With yesterday's Olympic Sailing Finals
totally becalmed, resulting in postponement, there would be a 'second
bite of the cherry' for those enthusiasts who were up for it today. It
was my intention to be amongst it! However, before that a return to
yesterday evening and my friend Pat Shearing down again from Reading for
another short stay we decided on eating out rather than cooking. Curry
Night at The Swan is guaranteed 'good value', so with Rogan Josh and a
cooling cider we were approached by my mate Peter (Mr Music) Smith who
reminded us of the Pink Floyd Tribute gig at the Weymouth Pavilion
starting at 21:00. At just £1.00 entrance we telephoned Lesley Brown and
made our way down to witness
Playing DARK SIDE of the MOON in its entirety, the introduction 'Heartbeats' met with rapturous applause.
and followed by my personal favourite COMFORTABLY NUMB which I have
requested be played at my funeral. The last line of my will reads,
"please play this track as by now I will be"!
The finale was RUN LIKE HELL which we did to the beer bar for a night cap.
All gig photos are credited to the lovely Claire Garden - Thank You Claire
While
all of this was going on and unbeknown to any of us a BUFF-BREASTED
SANDPIPER, a 'rare' vagrant Wader from the America's, was gracing the
foreshore at Ferry Bridge. Found and photographed by Martin Cade, Warden
of the Portland Bird Observatory, this became the focus for all local
birders this morning but seen only once as it flew away to the west.
I didn't arrive until about 08:00 so
little chance for me but it was pleasing to see a few juvenile
MEDITERRANEAN GULLs particularly as earlier news from the colony in
Poole Harbour
had pointed to a dismal breeding season due to the heavy rain.
As I left to head for Portland Bill, a lone JULIAN THOMAS continued to be resolute in his search for the bird.
Met by c17 WHEATEAR at the Bill
there was little more than a few
Butterflies and an array of Flowers on the way to the Obs. Among these
were COMMON CENTAURY and
FIELD SCABIOUS with BEE.
There was also something of a 'magic
moment' when for the first time in probably 25 years I came across an
old 'spearfishing' friend BOB MILVERTON and wife CAROLINE. I do see her
from time to time but Bob, something of a legend in the sport having
represented Great Britain, had thus far stayed below the radar. Those
already returned to the Obs had recorded a few things en-route with
addition to the Year List. Julian had now returned to the Obs as
well, unfortunately without having seen the Sandpiper, and kindly gave
me a lift to New Ground at the north end of the Island.
The
reason for this visit was to get an overall look at the yachts
mustering for today's Sailing Finals and in so doing discovered this
monument to HM Submarine SIDON sunk in Portland Harbour by one of her
own torpedo's. Designated a Maritime Grave she was towed into West Bay
and sunk some 30 miles from the Bill. In the early 80's as Captain of a
Diving Ship we took a Royal Navy Clearance Diving Team to the site where
they blew off the 'boats' propellers for inclusion in the Submarine
Museum at HMS Dolphin, Gosport, Hampshire.
The
back of the monument shows the Submarine Insignia, 2 Dolphins
supporting a St Edward's Crown, as proudly worn by all members of the
service.
The view is one of the best on the south coast of England,
but
being a little hazy the sail boats were not easy to see. What can be
seen from this shot are the 100's of people spectating from the Nothe
(just right of the new Sea Life Tower).
A short bus ride and I was soon among the crowds
The
KIWI's had a promontory position and their cheering and banner waving
seemed to have effect, I do believe they won a GOLD MEDAL?
the MEDIA HELICOPTER.
while
down in the village of WYKE REGIS someone, not content with just the
Gold Medallists getting a Gold Postbox, had coated the PILLAR BOX with
Silver to celebrate Nick Dempsey's silver medal in the RSX at the
Olympics.
2 More Silver Medals in the Sailing for Team GB!
