We went over to Nelson’s Dockyard on Tuesday evening to see the return of All Beans, No Monkeys - one of the rowing challenge boats - having met the family support team on the beach. When we arrived we bumped into Bella, sister of one of the Ocean Reunion rowers and herself a member of the Row Like a Girl team that came in second. It seems they come from a family dynasty of long distance rowers. Anyway, she was having dinner with Ocean Reunion and would let them know we were there. RLAG had been visited by what sounded very much like the two Minke whales that had come to check us out. During their visit the sea anchor line had been broken, very nearly tipping their boat over in the process.  It transpired that ABNM (you must keep up with the rowing team acronyms) had been delayed until midnight but Oarsome Buoys were due in at 8pm so we had a quick supper in a marina bar and joined the reception crowd. It was quite moving with all the super yacht horns sounding before we could see the rowers and then there they were, rounding the bow of Gloria and tying up alongside. It was another policemen moment - these rowers are all so young and two what seemed like boys emerged into the camera lights looking a tad underwhelmed. It must be an anticlimax (or perhaps overwhelming) being back on dry land after weeks at sea in your own little world with only each other and the odd Minke whale for company. No sign of Ocean Reunion so we old codgers walked down to Falmouth Harbour and got a taxi ride with Vernon back to Jolly Harbour.

Now Gloria, by the way, is the beautiful white schooner I attached a picture of after our previous visit to Nelson’s Dockyard. It turns out that the owner and I have something else in common other than each of our boats is white and registered in Bristol. We both play the guitar - he a little more successfully being Pete Townshend. We were in good company as there was also a huge gin palace with a lot of garish blue lights called MySky.

When Annie and I got back to jolly Harbour a band was playing at the Crows Nest so we stopped for an ice cream and coffee. The only people dancing were a couple straight out of Eric and Helia’s Salsa dance class in Bristol (or its equivalent wherever the dancers come from) and when they finished Annie and I were reluctant to expose just how little we could remember from our own lessons with Eric. The excitement rose, however, when it appeared that some local people were being asked to leave the bar. There was much shouting and swearing and mention of “colour bar" and “their (i.e. the locals’) country”. Annie and I put this down to resentment against white wealth and I was quickly composing my next social conscience piece, even bringing in the Bristol riots at the time of the Great Reform Bill. Sadly you will have to wait for this because the following morning I asked the manager what all the fuss had been about. It turned out the woman had been offering sex to one of the customers and wasn’t best pleased that the oldest profession in the world was not welcome. Now, when I was recounting this to Annie I finally understood what “no soliciting” means on the signs in the marina. I had rather naively thought this meant asking for a crewing place or some such. Annie’s raised eyebrow said it all.

The gin pennant was flying this morning and we heard much excited admiration from a lady on the pontoon. She turned out to be ex Royal Navy and will be joining us this evening when we raise the pennant again………………..