Beyond the 'Lizard'

                         Thursday, July the 18th. Another long day but made Penzance !

Up at 7 and away. Could have spent a few months there but too early to give up. Must visit Cawsand again, now I'm 'retired'. Decided to make some decent progress and set a course straight for The Lizard. 

This is the most southerly point in mainland UK and, when rounded, the Atlantic seas 'kick in'. The course meant another offshore day and didn't see a sole. It was good to pass the Lizard because, in certain weather, ships sink there. Today, conditions were perfect and yet the seas were still 'playful'. As a point of interest ( to me) I've always noticed that the superhero sailors such as Sir Robin and Chay Blythe etc, use such terms as playful,  boisterous or 'interesting' to describe conditions that would reduce most most mere mortals to quivering wrecks. Rather than bullshit, today seas were similar to conditions found at Guildford Lido - flat with just the odd splash. 

By rounding the Lizard I've sailed past the magical Helford River, my really, really favourite place where I was going to spend the next 2 months if I'd had a nightmare trip to date. Penzance is now the furthest I have taken Alexandra Louise.

 'Parking' was fun, tonight. Unlike cars you can't just stop a boat and wander off for food etc. you need to locate somewhere safe from the prevailing wind and the (potentially) playful seas. I've 'parked' with a load of 'well ard' Cornish fisherman. 

Place is littered with fish heads and seagull pooh but great fun and full of charcter.  The harbourmaster is a diamond - couldn't have been more helpful. Told me that the Cornish Fisherman would 'rip the teeth from yer head', given the chance. 

From now until Padstow, I get to stay within viewing distance of shore. Tomorrow, with 'luck and a fair wind' I round Lands End.