On the Road Again!

On the Road Again: A Month of Land-Based Chaos

Well, it's been almost a month since our last update, and the reason is simple: we haven't been on the water! Instead, our recent weeks have been a whirlwind of land-based adventures, a series of spontaneous decisions, and an unexpected run-in with a very unwelcome guest.

After our return from Tarbert, Nick was still feeling unwell, but we had an early start. He had to catch a train from Ardrossan to Dumbarton to collect our car, which had been in for a new clutch, brakes, and tyres. The dilemma was then whether to drive the long journey to Peterborough that day or wait until the next day. We chose the former, knowing it would be a marathon day but giving us a much-needed day of rest afterward. The purpose of this epic drive? Tracey's sister and brother-in-law, Teresa and Martin, were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary, and Nick had offered to be the chef for their party.

The drive was long, and somewhere around Scotch Corner, Tracey’s throat started to feel sore. By the time we reached Peterborough, we were both feeling pretty rough. We crept into their house late at night, trying not to wake them, and after a couple of paracetamol and a cup of tea, we collapsed into bed, barely able to speak.

The next day, we were both in a bad way. The bug we had picked up was far more than a simple cold, and it put our travel plans into a state of frantic chaos. We had to push through, getting all of our washing done and prepping for the party. Friday arrived, and Nick, our heroic chef, powered through, prepping all the food and salads. Michelle and Richard were the first to arrive, and the evening was a blur of catching up.

Saturday arrived, the day of the party. Tracey's son, Scott, made it despite some train drama, and the food was incredible. The party was great, but the real highlight was when Tracey and Michelle, after copious amounts of wine, performed a hilarious Absolutely Fabulous spoof. As the evening got colder, everyone grabbed their deck chairs and moved into the garage, where the party continued late into the night. It had been a great day. We stayed for a few extra days, but before we left, Teresa started to feel unwell. A couple of days later, Martin did too. The culprit was confirmed: this was no ordinary cold—it was COVID!

A Return to the Past and an Impulsive Detour

After recovering on the boat for a few days in Scotland, we headed to the Ayr Air Show. Tracey felt a strange mix of nervousness and nostalgia as we met her old friend Laura, who was now the commodore of Prestwick Sailing Club. It had been years since she'd been there, and stepping back into her old haunt felt surreal. The air show itself was fabulous, with the Red Arrows putting on a thrilling display and Tracey’s favorite, the Lancaster flanked by a lone Spitfire, delivering a beautiful, poignant fly-by.

With the weather turning windy, we were stuck in the marina for a few weeks, both of us still not feeling 100%. Meanwhile, FSMBC was getting ready for its 175th anniversary. On a whim, Nick and Tracey decided to go. Tracey was making dinner as Nick frantically arranged a place for us to stay and a place for Pepper. Nigel and Sarah kindly let us have their bed, since they were staying on their boat. Our friends’ sense of humor was on full display when we arrived: on the bed were a towel, a box of tissues, a Durex, and a welcome note saying, "Have fun but don't make a mess." As Nick moved his pillow, he found a clean pair of Nigel’s boxers with a "Scratch and Sniff" sign. We love their sense of humor!

Pepper had a sleepover at Richard and Clare's with their dogs Daisy and Barney. It was a huge success, right up until Pepper decided she would start chasing Richard's socks and feet as he was trying to get ready in the morning. The anniversary party was a huge success, with various club shanty groups and bands providing entertainment. We were so glad we had made the drive. Before driving to Teresa and Martin's to break up the journey, we squeezed in a quick visit with Lauren, Matt, and our sweet granddaughter Elsie.

Back on the Water at Last!

After a long drive back, a few days of rest, and a final check on the weather, our time had finally come. Fast forward to September 25th, and we made it out of the harbour. The sun was glorious as we made our way across to the Isle of Arran and picked up a mooring buoy in Brodick Bay. It felt so incredibly good to be back on the water.

In a first for us, a submarine passed by behind us—Tracey had never seen one moving before! Another first was using our new-to-us dinghy to take a very anxious Pepper ashore. She was relieved to get out and have a run on the beach. We spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing, watching the ferry come and go, and simply soaking in the peace. Our plan is to head to the pub later, after cooking dinner on board. Today is everything we had hoped our trip would be, and we can’t wait to see what’s next.Read more