Spring Chicken 2

 

Chimeral spring : Season of hail stones and showers. Sharp as the thistles which sprout in the hedgerows. Cleansing the air. Leaving colours vital and vivid. 

A moment later, soft sunshine caresses downy delicate apple blossoms into bloom. Beguiling the tight clenched green buds, in Goatham's orchard, to free butterfly petals from their grip.

Clouds scud and scurry swiftly across the sky. Herded and harassed by jostling pressure systems. Swirling unseen and capricious. Conjuring up their weather spells.

Out on the Nor Marsh, a high prowed fisher, which will never again put to sea, is consumed by the sedge. Providing shelter for weary marsh birds, returning from their long winter sojourns.

Now the summer birds take to wing. Roger departing, aboard his Westerly Fulmar 'Catinou,' for a berth in Ramsgate harbour. 

Simon too is eschewing Chatham's Dock Basin Number One. He transferring his Beneteau Oceanis 36CC 'Pyramid,' to a river mooring off Hoo.

The break up, of our 'F' pontoon band of sailing ‘brothers,’ begun when Daryl and Shirley left for the Mediterranean, last year, aboard their Bavaria 42 'Dream Catcher,' is complete. With ‘Zanzibar’ and ‘Pa Se Droom’ having decamped, to St Katherine’s Dock, last autumn.

Spring : the season of fresh starts, new life.

The wind ruffled waters call to Stargazer and I, to be on our way. Once Storm Noah and it’s aftermath has passed.

Picture Credits

Westerly Fulmar 'Eriskay' courtesy of Forth Cruising Clubs Association (fyca.org.uk)

Beneteau Oceanis 36CC brochure picture courtesy of Beneteau archive (Beneteau.fr)