Colin_S
Well-Known Member
Friday night I finish work at 11pm and head off towards Southampton to join friend for the RTI race. Tearing out of central London and hoping there's been no new speed cameras added since I last updated the satnav I get a clear run apart from a minor delay around Earls Court and park up in the only remaining parking space (there is a God) in the Triangle car park at about 12.30am.
After catching 40 winks on the 1am ferry I wander into the terminal to get a phone number for the water taxi, which I am assured will be still running. No such luck, just the answering service so it's a stroll down the road to East Cowes Marina. On arriving I am greeted with a locked gate so I ring friend to find entry code - another answering machine. Luckily, whoever designed the gates thoughfully incorporated a handy climbing frame so over I went in search of E pontoon.
Found that fairly easily but can find no sign of a 5 deep raft on the end as per directions which I vaguely recall as including the need to arrive by water.
Phone rings, friend must have realised it was not a bad dream and calls me back. Turns out he is on another E pontoon that has no direct link to shore.
Up he gets and, with other crew member set about untying boat and motoring over to collect me - sorry to everyone we woke.
Eventually we are tied up again and I'm in my sleeping bag at 3am, just enough time to grab 3 hours before the off.
So, why am I sharing this? Well, 30 minutes ago the water taxi just returned my call! Bl00dy marvelous!!!
After catching 40 winks on the 1am ferry I wander into the terminal to get a phone number for the water taxi, which I am assured will be still running. No such luck, just the answering service so it's a stroll down the road to East Cowes Marina. On arriving I am greeted with a locked gate so I ring friend to find entry code - another answering machine. Luckily, whoever designed the gates thoughfully incorporated a handy climbing frame so over I went in search of E pontoon.
Found that fairly easily but can find no sign of a 5 deep raft on the end as per directions which I vaguely recall as including the need to arrive by water.
Phone rings, friend must have realised it was not a bad dream and calls me back. Turns out he is on another E pontoon that has no direct link to shore.
Up he gets and, with other crew member set about untying boat and motoring over to collect me - sorry to everyone we woke.
Eventually we are tied up again and I'm in my sleeping bag at 3am, just enough time to grab 3 hours before the off.
So, why am I sharing this? Well, 30 minutes ago the water taxi just returned my call! Bl00dy marvelous!!!
