Calshot

Early evening mists clutched at the fingers of Fawley's chimneys as  we drove away from a satisfying visit to Calshot. Where Fawley can not easily be prettified, Calshot and its views are very beautiful even with the activities related developments. This evenings mists will probably be those of another autumn morning tomorrow but, with a day off, I shall not, unlike today, have to be weighing the respective merits of 38/60 and 40/60. After the rigours of a morning with LVPs albeit in the amicable company of White Watch, I showed unusual energy in spurning my recliner in favour of a photographic trip.

We went first to Southampton to see Cunard's new Queen Elizabeth. I am no fan of Cunard vessels but I wanted to be able to say I had seen her on the first day of her inaugural visit. Once berthed there is a poor view of ships at Ocean Terminal which are partially obscured by the eponymous building. She will be named by the current owner of the name on Monday and sail on Tuesday for Vigo. Two other ships were due to sail today and with beautiful sunshine promising protracted daylight, we drove to Calshot to watch the departures. There was plenty to photograph during what turned out to be a delay. We learned that Ventura would wait until tomorrow due to bad weather en-route and Saga Ruby II eventually hove out of the dusk and gathering mist to provide some worthwhile photographs. I am not much attracted to smaller cruise ships with few or no balconies but she did look very elegant as she passed Calshot.