Hi all, we are fast approaching the last rally of the season, the Beer and Buses Rally to Newport. This is becoming a popular Rally so if you are considering coming please sign up here by adding you details in the forum below, that way people will know wholes is coming and it will keep the topic 'hot' on the forum page so folks don't end up wondering where the topic has gone.
I am iam intending to do both days this year (Saturday and Sunday) but if you can only make one of the days that's fine. With that in mind I plan to go over on the Friday to be ready for the off on Saturday morning, and will then be leaving on Monday. As it happens I have a cCourt case to attend on Friday morning (tenant eviction for non payment of rent for six months!) so am planning to go down to Newport on the evening tide, hopefully arriving around 9pm on Friday.
The tides are: (Portsmouth)
Friday HW 10:57 4.4M and 23:04 4.4M
Saturday HW 11:27 4.6M and 23:36 4.5M
Sunday. HW 12:00 4.7M
Monday HW 00:09 4.6M and 12:32 4.7M
(top of springs will be two days later on Wednesday)
Access for boats drawing upto 1.5M should be possible HW -2 to HW +2. There is water and electric along the pontoon which is on the eastern side of the river (left side) going down but the first electric point is about three boat lengths (30M?) along from the start of the pontoon. There are showers and toilets in the main Harbour Masters building. access requires a key from the Harbourmaster which if you are good, he will allow you to keep for your next visit!
I have booked us into the Bargemans Rest for an evening meal on Saturday at 1930 and will have a quick preprandial drinks alongside FRITH at 1830 (it's five minutes walk to the pub)
I haven't made any arrangements for Sunday, if anyone has any ideas, let me know early on so I can make suitable arrangements, otherwise we might go into town and see what we can find, or there is always Wetherspoons.
I am still waiting for a response from the Dairymans Daughter Inn as to whether they are going to put on the same guest beer as last year, can anyone remember it's name? It was pure nectar! If they do we may plan a quick side detour to Arreton before going somewhere else. We have taken the southern route to St Katherines three years in a row now so perhaps we should consider going West for a change ( I know, I've already gone west!) Hopefully they won't have a problem with getting all the buses onto the island as they did last year.
Boats that have expressed an interest so far but need to confirm, are Sophia, Altair, Zephyr and I believe Shockwave.
Please give Boat name, type, number of people and any dietary requirements. If your details aren't in the handbook, please also email me with your mobile and number.
please don't put them on the forum, it is public and unwelcome calls and emails might result. My details are in the handbook. under P27 FRITH