Saturday, June 14, 2025

Blythely spend the gowden day

 As we have been sliding into Winter, there have been more than our fair share of golden days.  I managed to keep swimming into the first week of June, but got a cold, then got distracted, and I fear I have lost my super power of cold water acclimatization.  


I finished the outriggers and got one sea trial in with them.  I need a few more blocks to get the mainsheet working properly, then I am good for some more serious testing.  I have been very slowly shaping and hand sewing a tent for the SCAMP too.  It looks a lot better than a tarp draped over the boat and hanging down at odd angles.   Next step, ad a zip.  I have not had the SCAMP out for a while, it will be good to get back on the water for some winter sailing soon.

Speaking of SCAMP's, I helped my neighbour Frank, who is 80, collect his SCAMP kit.  It was not so long ago that my SCAMP looked like this:


It really is magical that this turns into a SCAMP!  I have largely forgotten how it all happens, so I better brush up on the manual so I can give sensible answers when asked for advice.

Meantime, we had a nice trip down to Warrnambool to celebrate our anniversary - I haven't been anywhere since Tassie in February, and the longer the interval between getting away, the harder it seems to get.  But it was a good trip, and for just about the first time, it did not rain non stop while I was in Warrnambool. 


I said to the family that this blurry photo demonstrates why they call them whale flukes - it is a fluke if you press the shutter button at the right time to capture them.  Anne points out that in fact it is the pectoral fin of a female whale, which they use to slap the water and send out a signal.  The fluke is the tail.  

Back home, Chris and I got Derry the Skerry launched on the Maribrynong, as reconnaissance for the upcoming WBA river trip.  We established pretty conclusively that launching a heavy-ish row boat, such as was being suggested by a couple of members - would be pretty difficult.    We also managed to discover and visit the mysterious Steele's Creek.  The entrance is very difficult to spot, but the creek itself is quite deep and goes quite a way.  It was a very pleasant, golden day on the water.  These low wind winter days are perfect for rowing, you don't overheat, and you know if you were trying to sail you would be going nowhere fast.


The big event of early winter for us is our lovely grand daughter Harriet's first birthday.  We bought her a nice walker as a present which has been a big hit and has all sorts of possible entertaining uses.


Jess and Chris are wonderful parents, it is so nice to watch Harriet growing into herself in such a  loving, secure, happy environment. It was chilly today, but Hattie's birthday made it indeed a golden day. 


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