What adventures we had, Ratty. Part 1

 

Today was meant to be another day of rest. Thanks to the heat, the panic attacks are back, mainly on wake-up. There were chores that needed doing; two loos emptying; bags taken to the rubbish bins; and more fruit.

To Southwold – I thought. Probably crowded – said Alf.

OK. A trip to Wangford tp stock up on fruit and healthy dog treats; then on to Southwold to see how  crowded it was and check the temperature and wind speed. 

Wangford farm shop is lovely. There is a good selection of local produce (if you can call plums, strawberries, and cherries from Kent local). I filled the cool bag with a good selection of fruit and treats. It already had 3 cool blocks, some cans of coke, a litre bottle of water and a bowl for Alf.

Alf was desperately in need of a good run off-lead. He’s started taking liberties in the exercise field and has gone AWAL twice; once to greet a dog who really is very nervous of him; the other time to follow scents into the neighbouring woodland. 

So, the Denes it was. The car park was almost full but a couple of spaces beside the railings overlooking the river would be fine. 

I set up the reclining chair, towel and bowl of water for Alf, and sat for a drink and a snack. 

That was when the first adventure of the week began. I noticed what looked like a flat-bottomed boat heading for the harbour mouth. There was a very stiff breeze, the tide was going out, and I remembered a friend of Eamonn telling us that it was one of the trickiest estuaries to enter on this part of the coast.

As I watched, it became evident that the boat was not going to make a clean entrance and it turned around for another approach. I watched the back of the boat sinking lower and lower. Thinking it was flat bottomed, I alerted a Sailor that was heading out. They would give assistance if it was needed.

Watch videos in full screen for full effect.

I switched my phone camera to video and started a series of short takes. On the boat’s entrance into the hardour mouth, you can clearly hear the panic in my voice, as it looked as though it would strike the harbour wall on the starboard side.

'scuse the bad language.

The helmsman did a stirling job, battling both wind and tide. It became evident, then, that the boat wasn’t flat-bottomed; it was a catamaran. I’m so glad Eamonn granted my request that if we got a boat, we’d not go out ot sea in it.

After those heart-stopping sights, we made our way onto the beach, where more adventures awaited us.