Looking up and down the channel, I tried to see for whom the bridge was being kept open. It had never occurred to me, I'm ashamed to say, that the bridge would be kept open for a tiny dinghy, as well as for a cruisiing sailboat.

As Julian arrived at the bridge, I could see him wave at the man operating the swing bridge. Some little time later, Julian arrived alongside TALARIA. He was ecstatic.

"Daddy, he kept the bridge oen for ME! The people from the cars were standing at the side of the road, watching me sail through and waving to me. I was sure I'd have to lower the mainsail to get through, but I didn't! He kept it open all that time for me."

Obviously, for Julian it had been a wonderful day and, to make the occasion a little more festive still, we decided to go out for dinner.