I had to go to Maldon today to drop some items off to another person … it being Remembrance Sunday we were not likely to skip our Sunday service… So a walk round to Heybridge via the sea wall and back along the canal was planned after the ‘job’ was done.
Passing the Down’s Road Boat Yard my eyes fell on the sad hull of a carvel sloop sitting close to the road … Yes, I know, she’s been there some while, but it seemed so sad looking in the light of an improving day, with a hazy sun becoming sharper and spring-like… The poor thing reminded me of other craft I looked at during the summer around the rivers – another article, perhaps… Green growths seem to be dripping down her hull, a hull devoid of much of its last coat of paint. Seams gawped, open to the breeze and work of warm wet fresh water… Her days, surely, unless rescued, are numbered. But, as a yard owner told me once – “…as long as the rent is paid…” Money for old rope!
Passing the ‘barge’ yard up by the Fulbridge, I noticed that the Lady Jean, the big wooden barge that has been loitering up there for sale for quite sometime, appears to have had a fair amount of fresh paintwork done. My mate asked me if she’d been sold … I don’t actually know, but has she?
Crossing the bridge I found it impossible to reach the other side: the flooding tide was edged with a rash of sharp maritime reflections. A fair collection of craft seem to be berthed up here these days, reminiscent of past times!
They cast down their reflections upon the glassy sea…
Turning off the Maldon – Heybridge Causeway we struck out along the old sea wall that once kept the River Blackwater at bay … Heybridge Creek as most know it … before reaching the dam keeping all those Sunday lunches being enjoyed, dry. Here the tide was well into the saltings, a beautiful sight indeed. There is just something about those waving saline tolerant plants keeping their heads (largely) above water. The way they gently move under the influence of tide or the light breeze…
Ah yes, I wished it had been me… Down the sun I spied a sweet little lug-sail dinghy.
The path became wet and muddy. We p[assed some folks clearly ill-dressed for the terrain! Nearing Herring Point a barge’s topsail was spied … “Cygnet” I said, answering a question from the mate, It was too. But what caught my eye was a little sloop up in the saltings, nose ito the sea wall. A ‘MG’ designed Eventide type suffered the same fate some years ago and she still sits along the river edge, now minus her gear, her hull split by tide and time. This poor thing though is of GRP and unless she is got off only vandalism will ‘cut her down’. Oh well…
Poor little thing…
At Herring Point a bench has been conveniently placed by a good thinking soul, bless them, and a stop for our picnic lunch was made. Here I couldn’t resist clicking away on my camera … it had to be done, of course, as the little Cygnet carried her way round the point. Whereupon, Des, her intrepid skipper ran up the staysail for the leg in towards the esplanade…
Cygnet carrying her way round Herring Point … with the Decima in the background.
Up staysail…
Des back at the helm… Well nearly!
Lunch over (we nearly lost it all to a very disobedient dog…), we made our way to the Jolly Sailor for coffee and loo stop!
The walk back along the canal was blissful: the sun shone, coats were shed and I muttered something about being on the water, but, on reflection, I appreciated the moment of togetherness as we strolled: it was better, by far!