The Owners Agent has insisted that she and I compare diaries for the next month or so. This has forced me to commit to the first stage of the wander around Britain (well, the first week to be exact). And I have discovered a hideous fact - the first week of the voyage ends in the Solent at the time of the Early Spring Bank Holiday (for non British readers, a Bank Holiday is a Public holiday, a bit like Labor Day (US) and Victorias Birthday (Canada): we have eight of them usually - this year there are nine because of the Queens Jubilee). The Early Spring Bank holiday is a relatively new introduction to Britain. It was introduced by a Labour government in the 1960's to commemorate the 1st May; a sort of Labour day too!
Anyway, enough digression. The problem is this: it seems that anyone who has a boat takes it out in the Solent in the Spring Bank holiday weekend (and at Cowes week too, but Vagabond will be long gone by then). This means that there will be a fair chance of walking across bits of it without getting wet (or needing Divine intervention) and the more popular "parking" spots will be full by midday. Vagabond should be able to take advantage of her small draught and anchor near the High Water mark if necessary.
This map (based on Admiralty chart 0001) shows the planned route:
Of course, it all depends on the weather. If it's blowing hard out of the West I may turn left instead of right out of the River Crouch at the very beginning. More discussion on this soon - I bet you can't wait.......
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