Hamble to Yarmouth - Day 78

 

Hamble to Yarmouth, Isle of Wight - Thursday 28th July 2011 - Day 78

The adventure continues with myself and Bill (Rehab) on board.  We left Hamble Point marina at 10.30

Buckler's Hard

Crossed Southampton Water to Calshot Spit and we were entering the Beaulieu River by 11.45.  This river is navigatable at certain times of the tide and we gingerly made our way in the marked channel.  After half an hour the marker poles changed to painted crooked pieces of stick stuck into the river bed.  By 12.30 we had reached our destination at Buckler's hard.  A nasty shock awaited us, we could only stay for an hour and the harbour attendant demanded £12 for our stay.  He never turned a hair as I requested what I was likely to get from him for relieving  me of 12 quid.  This place is famous for the building of wooden ships for Nelson's Navy.  The river is in the New Forest and an enchanting place with nice river views.

We shot ashore to the only pub and had a lager, there is a museum here which I have been told is worth a visit but we did not have time.  As 50 minutes after arriving we had to be on the move  to get across the bar at the river entrance, so endth a flying visit to the Beaulieu River.

I see no ships

It was only two hours to the next port as we motored down the Solent.  Yarmouth is at the western end of the island and we rafted up against another yacht 'Avanti' alongside the pontoon.  Ashore to the first pub Kings Head which has a very nice decor, then onto the Wheatsheaf where we had a lovely meal.  The 'Bugle' is an old coaching inn with many photos and ornaments of a bygone age.  Into the Royal Solent Yacht Club with its wonderful panoramic views and with the biggest pair of binnoculars I have ever seen.

Yarmouth, Isle of Wight

To end the night we went to the George Hotel which is a very special place as within the bar are photographs of the rich and famous show business people who have stayed there mostly in the sixties and seventies, the Beatles, Sandie Shaw, Marian Faithful, and Lord Snowdon.  The restaurant is famous for its food, so we ended the day in wonderful surroundings.