The Harwich Lifeboat Festival

Sunday morning and we headed to Harwich Town along the seacoast.  The weather was good and the
sea, calm.  There is a long winding walking and biking path a short distance from the hotel that winds
it way northeast by the beaches where the locals and their dogs romp in the surf.  Nearby ocean going
ships and passenger ferries leave for the continent, Netherlands and Germany.  Today, there were
crowds of people going to Harwich for the annual festival that raises money for the lifeboat crews
which patrol the ocean areas to keep the sailors safe.

The festival is like an American County Fair.  Lots of food stalls, music groups and boating activities.
We had to fight our way through the bustling crowds including little children on bicycles, dogs of all
sizes and breeds.  We finally sat down at a local eatery and downed a Carlsberg and thought of having
a fish and chips lunch but the service wasn't ready so we just roamed about looking at the sights.
A few Scotsmen in full regalia strolled by and then a fellow with bagpipes followed.  Unlike London
there aren't many ethnic groups in Harwich, mostly Brits and white.

We happened to pass a life boat group who were booking a cruise around the harbor and we signed
up for the 1PM cruise.  It was somewhat difficult for us to wend our way down boarding ladders to
board the old lifeboat that was used for the tour, however, the crew was helpful and managed to
help Annabelle on board.  Not like the old days when we jumped on board the Amber or Marandi, raised sail and headed out to sea.  It's hard to get used to the impediments of old age when you want
to do things that were simple in earlier years.

The Festival included a great display of old Rolls Royces and some kind soul offered to take a picture

of us together among some of these treasures.