recovery, refitting clinker sailing boat

Yesterday's trail riding took a bit out of me physically & probably emotionally too. Coming off steep hills into off camber trails with steep drops to the sides, provides food for self doubt. As this was my first trail ride for decades, & my first on a large bike, had me self doubting often. Ultimately I gained confidence & the serious self doubt ebbed away. Then there was the concerns about being on a bike unknown to me & riding on remote ground, so fear of mechanical breakdown & recovery. Even the positive impact from the excitement of it all, the anticipation, taking on the challemge, succeeding & blasting off down the road, all takes am energy toll. Probably at the time it boosts you, bit afterwards there is fatigue, good fatigue, but fatigue none the less. 

So I dozed after washing the bike down & then went to bed early. I slept like a log for a few hours but had some blowback from the higgledy piggledy of hydration through yesterday, & had to pee off any excesses through the rest of the night. 

But as I reflect on what I've achieved in the last 48 hours, I feel quite stoked & excited about it, & our future. Some of the technical aspects of the ride challenged me & I am happy with the decision to put my son on the bike so he can develop his riding. If it doesn't just save our lives, it will also add value to them. 

     I.         O.         I.         O.        I

This morning, being a Sunday & wanting to rest & avoid the busy roads, as well as achieve movemt towards my vision, I am refitting my sailing dinghy. This means scrubbing her out, checking the structure & her fittings as well as carrying out any maintenance & modifications thatay be needed. 

So, no sailing today but if I can get the gear selector on the motor to do its job, I should be afloat this week.

      V.     W.      V.      W.      V

Cleaned the boat. With everything possible removed, I swept & vacuumed above & below decks, washed it down, sanded & varnished. She is looking very shippy. I was reflecting on the fact that, as much as everyone crows about epoxy, it cannot handle sunlight.  It must be coated in good old varnish. So i ensured all the nooks & crannies to keep water out. I also made sure the little anchor & rode were stowed on a bucket to keep the mud out of the bilge. I fiddled with the idea of adding a hobie cat furler bit it needs work. 

One more part of the Vision moved ahead today.