How many times so far

[Old seahorse]

Like others here, I get frustrated sometimes that I can’t always get out on the water when I’d like to.
Sometimes it’s been the weather, tides, lack of available crew, or family responsibilities.
Always a fan of the outdoors, my youth spent living on Dartmoor, but I came to boats( apart from narrow boat and broads holidays),
Much later, when diagnosed with a brain tumour.
If you’ll pardon the pun, it focuses the mind on what’s important!
Move forward a few years, getting through surgery relatively unscathed( my granddaughter says the removed the wrong bits, and left the stupid parts- but I know she cares), and I’ve had some amazing days on the water, as well as some scary ones. I’ve only managed two days out so far this year, but for me it’s the quality of the days out which count for more than the number.
I’m quietly envious of what Gurnard and others here have experienced but I’m thankful for what I’ve been able to do.
However many times you are able to get out on the water, enjoy it.

[Lemonbonbon]

Originally Posted by Old seahorse

Like others here, I get frustrated sometimes that I can’t always get out on the water when I’d like to.
Sometimes it’s been the weather, tides, lack of available crew, or family responsibilities.
Always a fan of the outdoors, my youth spent living on Dartmoor, but I came to boats( apart from narrow boat and broads holidays),
Much later, when diagnosed with a brain tumour.
If you’ll pardon the pun, it focuses the mind on what’s important!
Move forward a few years, getting through surgery relatively unscathed( my granddaughter says the removed the wrong bits, and left the stupid parts- but I know she cares), and I’ve had some amazing days on the water, as well as some scary ones. I’ve only managed two days out so far this year, but for me it’s the quality of the days out which count for more than the number.
I’m quietly envious of what Gurnard and others here have experienced but I’m thankful for what I’ve been able to do.
However many times you are able to get out on the water, enjoy it.

Very well said

[Voodoo]

Get it when you can....always a great motto, and can be applied to many many things...

[Highland Haggis]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

Retired at 50 then again at 67 no time for work or boating this year illness and life in the way hoping to get my first trip in July hoping.

Hi Jeff hope it’s not serious and the you get back to full speed soon I know how much you enjoy your time with Donny when you come up all the best HH

[Takson]

Originally Posted by GuyC

Probably, on average, every second weekend.

I dry stack and live less than 45 minutes from the boat. It is still a bit of a challenge aligning the weather and availability of either myself or my crew.

If it wasn't for my sons GCSE's which have dragged on interminably, we'd have been out for a few evening jaunts by now.

My god, haven’t the GCSE’s carried on!

My eldest has one left on Thursday I think. I would have gone crazy if I was taking them. She, on the other hand, has relished the time in between to be able to do focused revision for each exam.

I have questioned her mother as to who the father really is…….

[Takson]

Originally Posted by Takson

My god, haven’t the GCSE’s carried on!

My eldest has one left on Thursday I think. I would have gone crazy if I was taking them. She, on the other hand, has relished the time in between to be able to do focused revision for each exam.

I have questioned her mother as to who the father really is…….

And to the real question, not on my own boat, but it’s getting closer. Currently 18 months into a planned 1 week restoration and could be down to the last 3 weeks remaining if I pull my finger out.

[John McOmie]

I work alternative weekends which in Wales means the weekend I'm working its dead calm, sunny and about 20+ degrees....my weekend off blows 20-30 mph easterly's, rains from sunrise to sunset ad the temp gets to about 5 degrees! New boat and outboard still very dry but its Cornwall next week for a fortnight....I'll apologise for the expected weather in advance!! Surely I've got to catch a break during the two weeks!!

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by John McOmie

I work alternative weekends which in Wales means the weekend I'm working its dead calm, sunny and about 20+ degrees....my weekend off blows 20-30 mph easterly's, rains from sunrise to sunset ad the temp gets to about 5 degrees! New boat and outboard still very dry but its Cornwall next week for a fortnight....I'll apologise for the expected weather in advance!! Surely I've got to catch a break during the two weeks!!

Think the 2nd week is suppose to be really nice. Where are you off too?

[John McOmie]

Par near Fowey and St Austell, hopefully some fishing and some beach finding ahead!! Might even pop over to Trevose to fish near the rocks!! I honestly can't wait!!

[Steve509926]

Hope the weather is perfect for you. Have a great time.

[Mullet]

Originally Posted by The Gurnard

I had a very good friend as a co worker.He was 10 years older than me and was “officially” retired 4 times before finally retiring at 69 years old. He did hard manual graft for work and his back was killing him, which eventually forced him to go. Often I asked why he did not retire so he could enjoy life. His reply was always ...

“Donny, I cant retire, work is all I know. If I retired I would spend all my time down the pub which would kill me.”

Sadly , he was correct, he died three months after retiring for the last time.

RIP Mike. I learned a very valuable lesson from you.

I retired myself at 59 to lead the life I always dreamed of. I spend my time afloat in my boats ..wandering around the west coast of Scotland. Covid lockdowns even made me move to a location I can boat every day as I was cracking up being locked into the city. Im not a rich man because of my life style but I believe I lead a far richer life than many .

I started boating late this year ..first day on the water was 5th January. I know because the photos in my phone remind me of dates as time of year means little to me... and I have not missed too many days afloat since.

January. Collecting wood for my log stove..it passes a pleasant day and keeps me warm at night.



February.. first outing of the year with my regular boating buddy.. bitter cold but we had a ball and were on the water from sunrise to sunset.



March .. and the second multi day camping trip for me and an exceptionally warm day saw us swimming in the Clyde. That was a first for me as I cant ever remember swimming in March before



April ... I was now camping out regularly but still using the small F Rib to explore the Skye coastline



May ... and I started using the larger quicksilver and travelling much further distances for camping. Midges were few and far between then



June .. saw Im running in the new outboard going round the Island of Mull ..



Im 67 years of age and enjoying retirement as I think it should be. Im posting this in memory of my old friend and co worker .. Mike

This is awesome thanks for sharing!

[The Gurnard]

Thank you Mullet, Im glad you enjoyed my post. In appreciation here is another little glimpse of my life. This week was Summer Solstice week so I had to be at sea in search of my own longest day.

Sunday I left home to cross 4 miles of open sea. I was heading straight into a 25mph wind so got a pounding in the crossing



I knew when I reached the other side I would then be in the calm waters of the off shore wind. The sun came out and I set up camp in a very remote but lovely location.



I looked out the tent at midnight ..two wvenings before the solstice and saw this view ... it never gets dark over here in summer.



During the morning the wind got up to 30 mph and I could no longer leave the boat safe on the shore.. so had to move again. I got another pounding moving to a more sheltered location.



I set up camp for the night. Not the best campsite I had but it was scenic enough.



I had an early night as it started to rain heavily and continued through the night. I awoke to a damp grey day with mists swirling on the hills. I was packing camp at 6am as another storm was due to hit the area.



I know the winds often die during early morning so set off for my next destination to save getting another pounding in the boat. I could see the storm gathering behind me.



I made it to the next location in relatively calm seas as I out ran the storm. I set up camp on one of my favourite spots and spent two more days there ..drying off my gear when I could.



The first night was Solstice night ..but heavy cloud meant I saw little. I went home. So this week I had 4 days at sea covering around 120 miles. Im heading off again next week.

Although to some..it may sound a romantic lifestyle and for me it is..but its hard work. Most folks half my age would not have the stamina to do it even if they wanted to.

Sorry to hear of your issues Old Seahorse. It is why I take every opportunity I can to get out in my boats. You see..Im as bad as my late friend Mike. He died as soon as he could no longer work because he knew nothing else. I suspect I will die as soon as I cant get out and about in my boats.. as I now know nothing else.....

[GuyC]

Originally Posted by Takson

And to the real question, not on my own boat, but it’s getting closer. Currently 18 months into a planned 1 week restoration and could be down to the last 3 weeks remaining if I pull my finger out.

That's how all the best restorations start.

Congrats on your daughter finishing her GCSE's. My son finished yesterday and, once he gets himself out of bed, he seems to have an action packed, father funded couple of weeks planned out until I hoik him up to the Outer Hebrides where we'll go ribbing on every day the weather allows (which may only be one).

[Lemonbonbon]

Originally Posted by The Gurnard

Thank you Mullet, Im glad you enjoyed my post. In appreciation here is another little glimpse of my life. This week was Summer Solstice week so I had to be at sea in search of my own longest day.

Sunday I left home to cross 4 miles of open sea. I was heading straight into a 25mph wind so got a pounding in the crossing



I knew when I reached the other side I would then be in the calm waters of the off shore wind. The sun came out and I set up camp in a very remote but lovely location.



I looked out the tent at midnight ..two wvenings before the solstice and saw this view ... it never gets dark over here in summer.



During the morning the wind got up to 30 mph and I could no longer leave the boat safe on the shore.. so had to move again. I got another pounding moving to a more sheltered location.



I set up camp for the night. Not the best campsite I had but it was scenic enough.



I had an early night as it started to rain heavily and continued through the night. I awoke to a damp grey day with mists swirling on the hills. I was packing camp at 6am as another storm was due to hit the area.



I know the winds often die during early morning so set off for my next destination to save getting another pounding in the boat. I could see the storm gathering behind me.



I made it to the next location in relatively calm seas as I out ran the storm. I set up camp on one of my favourite spots and spent two more days there ..drying off my gear when I could.



The first night was Solstice night ..but heavy cloud meant I saw little. I went home. So this week I had 4 days at sea covering around 120 miles. Im heading off again next week.

Although to some..it may sound a romantic lifestyle and for me it is..but its hard work. Most folks half my age would not have the stamina to do it even if they wanted to.

Sorry to hear of your issues Old Seahorse. It is why I take every opportunity I can to get out in my boats. You see..Im as bad as my late friend Mike. He died as soon as he could no longer work because he knew nothing else. I suspect I will die as soon as I cant get out and about in my boats.. as I now know nothing else.....

Donny

I think you are the king of getting out in your boats. How much more boating do you do now you live in the Promised land compared with you previous home do you think

[The Gurnard]

Originally Posted by Lemonbonbon

Donny
How much more boating do you do now you live in the Promised land compared with you previous home do you think

Hmm..I had to think about that Lemonbonbon as its not a clear cut answer.

My whole life changed after moving to the promised land. Take winter for example ..I went winter boating even when living in the city but had to made a decent day of it to make travelling to the sea worth my while. I spent a lot of time wandering around shops in the city.. a great way to keep warm when a poor pensioner. It put tits on me though as I never bought anything.

Now..there are no shops out here ... so I get the small F Rib out and go up the loch to collect wood .. It keeps me warm doing that ..then keeps me warm at night burning the wood at home. The sea loch is quite sheltered so I get out anytime it is not pouring down..and sometimes happy to go for only an hour.

Summertime and I always left the city anyway. I lived out my car and used the F Rib as it packed inside the car when travelling. I toured the whole west coast from Loch Laxford in the far north , to the Solway is the south ..in the wee F Rib and 6HP..just puttering along then car camping for the next stretch and so on. Friends often asked how I could live out the car most the summer ... and I always replied .. Im getting used to living in the coffin as there will be even less room when Im put to rest in it.



Now... in the promised land .. Im using the bigger 4.3 Quicksilver more as I can launch it then park my trailer and car at the house so I no longer worry about leaving them on shores as I head off for a week or more. I just go when I feel like it and go as far as I feel like. Open sea crossings to the islands are second nature to me so I don’t worry about them..in fact I enjoy them.

I thank Covid for making the recent change to my life. Some good comes out of everything. More Landlocked Lockdowns would have killed me. Now they can have as many as it takes and I will still be at sea ..social distancing.

Im lucky too in that I enjoy my own company and have no worries of boating alone. I also enjoy company..but only with folks I know well.

Not much else to tell really .. I guess its the freedom that I love the most ..and being at one with nature. On Wednesday I stopped for dinner on a little island in Loch Linnhe. I was delighted when an otter appear..toake one look and me then went and caught its dinner..it sat on a rock not far from me and scoffed its fish.





Money cant buy me things like that ..and it make my day when I see it. Soon it will be mackerel season again. I love that time as I scoff them by the bucket load ..then shite white like a seagull for the rest of the season.

There will be a video of the Summer Solstice adventure on my YouTube channel ..but I have that many to make now..it could be a while.

[Lemonbonbon]

It certainly sounds like you have it all well sorted. When you are out in the boat camping you could let out your house via Air B and B

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by The Gurnard

Soon it will be mackerel season again. I love that time as I scoff them by the bucket load ..then shite white like a seagull for the rest of the season.

There will be a video of .........................

Had to read that a few times just to make sure

[69cmw]

Originally Posted by Lemonbonbon

It certainly sounds like you have it all well sorted. When you are out in the boat camping you could let out your house via Air B and B

Wouldn’t do that, you could end up with a proper Big Plumb in it [emoji107]

[Old seahorse]

It’s great seeing all your adventures. Yours are in a different league, Donny, and inspiring to watch. Thanks for the kind words.
I’m doing pretty well. Once I recovered, I gained a renewed enthusiasm to get out and do things I enjoy- boats, beekeeping, and bike riding. ( I’m also trying to master the ukelele, but think it may be a lost cause!)

[The Gurnard]

Originally Posted by Old seahorse

( I’m also trying to master the ukelele, but think it may be a lost cause!)

You are doing better than me in that respect Old seahorse. I enjoyed playing music most of my days. I even played round the pubs in the city for about 10 years. I was keyboards in a four piece band. It was only a hobby though, not my day job. I occasionally play the keyboards for my videos but it is painful now. Arthritis in my finger joints has taken that from me. So as you know..we adapt to pursue what we can do .. and motor boating / camping out is still well in my capabilities ..for a few years yet.