Last look at Cleethorpes before leaving for Hull
Last look at Cleethorpes before leaving for Hull

Our last look at Cleethorpes before leaving Grimsby docks and setting off for Hull. We visited "The Silver Shoe" riding stables where Diana had arranged for the girls to hire ponies for an hour's beach hack. Diana and I had morning coffee in "Meggies Tea Room" before the family had a swim at the Cleethorpes leisure centre where the swimming pool had a big wave machine.

Then we set off and the sea was only moderate at first and then slight for the rest of the trip before negotiating the entrance cross-current but then we were in and safely moored at Hull Marina

The weather forecasts were reasonable this morning, with the north-east breeze moderating later, and so the decision was made to leave Grimsby later today after we had a final look at Cleethorpes. For once they had left the security gates open and Diana could go across to get some groceries whilst I had my shower and shave in the oblutions block. I then filled up with water so that we could leave in a hurry later if I had to. We took the taxi into Cleethorpes and the first port of call was "The Silver Shoe" riding stables where Diana had arranged for the girls to hire ponies for an hour's beach hack. Diana and I had morning coffee in "Meggies Tea Room" and later she met the girls from their hack whilst I tried to meet up with Daniel. He had been visiting Angela in Ware and was due to come back today.

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Then a family swim at the Cleethorpes leisure centre where the swimming pool had a big wave machine. Back to Grimsby via the marina where we met up with Daniel at last and then had lunch together at the Pizza Hut, before going back to the Paxton Princess to prepare it for sea. I settled up with the proprietors of the marina and made VHF radio calls to the Royal Dock lock operator and the coastguard to prepare our way. At 5.00pm, we set off and were off Hull an hour and a half later as the strong spring flood tide swept us along. A little trouble raising the lock-keeper and negotiating the entrance cross-current but then we were in and moored at Hull Marina in time for tea on board. It seems that we should have been calling him on channel 80, the new international marina channel. This evening, Diana and I took a walk round the town centre which has been recently pedestrianised and a new indoor shopping centre built on an old dock. The weather stayed fine for our latest voyage and the sea was only moderate at first and then slight for the rest of it.