Toucando: Ipswich

Monday, 22 July 2013

Ipswich

Where did we get to ? Ah yes, Woolverstone. Mooring across the tide proved not to be such a good idea when it came to leaving. To begin we couldn't get off at all. This was a two biscuit problem, as we waited for the wind to come round and we could use the headsails to help blow us off. Great rafts of fine seaweed managed to block the ship's log (underwater speedometer), cooling water intake, and intake for seawater flushing of the heads (sea toilets). Apart from that everything was fine.
We motored up towards Ipswich, under the Orwell Bridge, to the waiting pontoon for the lock. We then locked in accompanied by various members of the gaffer fleet. The water in the lock was quite swirly, and our mooring lines groaned as we were swung this way and that.
Then we were in. We found our place amongst the fleet. Parents Donald and Audrey and family friend Christl came to visit. We had a light lunch before the crew and I went to the Old Customs House to be welcomed by the Deputy Mayor. We enjoyed wine and nibbles. Later we had a barbecue in The Last Anchor and were well entertained by David Ward and Mario Price who had a well judged repertoire of shanties, folk songs and classic rock and roll. They were both true virtuosi.
On Sunday I was visited by friends Anne, Isabella, Janey and Steve. They lounged on the deck enjoying frittata, cheese, salad and sourdough bread, followed by fruit. We watched the festivities in the dock: sailing and rowing races. We loaned Caley Toucan to Senja and friend. Then there was the rubber flubber football competition which was chaotic fun. Nobody drowned as far as I know. An evening of pontoon merriment followed. The Ipswich event had been a great success.