Rested after the Plymouth Rally, we departed Cawsands with a fresh wind on our quarter, which had largely given up by lunch time, off Salcombe. The tedious motor in gloriously fine weather was enhanced by listening to Boris's resignation on the wireless through our new cockpit speakers on longwave! Flat calm at Start meant further motoring to the Dart.
After a run ashore to the Red Lion Inn for stores and a beer, the next day we explored the river in the dinghy. We tied up at Totnes before high tide and had several hours ashore in lovely weather,
enjoying lunch at the Steam Packet Inn and walking through the town to the castle, form where a splendid view is to be had.
Returning down wind and tide we met Mark T and "Flirt", who had visited the Maltsters Arms instead. At the same time, Gil and Caroline H, who had just returned to their nearby mooring after a cruise in "Mischief" appeared. We all repaired to their lovely garden overlooking the river for some drinks. The Sunday was another calm hot sunny day, so we dinghied over to the NT Greenway House, one of Agatha Christies many houses in the area. We had a grand leisurely walk around the gardens and visited the house, where murals form the WW2 requisition, are still preserved.
After 3 pleasant days "on holiday" we set off down river, passing the Classic Channel fleets preparing to race in what turned out to be decent wind for them and sailed on towards Salcombe.
We went inside the skerries and allowed the tide to swing us close to Start Point. It was so settled that we had a prolonged lunch stop at anchor just inside Prawle Point, at Elender Cove, before anchoring for the night just inside Salcombe harbour, at Mill Bay.
The following day we gently sailed around Bolt Head and Bolt tail to Hope Cove. A busy anchorage with people, zooming around near silently, on electric surfboards. One particular one returned regularly to his gin palace anchored not far away, presumably to recharge the batteries. Unfortunately to do so, he had a noisy generator running continuously all day until dusk. Nevertheless we enjoyed a couple of walks ashore. Not a place to revictual, though. Even the recycling facilities were for "residents" only!
It remained abnormally settled so we motored gently to the mouth of the Erme, where we anchored, initially alone, and went ashore for a cliff walk towards the Yealm, before a peaceful night in a normally untenable anchorage.
The following day we returned for a night at Cawsands, where we "discovered" a well stocked CoOp up a side street and enjoyed a pint and impromptu supper at the Halfway House Inn, as the weather had turned slightly damp and decidedly cold.
From there it was pleasant sail back to the Helford the next day, anchoring at the entrance for the night and then motoring back to the mooring as the weather finally broke.
