Dad has a day off in lieu of having to work through last weekend, so on a whim he loads us into the car and we drive off in search of barge-related locations in Essex. This seems like voluntarily using the very Thames-crossing which caused him so much grief on the weekend (Lorry fire, Friday night on the Dartford Bridge southbound) but we risk it for a biscuit.
Our mission is to string together a few places we've not been, and at each one we get a nice walk while Dad explores on foot. The first is Tollesbury, near Maldon, where traditional sail making firm "North Sea Sails" are making the "suit" of sails for the Sailing Barge Cambria. From there we head on another 50 miles or so to the village of Pin Mill, near Ipswich, which is where (old) Cambria's last skipper, Bob Roberts lived with his wife and 2 daughters, and also the home of the famous barging pub "The Butt and Oyster" where BR used to drink. The Butt is still there and thriving, now as a touristy waterside pub for the "yotties" from the various marinas round those parts. At Pin Mill we got to paddle on the almost horizontal slip-way as the tide was sweeping in.
All good clean fun.
Deefer
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