Sammo
Well-Known Member
This is my 1000th post , so I`ve done a short story….hope you like it…
….I can hardly contain myself at work for thought of the weekend then the thrill of meeting new people on the motorway in the Friday traffic jam….then the fun of trying to raise the Marina barrier by hand as we have forgotten the card ….so helpful of the club steward to help with my diet by telling me the food was finished …and thanks to my crew for drinking all my larger and going to sleep before I got back from the chip shop with all their grub….probably saved me from a nasty bout of indigestion…
Next morning ..as I let go for`wd my crew blast away from the pontoon at full throttle …luckily I got the stern rope untied just in time, with an axe…. though I didn’t do so well with the shore power lead which twanged back and put a large full length crack in the patio door…I couldn’t believe my luck as I had been meaning to shorten the power cable all season and an added bonus was the crack in the door which now serves to stop drunken crew walking into it….After crashing into six boats while waiting for Pool bridge to open we were told to raft up to the biggest one which I thought was a nice gesture
….Through the bridge and on to `ole Harry ….I am always very careful of my speed….20knts through the harbour, then 10 knts after the chain ferry….or is it the other way round ?? ..Poole harbour is nice ..always lots of people waving at you...even in the rain…Nice of the chain ferry to stop halfway across to let us through...phew...just made it…lots more waving, now at the fairways and reduced speed to 10 knts round to Swanage….
.I love Swanage… as we motor in the girls chat up a chap on a rib, then just as I approach my mates mooring the rib overtakes me at speed and heads for the slip….nice of him to give my crew a lift ashore ….now I can practice picking up the buoy on my own, lucky me ….mind it did take me over an hour so I did need the practice …at the end I managed to do it by holding the boat still with the anchor…great! even more anchoring practice….looking round and really pleased with myself I saw a big dive boat approaching ….that’s mine he shouts …silly me in my rush I`d picked up the wrong mooring ..should have been the next one up ….luckily for me I`d had lots of practice so found it easy to drop my anchor over the buoy …even later when I gave up trying to raise the anchor and had to slip it, I found the shackle pin on the end of the chain easily as the water was fairly clear …though a bit cold….
Suddenly there was an almighty crash as my girly crew arrived back in an old workboat that luckily they had found at the bottom of the slip …daughter no,2 had managed to start the old lister engine (she is so clever) and they had a great trip back to the boat….Casting it adrift we set off back to Poole….
As I hadn’t made it ashore they had very thoughtfully brought me back a bottle of baileys and a pack of alcopops which was nice …then when they realised I was driving they said they would help me with it ..which was even nicer…
As we reached the chain ferry I increased the speed to 20 knts and set a straight course to Pool Quay…as we swept in I noticed the bridge was open so I gently increased my speed to 30 knts…..
As we passed the Quay there was obviously something going on ashore as the girls were clapping and squealing, but I couldn`t look as by this time the bridge had started to close…..luckily we just made it through with inches to spare ..Phew!!…
Giving swmbo the wheel I went up to the F/Bridge to chill for the final run to the Marina …although the air temperature was down, the sky was overcast with a strong wind and pelting rain I was quite enjoying a relaxing moment til I realised the boat was heading straight though the trot moorings outside the Marina….My fault, I should have told someone to steer…never mind I soon had us off the mud…back on course and tied up alongside….
As I was securing the ropes a car drew up and out jumped a chap wearing a pair of yellow wellies….without saying a word he went over to the tap and started filling a bucket…then he come over to me and with a crazed look in his eye he raised the bucket over my head and tipped it all over me …I was soaked …luckily I had tucked my trousers into my socks…He then got into his car and drove off….Who was that I asked ….“Dunno said swmbo …but I think I saw him on Poole Quay as we went past”
Later driving up the motorway with everyone asleep I thought of the great time I had and was already looking forward to the next time..
Alright boat ownership isn`t cheap..it can be stressful and uncomfortable , people tale advantage and it`s the norm to be ripped off …but I don`t care…
…it`s how I enjoy myself……
... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
….I can hardly contain myself at work for thought of the weekend then the thrill of meeting new people on the motorway in the Friday traffic jam….then the fun of trying to raise the Marina barrier by hand as we have forgotten the card ….so helpful of the club steward to help with my diet by telling me the food was finished …and thanks to my crew for drinking all my larger and going to sleep before I got back from the chip shop with all their grub….probably saved me from a nasty bout of indigestion…
Next morning ..as I let go for`wd my crew blast away from the pontoon at full throttle …luckily I got the stern rope untied just in time, with an axe…. though I didn’t do so well with the shore power lead which twanged back and put a large full length crack in the patio door…I couldn’t believe my luck as I had been meaning to shorten the power cable all season and an added bonus was the crack in the door which now serves to stop drunken crew walking into it….After crashing into six boats while waiting for Pool bridge to open we were told to raft up to the biggest one which I thought was a nice gesture
….Through the bridge and on to `ole Harry ….I am always very careful of my speed….20knts through the harbour, then 10 knts after the chain ferry….or is it the other way round ?? ..Poole harbour is nice ..always lots of people waving at you...even in the rain…Nice of the chain ferry to stop halfway across to let us through...phew...just made it…lots more waving, now at the fairways and reduced speed to 10 knts round to Swanage….
.I love Swanage… as we motor in the girls chat up a chap on a rib, then just as I approach my mates mooring the rib overtakes me at speed and heads for the slip….nice of him to give my crew a lift ashore ….now I can practice picking up the buoy on my own, lucky me ….mind it did take me over an hour so I did need the practice …at the end I managed to do it by holding the boat still with the anchor…great! even more anchoring practice….looking round and really pleased with myself I saw a big dive boat approaching ….that’s mine he shouts …silly me in my rush I`d picked up the wrong mooring ..should have been the next one up ….luckily for me I`d had lots of practice so found it easy to drop my anchor over the buoy …even later when I gave up trying to raise the anchor and had to slip it, I found the shackle pin on the end of the chain easily as the water was fairly clear …though a bit cold….
Suddenly there was an almighty crash as my girly crew arrived back in an old workboat that luckily they had found at the bottom of the slip …daughter no,2 had managed to start the old lister engine (she is so clever) and they had a great trip back to the boat….Casting it adrift we set off back to Poole….
As I hadn’t made it ashore they had very thoughtfully brought me back a bottle of baileys and a pack of alcopops which was nice …then when they realised I was driving they said they would help me with it ..which was even nicer…
As we reached the chain ferry I increased the speed to 20 knts and set a straight course to Pool Quay…as we swept in I noticed the bridge was open so I gently increased my speed to 30 knts…..
As we passed the Quay there was obviously something going on ashore as the girls were clapping and squealing, but I couldn`t look as by this time the bridge had started to close…..luckily we just made it through with inches to spare ..Phew!!…
Giving swmbo the wheel I went up to the F/Bridge to chill for the final run to the Marina …although the air temperature was down, the sky was overcast with a strong wind and pelting rain I was quite enjoying a relaxing moment til I realised the boat was heading straight though the trot moorings outside the Marina….My fault, I should have told someone to steer…never mind I soon had us off the mud…back on course and tied up alongside….
As I was securing the ropes a car drew up and out jumped a chap wearing a pair of yellow wellies….without saying a word he went over to the tap and started filling a bucket…then he come over to me and with a crazed look in his eye he raised the bucket over my head and tipped it all over me …I was soaked …luckily I had tucked my trousers into my socks…He then got into his car and drove off….Who was that I asked ….“Dunno said swmbo …but I think I saw him on Poole Quay as we went past”
Later driving up the motorway with everyone asleep I thought of the great time I had and was already looking forward to the next time..
Alright boat ownership isn`t cheap..it can be stressful and uncomfortable , people tale advantage and it`s the norm to be ripped off …but I don`t care…
…it`s how I enjoy myself……
... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
