Hull

So what, then, are the learning points from our stay in Hull?

Well firstly there is the fact that the marina in which Cirrus Cat now floats was once part of a large dock which some 50 years ago would have been thick with fishing vessels, mostly trawlers, unloading cod by the ton into wagons waiting alongside. This water is now sliced up by a 4-lane road (which explains the traffic noise) but originally the dock would have extended right into what is now the very centre of the city, a sign of the prominence of the fishing industry here. Only one 'sidewinder' trawler remains from this once extensive fleet, this being now little more than a tourist attraction, although interesting to view.

 

Then there is the fact that Hull contains a visually attractive mix of old and new buildings, like this church reflected in modern glass office windows. The architecture is bold and reflects the wealth extracted from the sea by the fishing industry, on a scale that is now hard to imagine. Hull was built on the profits from fish, although the port now serves other markets.

Fish swimming in water are difficult to photograph, even when they live in a giant submarium (The Deep) alongside sharks, swordfish and many other species. I'm sure this one was watching us as closely as we were him.

The water in the Humber estuary where it flows past Hull is always coloured brown, the colour of leather, like on a good pair of shoes. So when painting a seascape to hang in Hull's Ferens Art Gallery you'd better get this right - locals will soon know something is wrong.

And finally: A good measure of someone's character can be determined from the way they store their Christmas decorations. This piece of wisdom does not, as it happens, come from Hull but from further south where we have spent the last few days, having been invited to a substantial party to celebrate the betrothal of friends Rich and Gerry. It is not for me to explain the statement about the decorations, even if I could.

From all appearances it has rained ceaselessly here in Hull from the time we left three days ago until the moment we arrived back. What other conclusion can you draw when both our departure and return coincided with gallons of the stuff falling from the sky. Still, at least this has tested my repairs to the minor window leaks we were experiencing after our passage across The Wash. We returned to a perfectly dry boat, internally, although very well washed externally.

And after sitting out a week of easterly winds, finally there is a weather forecast for the next few days which suits us, wind from the south which won't blow our socks off. Soon we'll be leaving Hull and its rain behind, following those brown waters towards the sea before turning left (again) to head towards clearer waters off the Northumbrian coast.