Wild and Wet

We were trying to figure out how to have fun and not spent a lot of money. Stonehenge was fun but hiring a car and driver gets pretty pricey. We got an invitation to go sailing. This can not be that expensive. 

This may seem simple on the face of it but we are in England in the middle of winter and going sailing on a Blusail 24. Wet racey boat.  We could not say no. Taking public transportation was out of the question, 4 hours both ways, probably get there and not be able to get home. So for the love of sailing we rented a car. I got one with a pretty good discount through work, so hopefully this was not going to be too expensive. Kirk went to pick it up they only had a manual. Yep you got it, shift with your left hand, and stay on left side of road. Good news , the foot pedals are in the same place. This is the wild part, the drive to Swindon, this place is know for its magical round abouts, five in one go, you can really end up going the wrong way and not just because you are an American. What they don't tell you about round abouts is that they also have stop lights in the middle of them, go figure out that one in a hurry. Why Swindon, outlet mall with sailing gear. We spend all day Saturday navigating round abouts and saying stay left stay. This was the trial by fire. left..... Sh*t....no your other left. Alls well that ends well, purchased our wet gear, this is not going to be a cheap weekend. Made it home by dusk, although we did drive on some pretty sketchy back roads. 

Spent a nice and quite evening with our neighbor at a jazz concert at the local Norman Church, built in 1100 or so, a bit chilly, getting us ready for the big sail tomorrow on the Solent. Pretty drafty inside the church, was frost on the grass when we left. 

Woke up the next morning to blue sky and sunshine, good start for the day. Made it to Hamble with only a few miss directions. Pulled up to the harbor and there it was, looks a lot like a Melges 24. Nice breeze and a great couple, Elaine and Derek. The picture perfect day, I do love sailing. We sailed over to the Isle of Wight dodging freighters and ferries as they were coming up the Solent to South Hampton.  Ended the day at the pub, could not have been better. 

Doesn't Kirk look flashy in his new dry suit! 

You could not get me off the helm, I had way to much fun!

This was a little pricey day trip, more than Stonehenge but if I average the price of the wet gear over each outing I can justify it. Right now it is about at $1,000 for the day. That just means we have to go sailing a lot more.