benjenbav
Well-Known Member
After many happy years based in the beautiful surroundings of Chichester it was time to move. Over the last couple of years we have been looking sometimes desultorily, sometimes with genuine intent at new bases.
The key ingredients were:
1 it had to be as nice an environment as Chichester Marina;
2 but without a lock;
3 ideally with 24/7 access to the Solent without a long trip up and down a river;
4 lots of marina facilities - we're not what you'd call rugged;
5 an ok journey from home in Oxford.
Berthon, in Lymington was always my favourite destination and, prompted by an ad in MBY earlier in the year - the last time I looked into it there was a waiting list - I made some enquiries. Berthon were, as I've always found them, fantastically helpful and a month ago, I bit the bullet and signed up.
We moved on the Sunday of Cowes Week, providing a small excuse for some pix;
It's quiet out there skip, - too quiet
Whaddya mean Usain's not on board; 'course he is.
Quite busy off Cowes. But a cool mobo so you don't need to look at too much bedlinen.
...Love it!
Anyhow, we settled in. Had to doff my cap to the wisdom of hlb: went in stern-to as normal. All fine but realised that the finger was long enough to berth bows-to without needing climbing gear to get on and off. So we turned around, giving us a fantastic view upriver to the town and more privacy.
However, something was missing. Put right on Saturday when I sliced a chunk off the top of my middle finger whilst pottering about. As the blood spurted and fell into the Lymington River, I felt at one with my surrounds and at peace with Poseidon.
Sadly, the mods won't allow the picture of me, silhouetted against the sky, naked and bleeding.
PS - the new Yarmouth ferries seem easy-peasy to deal with.
The key ingredients were:
1 it had to be as nice an environment as Chichester Marina;
2 but without a lock;
3 ideally with 24/7 access to the Solent without a long trip up and down a river;
4 lots of marina facilities - we're not what you'd call rugged;
5 an ok journey from home in Oxford.
Berthon, in Lymington was always my favourite destination and, prompted by an ad in MBY earlier in the year - the last time I looked into it there was a waiting list - I made some enquiries. Berthon were, as I've always found them, fantastically helpful and a month ago, I bit the bullet and signed up.
We moved on the Sunday of Cowes Week, providing a small excuse for some pix;
It's quiet out there skip, - too quiet
Whaddya mean Usain's not on board; 'course he is.
Quite busy off Cowes. But a cool mobo so you don't need to look at too much bedlinen.
...Love it!
Anyhow, we settled in. Had to doff my cap to the wisdom of hlb: went in stern-to as normal. All fine but realised that the finger was long enough to berth bows-to without needing climbing gear to get on and off. So we turned around, giving us a fantastic view upriver to the town and more privacy.
However, something was missing. Put right on Saturday when I sliced a chunk off the top of my middle finger whilst pottering about. As the blood spurted and fell into the Lymington River, I felt at one with my surrounds and at peace with Poseidon.
Sadly, the mods won't allow the picture of me, silhouetted against the sky, naked and bleeding.
PS - the new Yarmouth ferries seem easy-peasy to deal with.
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