We got our 2nd Covid shot on the 9th (in Grand Junction) and left CO on April 10th after taking 3 COVID tests in a row to make sure we had at least one result for a sample taken within 72 hours of departure. We arrived in London on the 11th and had to quarantine for several days pending further COVID test results on Day 2 and Day 5. I wanted to “sneak out” several times just for a walk, but my husband threatened to leave me. The penalty (if caught) is 10,000 pounds – which of course Anthony equates to the cost of a new sail – and, in his opinion, my mental health just wasn’t worth it …. Ha! Ha!
While in quarantine, the UK government called me every day at 3:00pm UTC to make sure we were following the strict quarantine rules. Someone actually came to the house on Day 5 (after we had returned from our Day 5 COVID test) to check that Anthony was following quarantine protocols!! 🙄. Even though we were “released” on Day 5, we still had to take a Day 8 test … just because. Since we got our results on the 16th, we have taken every opportunity to walk or be outside. We have been lucky so far with the weather – it has been sunny and between 50-60 degrees. We have to stay in the UK for a total of 14 days before we can fly to France on Sunday, 4/25. We also need another negative PCR COVID test – Fit to Fly” – on 4/23. By the way, all of these UK tests required a visit to either Gatwick or Heathrow airports, a drive of some 30 to 45 minutes. Fortunately, Yanika, our sister in law, has been very kind and helpful in driving us around for tests.
During our UK visit, we’ve tried to stay busy and keep ourselves entertained. Anthony’s brother’s family lives in Thames Ditton, which is within walking distance of Hampton Court Palace and we’re walking around different neighborhoods and enjoying the wonderful parks.
We found a park that includes some basic gym equipment, so the routine is to walk “to the gym”, workout a little, and walk back – stopping for coffee as the reward.
Janice is working the evening shift – from 3:00 pm –10:00 pm – since London is 7 hours ahead of Colorado and the emails don’t stop. Outside of that, we’ve been trying to purchase items for the boat. We spent almost an entire day trying to order bed linens from Amazon in France – Google translate was very helpful. Our bank denied the 1st charge (thinking it was fraud), so we had to cancel that order and “buy” it again. Then Amazon.fr locked our account thinking it was fraud…. Finally, we ordered some sheets and pillows for our cabin and will wait until we get on the boat before buying the rest.
Anthony has been going back and forth with the Coast Guard working on our documentation. What should be a simple application for documentation of a new vessel has turned into a 10-week ordeal. First the Coast Guard couldn’t read one of the submitted files, then they required an original builder’s certificate, and then there was a clerical error with the builder’s certificate, which then required a simplified measurement form and a special letter, but that meant the boat couldn’t be documented until it was accepted, which was April 7th, but then they lost the email for a week and after that wouldn’t prioritize the documentation because the boat was already accepted and no longer required priority processing. The main problem is that we can’t leave the dock without this registration. Sigh…. still waiting…
On Wednesday evening (4/21), Anthony and his brother Richard went sailing… actually, they went racing at the Queen Mary Sailing Club in Ashford. Winds were 10-18 knots and temps were in the 50’s, so quite chilly. Richard has an RS 400 -2 person performance sailing dinghy. It’s a great boat with an asymmetrical spinnaker that allows it to plane downwind easily. The main is quite powerful and required both Richard and Anthony to “hike it hard” going upwind (hook their feet under straps and lean out as far as possible to keep the boat from heeling).
It’s been a long time since the 2 of them sailed together but they had great fun! Richard missed a hiking strap and toppled out of the boat during a practice rounding of a mark, leaving the boat temporarily without a skipper. Then they lost the GoPro camera when, during the race, another boat crossed close behind and hooked the GoPro with its forestay, broke it’s carbon fiber mount, and sent it to the bottom of the lake. Problems were compounded by a flakey Tack-Tick compass and timer, which meant they had no count-down timer for the race start and added uncertainty in determining lifters and headers (wind shifts) on the windward legs. Results were mid-pack, but there was a lot of laughter!
A few more days in London with a Fit to Fly test on Friday (4/23) for our flight on Sunday (4/25). Praying they let us in….
Love, love, love reading all the updates! We will be living vicariously through our best buddies❤️!
Wishing you both days filled with immense joy and endless wanderlust! Safe travels dear friends! We love you!! Xoxo
Miss you guys! Can’t wait until you can come sail with us!
So great to hear from you! Hoping your flight Sunday is uneventful and they let you in:). We will look forward to reading about your adventure and hope to be able to join you at some point – what fun!! Love to you both – Rach and Jeff
Good Sunday Morning,
I have really enjoyed reading your posts. What an adventure and it hasn’t even started yet. I can’t believe how strict the UK is with quarantining. Yikes! Danny got his 2nd shot yesterday. So far so good. 💪🏻
I love the ‘outdoor’ gym. I wish we could do that here in the summer!
Question- I’m not familiar with all the boating terminology, did the GoPro sink or the boat that hit it or both? 😬 Sounds like they had a grand time.
Good luck! I’ll be praying that you get into France with no major issues. We’re taking the kids to Moxie after church this morning. I’ll be sending you some good vibes from there so you can hopefully board your Moxie SOON!!!
Adventures away…
All the best to you both. Anxious to read more.
Love all the sailing jargon with which I’m not familiar 😉
Maybe we should put a “jargon” warning for all the technical sailing stuff. Ha! Ha! Other sailors get it, but most people don’t.
Wow, lots of work and setbacks but it will hopefully soon be as you planned! Thanks for the recap – exciting to virtually be on your journey with you!
Make sure you all have a drink for me during the first round of the Ladies league next week!
What a fantastic blog! Sounds like you used humor to deal with a lot of challenges. The pictures are wonderful and loved hearing about the brothers sailing too. I hope your noses are healing from all the swabbing…stay well my dear friends and enjoy the sea air, Love Susan and Boys
Fantastic to see you back on the water. Hard not to become a bit emotional. Hope to see you in Croatia this summer. Norway is still in a kind of lock down ,and we are not aloud to go abroad and return without a 14 day stay in a quarantine hotel. Hope this will change in a few weeks as more will be vaccinated. Will send you a personal email