Solo Ventures

 watchers brave the cold windy conditions to spot whales on their north migration.  the sea is ruffled  by the westerlies, the water a deep turquoise, looks inviting for me. after some old man's yoga in the south corner, I meditate to avoid having to chat with s nosey grey nomad.  due to regular winter swims and some mental preparedness. I am not afraid of the water. but research tells me that I need to begin slowly so as to avoid heart failure. but I already knew that, I had listened to my body. I begin, as usual by wading. a gentle jog in chest deep water. my adrenaline pumps me, charging my inner battery yo overflowing; 1 lap jog, 2 laps breaststroke, 4 of freestyle. a remarkable thing happens when I see another swimmer, doing laps in the other direction. I've never had this experience before. I see its a woman, I think wow, what an amazing person, braving these waters to swim. but my logical mind catches me; aren't you doing the same thin g? my tiny ego resi

 Today I had a close encounter with Australia's largest marsupial. I was travelling at 80kph while two kangaroos were travelling towards me at 20kph, as we were due to cross paths, the nearest too swerved into my path and fortunately slipped and fell on the road. I was able to swerve into the opposite lane and accelerate around the falling animal.  A little over a week ago my son actually collided with a small 'too while travelling on his motorbike at 70kph. He didn't fall, had little time to react die to the animal's erratic movemt, and gave it a solid clout with his front tyre.  Google throws upamy news its of fatal collisions, or even lucky escapes with significant injuries.  The Sunshine Coast Harley Davidson website states that kangaroo collisions are the leading animal strikes for motorcyclists and offers 5 tips on avoiding kangaroos on the road:- 1. Timing - avoid dawn and dusk. 2. Speed - lower your speed in likely areas. 3. Position - avoid the sections of road

the story of how I came to own my old wharram tiki21 "coastal trekker" design is convoluted and perhaps ordained by the sailing gods. my love of wharram Polynesian derived catamarans dates back 37 years ago. weeks, perhaps just daya after launching my first serious ocean going sail boat I saw my first wharram. I had kicked the mooring for a sunny Saturday morning sail on lake Macquarie and looked up to see a stout little craft with impossibly sharp bows, striding southwards down the centre of the lake. Like my boat, she wore tan sails, but I had no ideas about her. Efforts to get close were thwarted by her speed. I suspected she had been motor sailing, but now i know better, she was simply fleet footed.  Over subsequent weeks I would drive the lake's edge to catch a glimpse of her, at rest. Eventually she was spotted at her mooring, super squat in hull form and rig. Her sheer and pointed bows, for she was a catamaran, looked active and playful. So different from any other

Inflating the tyres on the Royal Enfield gave me back thr 10kph I lost by removing the short silencer. Truely fan anfche seems to dance across the potholes rather than bury his head into them.  I found BH almost deserted and flat calm. Many cars are parked by the headlands with Grey Daytrippers looked for whales on migration.  It was a beautiful day and the locals I meet seem beautiful too; positive, fit, smiley and tanned.  I was inspired by the beauty to do some beach yoga. Afterwards I jogged in waist deep water, breast stroked and freestyles for six wonderful laps of the beach. 

Never has a grocery run been so enjoyable.  In rainy weather,  young Charlie and i took up our mounts and headed away from the shops to visit Mia who was instructing at a pony club event.  We parked up by some wonderfully ageing rural snowbound pavilions,  we watched girls no bigger than dots bouncing along on stunted ponies.   Going back to town,  assailed by showers and the smells of decaying vegetative matter or trees in bloom,  we dodged potholes,  enchanted by old British exhaust notes. Shopping with helmets,  like social aliens, we carried out mundane tasks within motorcycling constraints; our luggage carrying capacity was severely limited.   Coming home bulging with supplies,  the the news that the world's glaciers have been given their death notices,  we pull in for fuel parking beside a news 350 in military trim. The owner spoke enthusiastically of this bike, and an array of others. I wanted to boast that this modest beast was my primary mode of conscious transport,  besid

We went to a beautiful little natural harbour,  that is not actually a harbour,  twice in two days.  Yesterday we headed off with our surfboards to nearby One Mile Beach.  We found clean surf conditions,    but on an extremely low tide and minute swell dimensions. minute drove to nearby Boat Harbour,  which was dead d flat,  but under overcast skies,  picture perfect.  First we walked along the crimson rocks on the north shore,  then had a swim.  I was licking myself for not bringing or snorkeling gear and vowed to create an adventure trailer to carry all our gear we in case wet needed it.   I got a surprise later in the evening when my sister asked me to collect her My n j have from the nearby airport today.  So, again we headed to Boat Harbour, this time with snorkeling gear. We found it a little more agitated by swell and soi the snorkeling was cloudy.  Charlie bobbed about happily on his boogie board using a new wetsuit which wet picked up from the charity shop for $8. A wetsuit fo

What a blast to mount a classic oldschool thumper and hit the backgrounds.   My little pillion and i went to dungog via thalaba, stopped for a snack,  then returned via bingleburra. Great routes for a cruising bike but  too many dodgy bits for a sporty cruising. Classic fun.   Lessons learned today:-.  * unlike years ago motorcyclists don't wave.  * a little rain is no problem.  * car drivers are pricks. * truck drivers are arseholes. * you don't need bakery items,  or coffee, on a trip to enjoy it  * 80kph is fine for me.  * don't pull over for cars that sit on your arse, they will only use it as an opportunity to run you right off the road.  * the Dungog library has been massively expanded in size,  but still doesn't open on Fridays,  even on school holidays. 

initially,  Charlie and I  planned to sail today but the wind did not cooperate with out plans.  As it was dead calm, I proposed going surfing.  We cruised into One Mile Beach only to find the tide the tide out, and the swell was tiny. So rather than wade out 100m just to wet our knees,  we left to find another beach. We didn't go far to Boat Harbour and were chuffed to have it pretty much pour own little beach.  The rocks either side of the beach were salmon coloured .

Having been unregistered for three years,  the Royal needed a Blue slip inspection.  She romped it in, the mechanic was impressed.   But,  yet again the sucky rms did their best to fleece me of every conceivable cent i held.  Mongrel bread oafs.    I just have to ignore the crap that goes on dealing with  s conservative state government legacy of extortionate fees and charges, and focus on my bike.  She is now registered. I can,  when i shake my parenting duties for a minute,  go for a ride anywhere i like.   Fees. Blue slip 45 Ctp insurance 260. Stamp duty, plates rego 350 Total   $ 655

Charlie Charlie & i loaded or kayaks,  the C Kayak and the $45 Aubergine Jellybean, and headed to Hawks Nest.  I had an idea to navigate from Winda Woppa to the island for a snorkel. We wouldn't know until we got on the water, nature would determine our course.   To address Charlie's novice steering we fitted a tie line to keep his bow heading roughly in the right direction.    Scuttling like crabs upstream by the eastern shore,  we said hello to a pair of graceful black swans.  They calmly chortled as we skimmed by just a few yards away.  I dragged C. up a mangrove creek,  a barrage of questions gave way to a wonderment at the mangrove and desire to navigate beyond the depth of my kayak to pass.  Overeager, he plopped over the side intending to walk upstream before sinking knee deep in mud.     At the beach by the boat ramp we unloaded or diving gear and floundered about,  turgid mid stained waters,  oyster encrusted rocks and C's reluctance,  took the edge of pleasure

Overnight I discovered Roxy who is amazing. - lives aboard a small boat, sails the Caribbean & hopes to sail the pacific. - at each anchorage goes ashore with violin and dresses and earns money playing classical songs in resorts, restaurants, tourist venues. - rides a skateboard. - goes jogging on hikes. - looks 15 but must be over  30.

Listening to a sailcruising podcast earlier this morning, a guest who had spent much of his long career sailing mono's but converted to (large) cats discussed the pros and cons of each form of sailing craft.  * The cat hobby horses_or pitches in a head sea, and is noisy due to waves hitting the nacelle.  * A cat's maintenance is high. * Mono's will roll at anchor and heel while underway. On the same topic Jim Brown  writes that mono's sink and multis go turtle, but you can survive on that turtle. All the while I am thinking a  small tri:- *_would not pitch to an extraordinary level * doesn't pound like a big cat with low slung/commodious nacelle. * small and simple equals less maintenance and costs. * don't roll at anchor, and can avoid exposed anchorages. * Tris don't heel near as much as a mono under sail. * Set sails according to wind and sea conditions and, as usual, prepare for a worst case scenario. .    small tri, simples.

work on the deck of the port hull continues. today I got to sand any lose bits of paint and epoxy filler away to provide a secure base for painting. it appears that norglass shipshape primers undercoat is a good quality next step. After being caught out with poor quality paint previously I'll go for marine grade products on future.  the local supplier is $208 for 4 litres which is $10 cheaper than the chandlery in town.  14 June. I buy the primer but its a bit of nonevent; they charge the same over the counter & due to its volatile chemistry it cannot be opened multiple times. So it must be exchanged today for a single pot primer.  18Jun23 Power sanding areas that were epoxy coated. Found the all purpose primer has great thickness and capacity to fill all blemishes. I'm not worried too much about it being absolutely smooth, but Amy advance in that direction is a bonus. Used about 300ml on entire port deck and hatches. I am now aware that a 4l at three times the cost of 500m

Listening to a sailcruising podcast earlier this morning, a guest who had spent much of his long career sailing mono's but converted to (large) cats discussed the pros and cons of each form of sailing craft.  * The cat hobby horses_or pitches in a head sea, and is noisy due to waves hitting the nacelle.  * A cat's maintenance is high. * Mono's will roll at anchor and heel while underway. On the same topic Jim Brown  writes that mono's sink and multis go turtle, but you can survive on that turtle. All the while I am thinking a  small tri:- *_would not pitch to an extraordinary level * doesn't pound like a big cat with low slung/commodious nacelle. * small and simple equals less maintenance and costs. * don't roll at anchor, and can avoid exposed anchorages. * Tris don't heel near as much as a mono under sail. * Set sails according to wind and sea conditions and, as usual, prepare for a worst case scenario. .    small tri, simples.

its clearly winter, the mornings have a gentle nip and its definitely a good start if the fire is still alight when I go downstairs.  the sky is crystal clear and crisp. the wind is absent though, so no sailing, the plan is to work hard at home until midday before throwing the bikes in the little car and heading off. about 1pm we found ourselves right by the water at Halifax. a woman swimmer itteredcthe classic description of winter's swimming, "its cold at first but you get used to it". Huh, it so reminded me of my surfing days. she added that she enjoyed this time of year due to the lack of people, and although it was the first " King's Birthday Long Weekend " of my life, there were very few people about.  We cycled somewhat uneventfully to tomaree headland, apart from Charlie's chain coming off and jamming and his continual protests about the effort required to pedal a bike.  sadly there had been a horrific coach accident in the valley resulting in th

   Ahem!  A little throat clearing and taking of deep breath ess is in order. Exposing my inner self to the worldwide web is not something I take on lightly. And I'm sorry in advance if what you may read after this is something you've already seen, but it's mine and therefore special for me.   I want to blog this stuff to try and make sense of it all, because I feel like my life is stuck on a continual wash and rinse cycle and I want to get back control.   An advance caution, I am not a writer so some of this will read in a disjointed way. And apart from having a social work degree, and living the blog stuff each day, I have no special qualifications.   So a brief duration report: - Name: My Blogger name is Terry but my real first name is Terence. - Age: 57 (yes really) - Relationships: year 2 single father. Full-time care of "Girl" 16 years and "Boy" 15 years. My "wife" (in name only) of 27 years moved out early 2016. - Lives: we live on an 80

Yesterday I had an interesting encounter at the regional post office. I went in a little biased, over many years the elderly couple had proven to be resistant to provide service that might take them out of their routine. A customer ahead of me asked the old lady behind the counter whether she would retire soon. The post mistress scoffed, complaining that the goal posts kept getting shifted *, before adding that she and her husband would gave to wait until they reached age 67.  I was immediately shocked, the government policy to increase the pensionable age was over a decade old, my preservation age was also 67. This meamt that this grey lump of sadness was the same age as me.  Fuck, I thought a) with her poor fitness and negative mindset, she will be lucky to make another five years, and b) am I the same age as her?! I had a cure for her (that l kept to myself), to get out of that office and eat up your savings while you can.  But of course this encounter and the way I interpreted it,

moving toward the big dance I am almost frantically tidying around the property amd along preparations for me to leave for long periods.  a further step towards these aims, and perhaps securing a future cruising boat (or selling of to buy another), was to extract my Wharram Tiki 21 from the paddock and bring it in for work. Too large for my workshop, it sits as close as possible to it and already so have begun scraping back the port hull deck. this was done previously, but much of the epoxy filler had begin lifting suggesting my prep was inadequate or epoxy wasnt the best product. I plan to use polyester filler, a marine undercoat and two pack epoxy paint to finish.I don't know why but even the paint that was used last time, which was good quality (Dulux) has flaked loose is great gobs. There is definitely an argument against wooden boats and or using non-marine grade paints. I recall before that when I asked the Bunnings paint desk woman to colour my chosen product, oil based prim