This, as the bugler said, is the last post.

Janet joined me in Dartmouth for the weekend and, after a wonderful evening in Taylor's restaurant on Saturday,  we left the Dart on a rather cool and overcast Sunday morning for the last 18 mile leg home.

We were joined by some dolphins in Torbay and then by three boats from the yacht club in Teignmouth, who formed a bit of a parade behind Jojac as she came home into the Teign.

I was absolutely amazed to see some of our friends from the club braving the chilly weather to wave me in to the river. Thankfully the rain stayed well away so although it was nippy it was dry, which was great because they'd organised a beach party and barbie as well.

Thanks to everyone for such a great welcome, and Rob and Karen for organising everything. A wonderful way to come back, and completely unexpected.

Jojac returned to the river at quarter to three after 140 nights away, 2,361 nautical miles and more dolphins than you could shake a stick at.  My final pic is of the boat back home with some bloke just before rowing ashore for the festivities.

I can't end this voyage without saying a big thank you to Janet for supporting me all the way through. She was always there in spirit, but the best bits of the trip were when Janet was able to join me - the Thames, the Scottish canals, and these last two weekends in Cornwall and Devon.

And that only leaves me to say thanks to all of you for watching, you've been a lovely audience, and with due credit to Warner Bros:

I am now in the River Dart, on a mooring buoy up-river at a place called Dittisham, or as they say round here, Ditsum. A nice day today, calm seas with enough wind to make a difference but not enough to mess things up.

This is Start Point, the last of the major headlands on this trip. In today's conditions it was quite benign, but it can be fearsome, as Janet and I have found on occasion. But today was perfect.

And then I was in Dartmouth, passing the castle in this picture:

I came up the river just for tonight and will go back down to the town tomorrow. My buoy is just opposite the landing stage for Agatha Christie's old house.Greenway. There have been a few boatloads of tourists this afternoon, even though it's October.

The Dartmouth to Totnes cruise boat had a few late season trippers on too, making the most of the remarkable weather.

I am sitting on the terrace of the Dolphin Inn at Newton Ferrers, on the River Yealm in Devon. Almost home; about 60 miles to go.

When I left Falmouth yesterday I passed our old boat, Sundowner, moored just off the Royal Cornwall YC. 15 years ago, Janet, Maugan, Emma, Hannah and I sailed Sunny all the way to the Channel Isles just so we could see the eclipse. Hannah was only 8 and slept on the chart table. We nearly sank on the way back; Hannah was huddled on the cabin floor as it was rather rough and wet on deck, and popped her head up to ask if there was supposed to be water above the floor boards. Clearly not. Anyway, it was sorted and all was well, but when we arrived at Dartmouth they all abandoned ship. Such fun! This is Sunny now. You should be impressed by the windows; I fitted them, with my brother's able assistance,  nearly twenty years ago and they have stood the test of time.

 From Falmouth it was a short trip to Fowey, where I moored up just before Daphne du Maurier's old house, Ferryside.

I had dinner in the oldest pub in Fowey,  the Ship, with a group of fellow Fisher owners, some of whom sailed whilst others came by car. A nice welcome back into home waters.

This was Fowey in glorious sun at 8 o'clock this morning:

 My final pic is of the wonderful River Yealm this afternoon - I'm back in Devon after four and a half months!

The weather continues to surprise; this morning,  on the first of October,  I sat up on deck in nothing but swimming trunks for most of the passage from Cornwall. Quite amazing (the weather, not me in swimbos, although that is debatable.  I will spare us all the embarrassment of photos).


Hoping for the Dart tomorrow, probably for a couple of days as I wait for a bit of a storm to go through. A chance to catch up with my mum and then head home Sunday. Fingers crossed.