Day 78-Wednesday 3rd August- Bike to Margate and boat to Dover

Last night the sky looked moody, and seemed to signal a change is on the way. This high pressure cannot last, and though it now feels as if summer has arrived, rain is on the coming.

Today really didn't turn out as planned.I had wanted to explore Ramsgate and visit all the buildings that had been designed by Pugin. He is famous for doing the interior of the Houses of parliament, but he was pretty prolific and was keen on Ramsgate. He lived between 1812-1852 and he is associated with the Gothic style.

However, the forecast is for some strong westerlies to arrive in a couple of days, so I need to get further west, rather than fanny around in harbour. So this morning I intended to set of for Folkestone or maybe Rye. I woke at 5, listened to the shipping forecast and readied to leave. I pulled the  starter cord on the outboard and it wouldn't engage. It was quite clear I wouldn't be able to go anywhere until I'd fixed it. I took off the top plate and couldn't work out what was wrong. I needed some help Now there are chandlers and engineers in the arches at the back of the quay, but they don't start work at 6.30!

To cut a long story short there was a possibility that a Mercury dealer in Margate may have a second hand top plate, so I cycled back over there to see.He did have a 2nd hand starter assembly, but the bit which was broken was the piece I needed. We improvised a solution, but I would need to get a new one and as it wasn't in stock, so it would be best part of a week before I could fit it.I'd have to test what we had done.

It was gone 1.30 by the time I got back and fitted the repair. It worked and I was impatient to make some progress today. The spring tide had now turned against me, but Dover was only 20 miles away, and then at least I would be past the Goodwin sands. The wind was blowing a force 3/4 from the south. So it meant motor sailing for much of the way. My speed over the ground never got up much beyond 3.5kn and was only 1.8kn for much of the time,

Deal and Sandwich, were barely visible in the haze, but as I approached South Foreland, the white cliffs started to develop.

As I approached Dover harbour I had to wait outside whilst 3 passenger ferries passed through the entrance. This is a very well used harbour.

The harbour is huge and there are some interesting tidal flows inside.

Above the cliffs is Dover Castle. There would be loads of stuff to explore, but I intend to get back out to sea early tomorrow. Its been a long day.