drewstwos
Well-Known Member
Hi all
We, that is SWMBO and I were visiting with Kwacker. that hairy Welsh person of indeterminate age and appearance and had made plans for the weekend, ie, a trip on the local steam railway on the Saturday and a day out on the water on the Sunday. Some hopes, as it turned out, but....
The train ha a problem and was cancelled, but we spent that day very nicely doing a bit of the Touristy thing.
It had also been arranged that we could have a trip out on Little Ship, thanks to Tom's generosity, coupled with a blast around the Straits in a high speed RIB driven, maybe piloted by Kwacker, I mention piloted because those things are nearly (merely) an excuse for low flying.
So we were dropped off at Little Ship around 0900 and Kwacker zoomed, tore, drove off to do his thing with the RIB.
Oh joy. The sun came out and we singled up ready to depart. SWMBO and I were supercargo, so we merely spectated. On board were the two of us, Tom and Babs and James the man of vast experience.
Out on the water we turned hard to porrt and motored sedately down the channel
and arrived at the local anchorage where we dropped the hook. Initially we were the only boat there, but it soon became ''crowded'' with others seeking the same relaxation.
Phil and Liz complete with dog soon arrived and dropped anchor nearby,
coming over in their rubber duck, complete with hound.
And talking of runner ducks, Tom and James inflated Little Ships one
and the Seafaring Guard Dog Attack Whippts were bundled into it
and were taken ashore on the nearby beach to chase rabbits and do other things not mentioned in polite company. OK, as this is not polite company they went for a pee and a poo.
Kwacker was due to arrive at about 10 am so we could go for that promised blast. However the fates conspired against us as he had had endless problems with this RIB and had had to, in some devious Welsh way manage to get his hands on a replacement.
Around 1200 he did arrive
and as he had to collect Mal form Caernarfon I got the ride as a passenger.
That thing could fly. OK it was nowhere near flat out but I saw 32 kts on the GPS. We arrived at the slip and Mal was waiting. He clambered aboard hefting a large bag and off we went back. so I managed to get a few sots of LS
By this time lunch was ready, and all hands were fed and watered. lovely it was too.
Soon Kwacker had to depart, so we arranged for him to meet us back at PD around 6 pm as the tide would serve for us to get back through the lock.
I did try a bit of fishing
but no joy, just some tangly floating seaweed that vanished down the line as the tide was sliding quickly by and attached itself firmly to the hooks.
I soon realised why there were no fish about,,, in the saloon there were some bananas in a bowl, No wonder the fish had gone to other climes... Just how bad luck bananas on a boat is was discussed at some length, amongst other seafaring superstitions on this forum a short while ago. But no matter, I was catching some rays and just enjoying myself.
Liz decided that she needed to know how to handle the dinghy so off they went for a practice sortie. I thought Phil looked a trifle neervous
But Tom had to go too, though it was risky with only a drop of fuel in the tank. We waved a farewell. but he did manage it there and back, wherever that was.
How quickly time flies by, and it was time to up the anchor and wend our way back to PD. This time I got to helm her from the flybridge,
I had done this from the wheel house on another occasion but this was a first for me. You do get a different perspective from up there. The tide was running fast again and I had the revs well down. Well that was my excuse, as I really wanted to extend the trip a long as I could.
On closing the lock at PD I regretfully handed the wheel over to James, to do the difficult bit of a 180 in a confined space, which he did with flair.
As we approached we could see both Kwacker and the Major
ready to take our lines. Well they had to do something. Also Phil and Liz who had come tearing by us at a rate of knots on our way back. Having left after us....
LIttle Ship was soon snugged down in her berth,
and we stepped ashore having had the best of a great day out with great company.
So to Tom and Babs our thanks, but now SWMBO has seen just what a proper ship is it sems I will have to upgrade soon. I have no problem with that, just need to win the lottery.
Best to all you out there
Oh by theway I just could not resist this shot of Kwackers boatyard, I should have done this earlier when there was also a ginormous RIB there as well,
Drewstwos.
We, that is SWMBO and I were visiting with Kwacker. that hairy Welsh person of indeterminate age and appearance and had made plans for the weekend, ie, a trip on the local steam railway on the Saturday and a day out on the water on the Sunday. Some hopes, as it turned out, but....
The train ha a problem and was cancelled, but we spent that day very nicely doing a bit of the Touristy thing.
It had also been arranged that we could have a trip out on Little Ship, thanks to Tom's generosity, coupled with a blast around the Straits in a high speed RIB driven, maybe piloted by Kwacker, I mention piloted because those things are nearly (merely) an excuse for low flying.
So we were dropped off at Little Ship around 0900 and Kwacker zoomed, tore, drove off to do his thing with the RIB.
Oh joy. The sun came out and we singled up ready to depart. SWMBO and I were supercargo, so we merely spectated. On board were the two of us, Tom and Babs and James the man of vast experience.
Out on the water we turned hard to porrt and motored sedately down the channel
and arrived at the local anchorage where we dropped the hook. Initially we were the only boat there, but it soon became ''crowded'' with others seeking the same relaxation.
Phil and Liz complete with dog soon arrived and dropped anchor nearby,
coming over in their rubber duck, complete with hound.
And talking of runner ducks, Tom and James inflated Little Ships one
and the Seafaring Guard Dog Attack Whippts were bundled into it
and were taken ashore on the nearby beach to chase rabbits and do other things not mentioned in polite company. OK, as this is not polite company they went for a pee and a poo.
Kwacker was due to arrive at about 10 am so we could go for that promised blast. However the fates conspired against us as he had had endless problems with this RIB and had had to, in some devious Welsh way manage to get his hands on a replacement.
Around 1200 he did arrive
and as he had to collect Mal form Caernarfon I got the ride as a passenger.
That thing could fly. OK it was nowhere near flat out but I saw 32 kts on the GPS. We arrived at the slip and Mal was waiting. He clambered aboard hefting a large bag and off we went back. so I managed to get a few sots of LS
By this time lunch was ready, and all hands were fed and watered. lovely it was too.
Soon Kwacker had to depart, so we arranged for him to meet us back at PD around 6 pm as the tide would serve for us to get back through the lock.
I did try a bit of fishing
but no joy, just some tangly floating seaweed that vanished down the line as the tide was sliding quickly by and attached itself firmly to the hooks.
I soon realised why there were no fish about,,, in the saloon there were some bananas in a bowl, No wonder the fish had gone to other climes... Just how bad luck bananas on a boat is was discussed at some length, amongst other seafaring superstitions on this forum a short while ago. But no matter, I was catching some rays and just enjoying myself.
Liz decided that she needed to know how to handle the dinghy so off they went for a practice sortie. I thought Phil looked a trifle neervous
But Tom had to go too, though it was risky with only a drop of fuel in the tank. We waved a farewell. but he did manage it there and back, wherever that was.
How quickly time flies by, and it was time to up the anchor and wend our way back to PD. This time I got to helm her from the flybridge,
I had done this from the wheel house on another occasion but this was a first for me. You do get a different perspective from up there. The tide was running fast again and I had the revs well down. Well that was my excuse, as I really wanted to extend the trip a long as I could.
On closing the lock at PD I regretfully handed the wheel over to James, to do the difficult bit of a 180 in a confined space, which he did with flair.
As we approached we could see both Kwacker and the Major
ready to take our lines. Well they had to do something. Also Phil and Liz who had come tearing by us at a rate of knots on our way back. Having left after us....
LIttle Ship was soon snugged down in her berth,
and we stepped ashore having had the best of a great day out with great company.
So to Tom and Babs our thanks, but now SWMBO has seen just what a proper ship is it sems I will have to upgrade soon. I have no problem with that, just need to win the lottery.
Best to all you out there
Oh by theway I just could not resist this shot of Kwackers boatyard, I should have done this earlier when there was also a ginormous RIB there as well,
Drewstwos.
up in Caernarfon.
