<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/thames-barge-full-sail-201.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1842" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/thames-barge-full-sail-201-200x150.jpg" alt="thames-barge-full-sail-(201" width="200" height="150" /></a>Graham has had a long standing desire to go out on a <a title="Thames sailing barge" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thames_sailing_barge" target="_blank">Thames barge</a> and so Sue organised an overnight stay in <a title="Maldon, Essex" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maldon,_Essex" target="_blank">Maldon, Essex </a>and an afternoon on Decima - pictured.

She, I'm sure all boats are called she, was built in 1895 and traded on the Thames until the mid 1970s and after several refits it is now used for tourist trips and takes part in racing.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/decima-crewjuly14.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1841" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/decima-crewjuly14-300x225.jpg" alt="decima-crew(july14)" width="300" height="225" /></a>We were taken to the barge on a skiff, four at a time, and then we had free run of the boat whilst the crew of two raised the anchor and then the sails. In light winds we headed down the Blackwater. It was great to be out on the river particularly as it was turning into the hottest day so far this year. Our skipper, Tim, was very relaxed and enhanced our experience by answering our questions.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/jane-bargejuly14.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1840 alignleft" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/jane-bargejuly14-225x300.jpg" alt="jane-barge(july14)" width="225" height="300" /></a>The last time Jane and I went sailing was in a small dinghy in Greece and we got very cold and wet; this was very different. No chance of getting wet or cold and so Jane was beaming with joy.

As we turned around and headed back up the river an onshore wind sprang up and we really started moving. What a great afternoon followed by an evening meal at the <a title="Blue Boar Hotel, Maldon" href="http://www.blueboarhotel.com/" target="_blank">Blue Boar Hotel </a>and an unsettled nights sleep due to the heat - phew what a scorcher.

And so to home on Thursday morning...