I keep trying to fish, and I keep failing. All I seem to ever catch are crabs. I even caught one on the bloody spinner today. I have no idea how it happened, but I got the line back to find I’d speared a crab through the face. I almost felt sorry for the poor little thing.

This morning, after working on the boat, I took a walk up the creek with a bucket and fork, in an effort to dig myself up some juicy lug worms. I got the hang of it in the end, and walked off with a dozen or so, including a few rag worms. I thought I couldn’t possibly fail with a tasty fish supper like that, but alas, I did. The crabs kept eating the bait, and I kept pulling the line in to find empty hooks.

Still, it was a pleasant walk up the creek in my wellies nonetheless. I’ve experienced digging for lug worms, which was a first, and saw some interesting sights, like this dead motorboat (Dylan Winter would be pleased, I’m sure).

Wreck in the creek

I finally finished the hole in the hull where the sea cock was. It has been gel coated and sanded, and while the gel coat is a different colour, it’ll all look fine once the antifoul is slopped back on.

I’ve almost got the instruments in the bulkhead too. I’ve filled, drilled, and jigsawed room for the Nasa Clipper instruments, and, aside from lacking a coast of paint, I’m almost ready to move on to wiring everything back together. I can’t wait.

Nasa Clipper Instruments

People have been going out in their dinghies this afternoon, and the pontoon on the quay is rammed full of rafted boats. I can’t wait to get back on the water, and nor can you, by the looks of it. The blog traffic has dropped off to a more pedestrian 300 hits per day since I’ve been stuck here.

I suppose this is what happens when you set off to sail around Britain, without a plan, or indeed, any money. I’m fixing Kudu in between other paid jobs on people’s boats. I appreciate you would all like to follow the adventurous side of things, from leg to leg, but this is it. This is the adventure. I’m working in a place I’ve never before visited, and have made some truly fantastic friends. I think if you imagine sailing around Britain is just about sailing, then you’re going to miss the very best part of it; Britain itself.

I feel like I’ve made a last minute  bank holiday afternoon dash to Alton Towers. I’m having fun, bit I’m missing half the rides. I’m almost tempted to set off south again to visit the places I missed. Sailing around Britain, after all, was just a collateral goal of my true intention, and that was to escape whatever it was that I was doing before.

I’m not going to, of course, I want to realise the full circle, but I don’t think this will be my final lap…

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