Living Contentedly

There is a lot of vagueness here, but I hope the essence of what I write is comprehensible.  Years ago my high regard for "cockleshell" sailors blossomed through reading. I actually met the fellow intent on sailing " G'day 88" across the Tasman but he probably caused me more trsuma than good, he was rescued at sea during a cyclone and was later gaoled for the planned murders of people advertising rooms to let. I'm just glad I didn't venture on board to have a look at his little craft.  While this is obviously an extreme example of a cockleshell sailor, there have been a few odd bods on this genre.  Anyway, one good example was a fellow who successfully sailed a self designed and built 9 footer across the Atlantic Ocean. Several aspects of his preparation marked him for success in my mind, one was his single mindedness (is. focus) on achieving the goal safely. He also trialled the boat on a local lake, living in the midwest of USA he had limited access to...

Progress is a life long pursuit. Sometimes progress is not slow or smooth, but comes on leaps.  Today was a leap day. I'm not sure why my mind was so relaxed, it was raining so my List (of things I must do) was cast aside, I  also prayed a full Rosary early. But clearly my mental perception was clear and my mood relaxed. I learned that when I'm unsure how to do something I am best to stop and look, really invest your mind on the issue, be there fully. Then a near perfect solution will emerge. You'll know its great because it will feel right, and its simplicity will make you giggle.  Your mind will visit Gnomes and jazz music will send you to an orgasmic high.   

I have two secret goals, one fresh & the other has been buried in my heart for years.  The first involves motorcycles, well a motorcycle. Not before getting back aboard my old Royal Enfield Classic 500 had I realised how much pleasure I derived from gearing up and riding. Earlier this week, standing alongside her at the beach a fellow rider came over and mentioned proudly that he had done a "lap of Australia". What's funny is that although he didn't look like your typical motorcyclist, he was muscled and clean cut, I anticipated that he was about to say it. Then, I felt a dart of excitement. To ride a circumnavigation of Australia was something I could achieve. The seed as not so much sowed, it was germinated. My style of circumnavigation, like my style of riding of anything else, will be unique. It cod well involve my Royal, with new wheel, headstock and swingarm bearings and a sidecar full of spares, camping gear and a dog. Its fermenting and growing as we are. ...

"New Bedford" 19' dory ketch Capt . Thomas Crapo (1841-1899)

Lately, ive been musing over whether to sell my property and go full on into sailing. But, dragging me back is the fact that life here is not only peaceful, its cheap and devoid of human interference. I am no grid  literally and figuratively speaking. The same reasons I go sail cruising.  This morning i took my dog and myself for a slow stroll to the east of the property, to see the sun come across the hills. It was beautiful, the soft pastel salmon hue of the skies south feed my soul. I followed a wallaby trail down off the ridge, starting to head back. Little well worn trails, passed along from marsupial to marsupial, occasionally echidna diggings revealed the presence of red ant colonies. It was too cold for the remaining ants to come out this morning though.  Pretty soon after a large tree got my attention. There were lantana branches making the detour less attractive, but this tree was sending a strong call. I call these guys Old Man Trees, they're probably hundreds...

Bilge Pump : a manual bilge pump with 100l/min capacity with dia.32mm suction and delivery hoses was fitted in the port aft berth. AIS:  a small receiver fitted requires connection to VHF antenna via splitter and tablet for visual transmission.  Sea Chair:   a "gamers chair" fitted to port of the companionway. Galley Water: a manual pump accessing supply in a jerrycan fitted in galley. Small stainless bowl fitted to be discharged manually to cockpit. Heads/Gash Bucket : due to interference with the Sea Chair, the previous head was removed and replaced with a green lidded 10l bucket.  Gimballed Stove: a home-made gimballed Trangia metho stove fitted to galley, but remains portable.  Cabin Stowage:  secure lines fitted to outboard of cabin frames. Hanging nets fitted to stowage and hanging.  Elastic Sail Ties : approx 8 orange elasticated sail ties were fitted for stowing main and mizzen sails. AIS receiver.  Below: Burke coast...