The last couple of nights have been firsts for us on this expedition in terms of sleeping locations. The night before last we paddled till 9.30 pm under the light of the full moon until we reached the shingle beach of Orford Ness. Nowhere to pitch a tent so we got the bivi bags out and climbed into our sleeping bags. After a couple of slugs of the Lagavulin we slept surprisingly well!
Up early the next morning we pushed on to Felixtowe. The strong headwinds that have dogged us for a week now prevented us from getting across the shipping lanes that lead to the container port and so we spent the afternoon being amazed by the size of some of the ships coming in and just how fast they seem to travel.
That night we managed to hide the kayaks and ourselves behind a hedge near the pier. No one seemed to be able to see us but we could hear the amusement arcade till late and a few holiday revellers in the early hours. Not the best night’s sleep but then we have gotten used to snatching a nap whenever possible during the day to make up for it.
We got away this morning, dodged a couple of massive container ships heading back to China (we assumed) and made it as far as Walton on the Naze in Essex. Wind is still blowing F5 gusting F6 southerly. It seems this summer’s weather is not prepared to let us finish this expedition just yet.
Our next stop is Margate in Kent. Around a 30 mile crossing from here. Ideally we’d like a northerly to help but a light easterly or westerly would do. Unfortunately it looks like the low pressure sitting over southern Britain is moving east only slowly so we have a call to make over the next 24 hours – head out into a headwind for a 10 hour slog or wait till it dies down or changes direction or both. Right now though it’s time for another cuppa and a toasted tea cake.
Once this crossing is out of the way, it is only 20 more miles to Dover and we’ll then be on the home straight. A long one admittedly.
The wildlife sightings now are still frequent but just different. Less seals and birdlife but plenty of human behaviour to observe along the beaches and amusement arcades.
It has been great catching up on the stories about the GB medal rush at the Olympics. We are trying to stay in touch with all the excitement so our time off the water is usually filled with reading newspapers, eating, surfing the BBC Olympic web site and eating again. Did I mention that we eat a lot? In fact I think we have both put on weight since we started. Is that possible?
Midlifekayak 
You both deserve to enjoy your food! Andy you’ve found your next career move after this you should be on the radio. Loved the Essex interview and you managed to avoid any essex jokes!
Fantastic to hear that you are on the ‘home’ straight! Will the Olympics in Weymouth be finished by the time you get there or will we see you on the telly competing with the dinghies and yachts?? ” …and the Gold goes to..?? Midlife!!”
Yes, it is possible to put on weight during the trip!