Ice Cream

Hamble ice cream boat doing a brisk trade in the recent hot weather

 

Enough to make you spit

 The spit at Hamble Point stretches out into the Southampton Water from the mouth of the river, the full length is fully exposed at HW Springs and made an interesting stopping point for lunch while kayaking. 

Sadly even though only exposed above water for a couple of hours the spit serves as a collection point for litter,  presumably cast overboard from a passing boat.

 

 

The picture below was taken on a late autumn day around 20 years ago

 

Valerie of Shoreham

If not exactly spoiled for classics locally, we do enjoy more than a few lovely classic and historic yachts on the river and in the Solent, so I might be forgiven for rowing right past this one before I realised she was something special.

Built in Shoreham in 1895 by Stow & Sons she's had a long and varied history, some good details on the Sandyman Yacht Co website.

 

English Spring

We seem to have quickly forgotten the weeks of cold and wet weather earlier this year, suddenly the sun came out and the fauna exploded from it's winter dormancy.

The water meadows following the River Itchen south of Winchester were a lovely place to observe the English countryside looking it's best

Great place to meander, reflect and lift the spirits.

 

Sarisbury Fundraiser

With the World Scout Jamboree in Seoul South Korea only weeks away Joseph and fellow Scouts were doing some last minute fund raising at the local Sarisbury Green fair.

Fine weather, lots of sun, games, face painting, lucky dip were on offer. Thanks to everyone who stopped by and supported the Scouts and made it a successful day.

And especial thanks to Kim and Kate who are not Scouts but came along to help with the face painting

 If anyone feels inclined there's still time to help out with a donation here. of click the link at the top right of the page.

Miami comes to Warsash

This spectacular new house on the eastern shore of the Hamble looks fantastic, possibly with a few more palm trees and sunshine it would look like something from the Miami shoreline

While the nearby center of Warsash on Shore Road still retains a traditional look. To the left the Rising Sun head of operations locally for D Day and to the right Warsash SC (formerly Royal Thames YC).

 

Dark River

Boats seem to photograph really well against a dark background of a wooded river, which seem to enhance the reflection on the water and bring out the brightness of the boat.

Seen her local boat Maude on her mooring in Bursledon Pool

 

Bearing down

Even if you were the stand on vessel and on starboard  tack, you might have a moment's second thought with this bearing down on you under full sail.

 Maybe the mooring lines should be secured with a bowline on the bight?
 

His Her's Their's

I was having a bit of a bad day, the sort which starts badly, problems coming unexpectedly from left field, traffic was terrible, there was no parking so ended up having to walk half a mile or so, when I passed this garden which just made me smile and brighten up the day.

 I wasn't paying attention when I took the photo and clipped Henry's head, which is a vacuum cleaner body used as a plant pot. I guess the owners do this because they like to, it's great that they do and bring a little humor into our lives - thank you.

D Day Warsash

 I've mentioned the part that village of Warsash played in the D Day operations 79 years ago and even specifically that military operations were run from the Rising Sun pub.  Also posts about the allied landings in Normandy (type D Day into the blog search to bring up all the posts). But somehow in all those posts I had not included this plaque on the wall of the Rising Sun

 From the inscription, "Many brave men laid down their lives next day leading the assault on the beaches. they died for the liberation of Europe and the right of our people to live in freedom." 

 

GO Faster Graphics

 

 

Thanks to Greg for the picture.