Back home

Another drive to Kent this afternoon (it's a long haul by road - I'm quite pleased with that :-) to meet Mr Hards and his friends returning from their fishing trip. In line astern, like birds coming to roost, a half-dozen or so motor launches planed out of the evening haze and settled expectantly at the bottom of the slip in Herne Bay. In one lay a familiar looking hull, a bit knocked about and missing some kit, but surprisingly intact.My thanks go to the sharp-eyed anglers who saw it, had the courage to look underneath the upturned hull, the presence of mind to contact the Coastguard, and the generosity to bring it ashore. Handshakes, smiles, stories, thanks, and a nice bottle of Islay malt were exchanged.
Chaps, if you're reading this, allow yourselves a warm feeling for saving my trip (and do post the photos). Many other people have stepped up to the mark in the last 2 days, including numerous police officers and coastguards, and the rowers of Sheerness gig rowing club who were taking me under their wing when the cavalry, my dear wife, arrived. Thank you all.
Quite a bit of kit is damaged beyond repair, and - I hope not ominously - everything a paddler might have been wearing, and all but one of the distress flares, have not returned. One empty flare tube could only have been opened deliberately. Let's hope someone is safe at home, colder and wetter, older and wiser.
Tomorrow, I start checking boat and kit for damage, and finding replacements for missing items.