The intention was to go down river and across to Cockerham via the sluice cut. I don't know if any boat has ever gone to the end of the cut but I have this idea that I must do it one day.

It seems a silly trip because it's only 5 mile at the most but it would take at least a day to complete. I had reconnoitred the cut at low water some time ago, and although I wouldn't be able to turn round along it's mile length I would be able to once I was at the sluice gates at the end.

The intention was to sail out on Saturday morning, spend the day and night there, then sail back on Sunday mornings tide. Like all good plans that rely on nature it was soon to go "all a pot".

The neap tide came in to the slipway the slowest and lowest I'd known, and with only 1 hr to HW ( I'd reckoned on the usual 2 hrs before, to getting away ) I knew I wouldn't make it into the cut before the tide cut me off so I changed to plan B. Go up past Lancaster to the extreme of boat navigation, the weir, a couple of miles past that town, anchor there for the night and drop back down in the morning.

The sail up the Lune was quite different than usual, as the water was very low due to the neaps, but also because the sandy banks had been scoured clean and shear because of recent rain water and higher tides sluicing down river. It was like sailing along miniature cliffs. There was also an unusual amount of Heron on the river, I don't think I've ever seen so many.

Every now and again the board would scrape the bottom, and past "Snatchem's" pub it would scrape too often for my liking, so it was think again. Plan C - give up.

I turned back for Glasson about 1/2hr after HW and tried to keep in the deeper channels, as you never want to go aground in the river proper. I decided to keep going and anchor for the night at the hamlet of Sunderland Point.

After an hour or so the tide left me and I got my boots on and went for a walk to Sambo's grave. The story goes that in 1736, Sambo died of a broken heart after he thought his master was leaving him to go on a voyage. As he wasn't a Christian, he couldn't be buried in consecrated ground, so he was buried in a field behind the village. The grave is always well decorated by local schoolchildren, who paint large pebbles with messages on them.

Although the plague on the grave has been replaced, the original poem written by a local clergyman in 1796, was transferred.

Full sixty years the angry winter's wave,

Has thundering dashed this bleak barren shore,

Since Sambo's head laid in this lonely grave,

Lies still and ne'er will hear their turmoil more.

Full many a sandbird chirps upon the sod,

And many moonlight elfin round him trips,

Full many a summer's sunbeam warms the clod,

And many a teeming cloud upon him drips.

But still he sleeps - till the awakening sounds,

Of the Archangel's trump new life impart,

Then the Great Judge his approbation founds,

Not on man's colour but his worth of heart.

On the Sunday morning I drifted back upriver to Glasson, all of a mile - Well it was a weekend out on the water.

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I took the boat with me when I went on a family holiday to Wales. My wife, daughter, and her husband refused point blank to sail, so my idea, which I didn't tell anyone about till the time came, was to stay down in Wales for the weekend whilst everyone else went back on the Friday in my son-in-law's car.

Whilst there I looked at both Pwllheli and Porthmadog for my weekend. I needed single-handed launching and somewhere to store the car and trailer for 2 nights. Towards the end of the blowy wettish week, they were still giving SW 4 to 5's, so I also needed a place with shelter and things to do if I was stuck in the harbour.

Pwllheli had a very large inner harbour which I would have nearly all to myself, and at HW I could come over to the station wall and walk into the town. The slipway at the harbour office was OK, but I was worried about parking security. When I asked about launching at the marina they said they didn't allow it which I find strange, but I didn't press the point as I think I'd made my mind up to go to Porthmadog.

After a chat with the friendly harbour master at Porthmadog and a quick look over the wall it was decided ( I think the attitude of harbour masters can make or break a visit, but most are friendly to us open boaters - I think they think we're mad ). When I arrived on Friday morning he only charged me for the cost of a launch even though I was in the harbour from Fri till early Sunday.

The slipway is quite wide, it slopes steepish at the top but levels out slightly halfway down, then drops away gently at the bottom - an excellent design.

I launched in rain and thought should I have gone back with the family - no. The trailer was left at the side of the slip and swung upright leaning on the wall chained to a big ring. The tide never quite got to it. The car was put into a free parking bay in front of some houses just

Opposite, Dr.Syn was laid alongside a ladder marked "visitors", under which, was a clean sandy bottom.

By the time I'd sorted out and was "ready for sea" the tide had come in and I decided to follow the buoys out to the bar. The wind was S3-4 so I rowed out as far as the boatyards admiring the new views and boats.

As I got out of the harbour proper I couldn't row against the wind so I used the engine to get me clear of the channel and into Borthygest Bay. There is a decent slip here but no overnight parking. The depth of water was very shallow, and I reckon the slip would only be possible at the top of the tides.

Outside the harbour master's office is a water tap, around the harbour is a pub/restaurant, a café, and the yacht club. Just along the street are the public toilets, fish and chip shop and any other shop you might want. I had a walk around the town, a visit to the Maritime Museum, fish and chips and a quick drink. It was going to be a good weekend.

I awoke early on Saturday ( 8am ) and went for a breakfast at the large restaurant just outside the harbour on the main road - the full works for £2.20. Then I went and got my ticket for the ride on the Ffestiniog Railway. The terminus is on the other side of the harbour. The 10:45 should get me back just in time for the afternoon tide.

The wind had eased to a 3 and the sun was shining, so it was a motor out to Borthygest then a reefed main and away. I learnt very quickly that you had to stay with the buoys if you wanted the board down. The bar was quiet today so I sailed out with a few other yachts and let them disappear over the horizon. I stayed within the confines of the buoyage watching the antics of the jet skis and water skiers.

I cruised up and down that 2 mile bit of coast, and in and out of the various bays. They all seemed very picturesque, as was all of the countryside around here. After a couple of hours I thought I'd anchor in Borthygest Bay and heat some soup. As I approached, I saw a dory with a couple of lads in it trying to start the outboard. They seemed to know what they were doing so I left them to it and picked up a buoy up in the bay.

After half an hour they had drifted well over to the east and as there was a Drascombe Lugger near them I thought they would pick them up if needs be. The Lugger came back on it's own and I could see the dory was being rowed now so I thought I'll finish my soup then go and get them. Teach them a lesson for drifting so far away, let them sweat at the oars for a while longer. Well I used the engine to catch up with them and when I got there they refused the tow, well the bloke that wasn't rowing did - said his mate was doing fine. I then hauled the sails up, lowered the board and promptly hit the sand - top of the tide as well!!

Oh blow, says I, or words to that effect. It was now HW and I was about 1/2 ml from the fairway. After trying to find deeper water I had to lower the sails, lift the board and use the engine again. It is very shallow in this area - beware.

I spent the rest of the afternoon just cruising up and down again and returned to my place on the wall at 6pm. Tonight I would eat out at the pub on the quay.

I ordered Tagliatelli, and was a bit taken aback when they asked me if I wanted chips or jacket potatoes with that - but yes, they were quite serious, so I had chips.

Sunday morning I was on the slip at 05:45, and after accidentally catching my arm on the car horn whilst reversing, I was out, packed and ready by the time the restaurant opened for breakfast.

A thoroughly enjoyable weekend, beautiful shoreline, mountains and countryside - But chips with Tagliatelli??? - I'LL BE BACK