Camel channel is narrow but well buoyed.  We arrived at 10.15am and were assigned Ladder No.9. 

The harbourmaster had a supply of Calor Gas, so we are now OK for the summer.

I took the opportunity to take some pictures as it was likely we would be rafted against soon.  We deployed the fender board.  A plank of wood, tied across three fenders, which rested on the ladder, to stop damage to the boat, especially as other boats arrived.

The following day Keith and Harry arrived on Alchemy and were excellent raft buddies, so courteous, removing their shoes and treading lightly when they were coming and going across the front of our boat to get to the shore. 

Before too long the harbour was rafted 3 deep everywhere.  Not all rafters are as courteous, including the couple with the dog later, whose dog left its muddy paw prints with no apologies from the owners.  They thankfully moved as soon as they could to a better landing spot for the dog.

1st July – Thursday

We spent a few hours on Thursday trying to secure a table for dinner on Saturday night for my Birthday.  I have had a few dire birthdays lately and needed a better one.  No room at the Inns.  Even the most expensive.  However, the nice man at Rick Steins finest told us to try ‘Burgers and Fish’.  Don’t be put off by the name he said the food is great. 

 

So I went up the stairs in the alley and asked the guy.  He told us that currently the situation is so tricky with staff, they were deciding day by day how many bookings they could cope with.  I had to ring back at 10.30 the following morning after they had their meeting.

Mick thought I had a slim to zero chance.

2nd July – Friday

10.30 on the dot I rang.  Hurray the lovely lady said we had a spot.  Perseverance wins again.

Washed the boat, as Keith and Harry had a hosepipe out.  Mick changed the fan belt.

We later walked up the coast path to the Memorial and beyond to the beach.  Over looking ‘Doom Bar’, hence the name of the beer.

3rd July – Saturday

The best Cherry and Almond Croissants were collected by my dear husband.  A lazy morning reading the paper.  Cards and gifts from Mick and Liz x. 

The meal at ‘Burgers and Fish’ was terrific.  The restaurant is in a large loft space and felt cozy and special.  Not cheap, but the Chimichurri prawns were worth going for alone.

4th July – Sunday

More croissants.  Naughty.

We walked up to Prideaux Place, the local Manor House.  The house is currently closed, but the grounds and the tea shop are open.

What we did not expect was the field of Deer across the road.

So many.

And so close.

And not camera shy.

5th July – Monday

Intermittent showers today.  We darted out at lunchtime to go uphill to Tesco.  The town car park, the overflow car parks and the two fields behind Tesco were all full with visitor cars.

6th July – Tuesday

We escaped the crowds and went to Wadebridge on the bus.

The bridge of the name Wadebridge.

A small but pretty town at the other end of the Camel Trail from Padstow.  Most people hire bikes.  We cycled it on our own bikes last time.

Excellent pasties from Malcolm Barnecutt’s bakery.

Later this Padstow fishing boat arrived.  We think it is a tight harbour for maneuvering then this arrives to show us how it’s done.

It was interesting to see the lock gate submerge into the water.

Then fully submerge to allow traffic to pass over.

7th July – Wednesday

Mick downloaded two new maps for our TopoGPS map app.  The split in the maps was straight down the middle of Padstow.

They proved worthwhile as we found a better path higher over the coast, and got some fabulous views over the River Camel.  We ended up back at Prideaux Place, but no Deer today, we were lucky to see them.

8th July – Thursday

We took the 11.00am ferry ‘Black Tor’ to Rock.  Across the river Camel from Padstow.  £3 per person each way.  Operates every half hour.

 

At this time of year two ferries run all day.  From the slipway at High Water and from the lower beach at Low Water.

We walked uphill, looking at all the amazing houses.  There is a small group of shops and …

Another Malcolm Barnecutt Bakery.  The mass produced pasties can be a bit dry, but not these.

The walk downhill was very pleasant.  Above is the watersports Club.

Coffee in ‘The Rock Inn’ before going back on the ferry.  We will go the other way on the coast path next time.  For beach lovers Rock is ideal.

In the evening I attended our W.I. Zoom meeting and listened to Gill’s excellent talk about Walking in the Mont Blanc area of France.

9th July – Friday

The navy arrived.  Another lesson in boat movement.

HMS Explorer Patrol and Training Vessel, Primarily assigned to Yorkshire Universities Royal Naval Unit, serving Hull, Sheffield and Leeds Uni’s.

Our last day in Padstow was spent filling the boat with food and water.

We had planned to stay longer but a good tidal window was too good to resist for the Captain.

I quite like the people watching, but Mick is less keen to be on show.

The best was a guy who proclaimed himself the ‘Crabbing King’, catching more than 20 in a couple of hours.  One of his pals had her sandwich stolen by a seagull, which caused great uproar.  Then a seagull stole his bait, in its bag, and opened it, in front of him, on the harbourside….cheeky.

It really is us, watching them, watching us.  People arrived at our corner from the car parks, immediately took selfies, of themselves, couples, their children, their dogs, bought ice creams, pasties, fish and chips, phoned their friends, facetimed, talking loudly to family and grandchildren, parking themselves on the benches and declaring which boat they like best, and which they would buy, many stating sailing was NOT for them etc etc.  A constantly changing sea of faces.  One guy stopped, looked at the crowds, declared loudly it is too claustrophobic and left.  All life right here.

Ice Cream Index for single cones £2.00 (nr The Whistledown Gallery) to £2.70.

Our favourite Fish and Chips this time was the Walkers Café on the harbourside.  Sit-In, self service, no skin on the fish.

Sailors Info

We love Padstow, it is a melting pot of people.  The boats come and go on every tide.

The fee’s are only £23 per night and £18 after 7 nights. 

Two sets of facilities at each side of the harbour.  One in the harbour office building, one in the red brick building across the lock.  The red brick had consistently hot water and plug sockets.

Both had laundry facilities. £3 Wash and £2 Dry.

Wifi was better when the harbour was empty.

Tesco uphill, 15 minutes walk.  Spar in town.  Lots of bakeries and other eateries.  MANY Restaurants.  Lots of Lovely ‘everything you never needed’ shops.

Until next time Padstow.

Next stop Newlyn.