Sunset as we approached Padstow
Well the three days have turned into two weeks as we wait for the strong winds to pass and the weather to moderate in general. It is a lovely place to be storm bound and gave us the opportunity to explore and complete chores.
Padstow is on the west bank of the Camel estuary and has an outer and inner harbour. The inner harbour is accessible only at high water with a tidal gate retaining water levels. It is sufficiently inland to provide shelter from prevailing winds and acts as a magnet for visitors to the town.
Shantih (in right of picture) at sunset in Padstow
Mornings started with opening the hatch with a cup of tea to the smell of baking and cooking drifting across from the bakeries populating Padstow harbour. Cooked English breakfasts, bread, Cornish pasties and fish and chips are consumed in great quantities each day and the harbour is the perfect place to sit and enjoy them whilst watching the comings and goings of the fishing boats large and small, yachts, pleasure craft offering rides up and down the estuary.
We swam several times in the estuary in chilly waters hopeful that the sun would appear as we came out of the water tingling, feeling very refreshed and alive. A brisk jog along the beach helped to warm us up and dry off before hurrying back to Shantih for hot porridge and fruit. Save to say it has not been warm.
Swimming in the Camel estuary
Had several runs along the coastal path towards Stepper Point usually turning back at the old lifeboat station and running along the beach, tide permitting. There are so many keen walkers exploring the headlands on the Padstow side of the estuary and across the water at Rock.
To fill the time I baked banana and walnut muffins. These were the first cakes baked on board and the oven gave an impressive result considering it wasn’t possible to accurately regulate the temperature. These were followed by chocolate and beetroot (home grown) cupcakes which were equally delicious.
Banana and walnut muffins
It wouldn’t be a complete visit without eating at one of Rick Stein’s restaurants and we opted for the fish and chips being one of David’s favourite meals. The service was excellent as was the food with wonderfully fresh fish washed down with a delicious Spanish white wine.
We had a visit from one of David’s old school friends from QEH days that lives close to Padstow and haven’t seen each other for over 50 years. They still got on like a house on fire. We had a really pleasant evening eating Italian at Pucellis, catching up and getting to know Graham and Hazel.
Camel estuary waiting for better weather
We finally had a reasonable weather window and decided to leave the harbour on Friday evening (15th) for an early departure on Saturday morning for the Scilly Isles. The harbour constrained our departure time because of the tidal gate. Once outside the harbour there was a strong force 6 blowing and we required assistance from the harbourmaster to attach our line to the RNLI lifeboat mooring buoy. It was an uncomfortable night and in the morning the winds were still strong so delayed our departure for another 24 hours.
David tried his hand at fishing having assisted several fishermen on the pontoons to land their large grey mullets onto the pontoons. Unfortunately we were not so lucky.
After a reasonable night on the mooring we departed the Camel estuary at 7 a.m. heading for the Scilly Isles, 79 miles away. It was an uncomfortable sea with little wind (it is either one thing or another) and we motor sailed all the way tying up on a mooring in New Grimsby Sound, off Tresco at 7 p.m.
New Grimsby Sound safely tied up