Limehouse Basin, London. UK

It's a sunny, relatively warm day in Limehouse today but the weather is definitely autumnal and when it rains it really rains. Callisto was in good shape, having sat for 6 weeks.
We have been busy with family stuff and these activities are finally coming to an end.
The visits began with Jenifer and Ed who returned from their Asian vacation on their way to Barcelona to join a new boat and leave to cross the Atlantic. This one is 93 metres long!
James and Katie came to stay for a week and we did lots of touristy stuff in London and visited lots of micro breweries stashed in darkest Bermondsey.
Jessica and Ben and the babies came by to visit with uncle James and a pleasant day was had by all.
Ann's mother has achieved the grand age of 90 years and we celebrated that with a family lunch at the Bel and Dragon in Cookham. A lady's only tea is planned for this weekend so it looks like I will be on baby patrol while this event occurs.
We have some trips arranged for the next few months, to La Rochelle, Berlin and Prague. Hopefully, the weather won't get too cold and damp.So far, it hasn't been bad. The heating on the boat is fine for the ambient temperatures but it is only September. We may have to invest in more space heaters and timers.

Susan, James and Katie at the Bel and Dragon, Cookham

lunch on Callisto

looking down from the Tower Bridge walkway

view from Tower Bridge looking west

Winter is coming!

San Diego,California

this is our last day in sunny California. I don't know where the time went but it's time to return to London later this evening. We have enjoyed our time here, doing not very much of anything except wandering around downtown visiting various bars and eateries.
I got a little bit of sailboat racing in with Van and Marsha at the Coronado Cays and I was reminded again just how wonderful San Diego is.
All of our medical tests turned out well and we look forward to new adventures in the old country.

San Diego, California, USA

It's good to be back home after a long drive from Portland via Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells. We got some doctor visits done and a visit with old friends Tom and Kathy and Len and Kathy.
Northern California was very dry and many brush fires are burning. Bring on the El Nino!
Some photos of Portland

brush fires in Northern California

A lovely day on Cannon Beach

Thai food from the many food trucks in Portland. Not quite Chang Mai but not bad

Beers at the Deschutes Brewery

Breakfast at Mother"s A Portland institution

Portland, Oregon, USA

We have been in the USA for more than three weeks now and in Portland for ten days. I don't know where the time goes but the calendar seems to change more rapidly than ever.
It's good to be back in the USA despite the looney politics. San Diego is as we remember it and the weather has been delightful not that we were there very much.
We took a very long road trip to Portland to bring Josette some stuff for her new apartment. There are a few trees here. The city is a little different and there are many aging hippy types wandering the streets of downtown. We have been wandering about and fixing things in the apartment and we are off back to Rancho Mirage today to see our friends Len and Kathy and get some doctor visits done and then back to San Diego for a bit of a rest.
Some photos of a tree or two will follow

Limehouse Basin Marina, London, UK

Lots to do in London. Wondering around the city and visiting with family. We have been blessed with the most marvelous weather.

We return to San Diego on Thursday.

A view of our dock at the marina . All houseboats of various descriptions

Canadian geese off the port bow

Lounging about on the foredeck

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Limehouse Basin Matina, London, UK

We've been at the Limehouse Basin Marina for 3 weeks now. It's incredible how the days just melt into one another. We have been blessed with mostly sunny, warm weather with very little rain. It's been good to get re-acquainted with family and friends and wandering around London. The marina, it turns out, has been a very good choice. The people are friendly and security excellent. The Cruising Association is next door and all the transport connections are very good. We have had a few visits with Jessica and the babies and they are back again on Friday. On July 4th we had a little get together with a bar-b-que and dressed the boat up for the occasion. About 40 guests showed up over the course of the day and a good time was had by all.

I'm going to up date the google maps plug in over the next few days and there is always the regular boat maintenance and repairs. Soon enough we will be back in California.

Sydney the Navigator

Dinghy ride at the marina

the Admiral and her nursing friends

July 4th

Sydney and Jen

Sydney aged 3 1/2

Genevieve nearly 6 months

more July 4th in traditional shirt. Jen and Ed and Ruth

the Callisto swat team. Guernsey flies beware!

Limehouse Basin Marina, London, UK

We arrived at Limehouse Basin Marina last Tuesday and this long and arduous cruise is finally complete. We stayed in Ramsgate for an extra day after all. We were going to leave at 0330 0n Monday morning but we popped our heads out of the back enclosure and the temperature was about 12 degrees and it was blowing about 35kts so we went back to bed. We had a nice visit from Ben and Jessica and the babies and the wind finally settled down in the evening and we spent the night on the hook outside Ramsgate Harbour and left at first light on Tuesday. We had an uneventful run around North Foreland and into the estuary. Very fast with the tide and into the lock at about 1430. This was a bit exciting as the there was considerable wind and current.
We are moored up with lots of barges and narrow boats mostly liveaboards. Limehouse has been completely transformed  even from seven years ago and totally unrecognizable from what I remember as a boy 40 years ago. The river has been developed and gentrified all the way down to Canary Wharf which is about 15 minutes walk away. There are lots of neighborhoods to explore. More photos of Limehouse to follow.

some bubbles to celebrate the end of the cruise

close encounter with a ferry Thames Estuary

sliding under Dartford Bridge

approaching the city of London

limehouse basin marina our home for the next year

martians in the thames estuary