51º27’N X 000º22’ E
Alongside, Tilbury Ferry Pier
 
Came up the Thames Estuary reading Joseph Conrad’s description of sailing ships coming up to London, wishing I had the part of “Great Expectations” that takes place on the Thames below London. London Vessel Traffic Control nagged us all day about what time we’d get in, with the Tilbury dockmaster occasionally joining the chorus. Somewhat out of the blue I told them 2000 hours, and as luck would have it we put our first line across at 2003.
 
We then tied up at a semi-derelict pier where passing pilot boats and tugs bounce us unmercifully, and the tidal current makes staying tight to the dock a challenge in creative docklinemanship, if that’s a word. All hands are turned-to cleaning up, polishing, oiling, making pretty for the grand promenade tomorrow. The galley stove occasionally belches a flurry of soot onto the newly cleaned deck.
 
No showers or freshwater on the dock, so the crew may not be so remarkably attractive.
 
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