Eastbourne Farewells

Farewells, Feasts and the Looming White Cliffs of Dover!

Our final few days in sunny Eastbourne were a delightful whirlwind of socialising and practical preparations, a gentle easing into the next chapter of our adventure. The social calendar remained happily full with more visits and welcoming friends aboard Halcyon Sea. Sunday brought the absolute treat of a home-cooked roast lamb dinner courtesy of Val – a culinary highlight and a small family gathering that truly felt like a proper Sunday feast.

Monday was dedicated to those last-minute chores that required the invaluable assistance of Sophie's car. Errands were run, final bits of shopping were secured, and then it was time for a slightly bittersweet journey to the RBL club in Polegate to meet the Millers returning from their trip away. There, we returned Sophie's trusty chariot with heartfelt thanks and said our final farewells, immensely grateful for their generosity which had truly transformed our weekend mobility.

As the Eastbourne sun began to dip below the horizon on Monday evening, a more serious task took centre stage. Nick dedicated himself to the intricate art of passage planning for our forthcoming journey. The destination? Dover. Just the name itself carried a certain weight. After all, this wasn't just another hop along the coast; this was our venture into the unknown (at least for us!), our first foray into waters beyond our previous sailing experience. And our first port of call? The UK's busiest ferry port!

Yes, a certain flutter of… let's call it "pre-Dover butterflies" had begun to take flight. That familiar hum of nervous anticipation started to resonate within us. The comfort of Eastbourne, the friendly faces, the relative ease of marina life – all were about to be exchanged for the bustling reality of a major shipping channel. Would we navigate the ferry traffic with the grace of seasoned mariners or resemble slightly bewildered ducks in a very busy pond? Only time would tell!

Despite the underlying nerves, a sense of excitement also bubbled beneath the surface. This was it – the real deal! We were finally venturing into truly new territory, each nautical mile a step further into our grand adventure. Eastbourne had been a fantastic stepping stone, a place to reconnect and prepare, but the lure of the open sea and the promise of new horizons were growing ever stronger. So, while those pre-Dover jitters might be doing a little jig in our stomachs, they are accompanied by a healthy dose of anticipation and the unwavering spirit of adventure. Bring on Dover – we think!Meer informatie