It turns out that there was a very good reason why no-one except the Prop and his wife camped out in Campbell Town on Sunday night! Everyone else had evidently read the weather forecast and was aware that the temperature was due to fall to minus three degrees - which it duly did! Curiously, it was not so much the cold as the persistent dripping of condensation from the roof of the Spinnaker that kept the Prop awake.
Up betimes to set off for Devonport.
Despite making every effort to turn what is, at worst, a 2 hour trip into an 7 hour epic, the Rig arrived at the banks of the Mersey not long after 1400 hours. No boarding the SoT until well after 6.00pm so tthere was nothing else for it. Siesta time!
The arrangements for loading the Sprit(s) of Tasnania are elaborate, laborious and pass all understanding. Check in is said to close at 1815 hours but cars (which are loaded before large vehicles and cars towing caravans) were still arriving and being allowed to board at 1850 hours. Not surprising then, that we did not sail at 1900 hours as scheduled.
At length we were on board and under weigh.
The Prop dined in the Spirt Rude Food Resaurant and enjoyed a dish the name of which he never learned to pronounce.
An unnown rude meal
The Captain of the Spirit of Tasmania II is a remarkable lady who eschews traditional naval dress and drinks champagne (or is it Australian Sparkling Wine?) while on the bridge.
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