Monday, June 6, 2016

Back from the UK


My wife and I just came back from a two week visit to the UK.  This was an almost exclusively family and couple based trip with little of wargaming interest.  We visited my Dad near Southampton, (who I had not seen for two years and my wife for six years), and my wife's sister in Bedford who we had not seen in six years.  We also spent some time in London.

Wargaming events missed while in the UK included Partizan, a Jutland centenary re-enactment game and likely many other chances to catch up with UK based gamers I had met through the inter web.  But we were in the UK for two weeks and well family trumps gamers.

One of the highlights for me was a three day sailing trip with my dad, almost certainly the last one before he sells his boat.  We went from the Hamble River to Yarmouth on May 24th, to Leamington on May 25th and returned to the Hamble on the 26th.

Waypoints marked with stars.


Yarmouth Castle From the Harbour Entrance

Yarmouth Castle was built late in the reign of Henry VIII, but lacks the distinctive round style of the other Henrican Fortifications along the South and East Coasts of England.  It was used until 1885, it's purpose of course being to scare off the beastly French.  I did not go into the Castle this trip (I wanted to but missed the entrance before closing) but have in the past.  It is a classic small artillery fort that would be a feature in a small war-games action, on land or by se or both.
Yarmouth Harbour Marina

10 comments:

  1. A three day sailing trip with dad - sounds heavenly.

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    1. Heavenly was the trips taken 30 years ago - three weeks from the Solent to Brest and back. This was very nice.
      Cheers, Peter

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  2. Delighted to hear that the trip went well.

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  3. I got back the day before you! http://hurley20sparrow.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/jolly-boys-outing-2016.html

    PS. Lymington much nicer than "Leamington" (sic) :o)

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    1. Looks like you had a great trip too. The sail back on the 26th was wonderful.
      Cheers, Peter

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  4. Sounds good. Hopefully there will be many more to come.

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  5. ps I hate looking at historic sites through closed gates!

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    1. Fortunately I had done the tour before. Alsio it's a teeny tiny little castle so I didn't miss a whole lot.
      Cheers, Peter

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  6. It's great that you got in a nice sail with your dad. Sounds like a wonderful trip for the both of you.

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    1. Thanks Curt. Here's hoping your trip is also going well.

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