Friday late AM I decided to throw caution to the wind and ready for a mid day trip down to Hamble only to have Miss BB leave late from work and for us to get stuck in 3.5 hours of traffic getting to the A34 at Winchester, then a further 1.5 hours stuck one junction from Hamble because Rod Stewart was playing near by, what are the chances of that?
as a result we missed our departure slot and although rushed we made it to the Folly Inn for 8.30, an hour later than the absolute deadline and ended up running aground trying to reach Newport Quay. not a happy bunny. We were only going to the festival to hear the Stereophonic's on stage but could only just hear from a afar as we limped back to Folly.
A night at the Folly was a laugh but they were far from welcoming, 2 arguments and then I snapped at the 3rd and had a real pop at a yachtie who moaned at me, their attitude when we arrived was 'what do you want', they were happy to taking our money but bashed us around all night slamming the launch into the pontoon. Saturday the 2nd moan came as the berth manager demanding money at 10am, 'why have you moored there? ' that your trying to grab a freebie kind of attitude. After accusations all I got was a grunt as he pulled away after I explained his colleagues moored me in that spot and I paid my £9.
And boy did it rain over night
Then came the yachties - can you move my mates coming in later and he's a nervous sailor in his new 50 footer.
Then because they moved us, the taxi struggled to get alone side easily. 15 people stood moaning at us for being in the way until one of them got a mouthful of 'whats your problem?' The taxi started at us again as he approached as well so were now getting it from 2 sides. As it transpired they guy who took the brunt of my temper apologised and said it has all gone to pot this year after the taxi management has recently changed. he agreed it was all cock up and everyone is feeling they've lost the plot a bit. As they pushed us off the berth we had to finish off packing away in mid stream. Not a happy bunny at the whole Medina visit experience.Anyway headed out to the full berth, which was quite a reasonable 1.25/L (broken fuel gauge had us guessing on the state of our full tank the night before. then a first time visit to Pompey & Gunwarf Marina in a small boat. A nice ish pleasant trip a very friendly marina although Very busy with some seriously large vessels prep'ing for some American sailing event soon. £9 for 5 hours - =bargain in my book.
Lunched up/tanked up & shopping
we headed back for a lumpy and windy over tide run back to Hamble. Wasn't horrible but it was forecast to be flat and light cloud, what we got was rain and white horses. Saturday camping in Mercury. footie, beer and rain again over night was all a laugh (not sure the dog found it too funny though ) Glad we went, but sad we had to come out Saturday night and drive back Sunday AM instead of being on the water again. Forecast was just about opposite to its suggestions it seems but coming to expect that now. Came away knowing we need a new tow car, another boat and more money.
