Gateway to where?

 I spotted this riding down some tiny lane near Winchester I just had to stop and take a photo, tree surgery with a sense of humour.

 

Cool Pad

I've kayaked past this boathouse near the village of Golant upriver from Fowey thinking what a great place to live.

 In an idle moment I thought I'd search it's history, unsuccessful on the history but finding that it's available to rent.

It's called Oakenhurst and only sleeps 2, so going to have to try and get a booking for Mrs BB and myself while Joseph is away doing something else like Scout camp or a school trip, which could be tricky to organise.

the photo's were taken in the summer on one of these days when the sea mist turns to rain, the views mush be spectacular when the sun shines.

Tri

 The picture doesn't do justice, taken from my kayak, it looked like a giant water spider waiting to pounce.

 

Wizard

Interesting and unusual design for a motorised catamaran, bit difficult to see what is presumably a drop down outboard bracket in the photo. I'm guessing the hulls have been reclaimed/reused from a sailing catamaran so should be lightweight and fast even with a low power outboard.

The bridge pod seems very well made and finished it would be interesting to know what the intended use is?

 

Ocean Rowing Teams

Lymington seems to be attracting Ocean rowers, spotted recently Ebb & Flow which is due to depart from La Gomera in December racing with some 40 other boats across the Atlantic to Antigua.

Details of Ocean5 below if it's the correct boat/team are working towards a trans Pacific row in 2025, having beat the trans Atlantic rowing ecord in 2020

 

Perfect day for Dayboats

One of the far too few glorious summer days this year brought in light winds and blue skies, perfect for day sailing, although sadly I had too many other things to do but did manage to get out on the water by kayak.

Above, the crew of what I think is a Swift Explorer ready the sails. The Explorer, also called the Morton, is an 18 foot day boat with lovely lines and a ketch rig. While slightly unusual there's some interesting and positive commentary on the dinghy cruising facebook page.

 Two favorite day boats Drascombe lugger in the foreground and a Devon Yawl behind both perfect for pottering around Chichester harbour. 

Of the two I'd gladly give up the space of the larger Lugger for the performance of the Devon Yawl, which apparently with the large metal center plate carries a large rig well and is more of a performance day dayboat than the looks might indicate. Definitely a boat I'd like to try.

Firefly

A small gathering of Firefly dinghies at Lymington Town SC recently, since Hamble River SC sold their fleet some 10 years ago I don't seem to see many or perhaps I'm just paying attention.

Famously designed by Uffa Fox and one of the dinghies that drove the post war sailing boom, there is still an active class association.

Bicycle touring

 Many, many years ago I made a 500 mile cycle trip with a friend around England, we traveled light staying in hostels with all our gear, clothes, tools, spares and food, packed into a couple of fairly small pannier bags on our bikes.

For bicycle camping more equipment needs to be carried which might be a challenge to pack it all onto a bike, so why not add a trailer or even two. Certainly a great way of getting around with all those extra items that makes camping more comfortable.

SCOWs celebrate 100 years at Yarmouth SC

 Yarmouth SC held "SCOW 100"to celebrate the launch of the first SCOW in 1924.

The local SCOW fleet was joined by SCOWs "pottering" over from Hurst Castle SC and Keyhaven YC. 

Around 40 SCOWs joined the parade and procession.