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About the blog of me

Im travelling around the world, working as i go, living life as much as i can, enjoying everything thing and everyone i encounter. Along the way I capture these moments of fun and beauty and like to share these with whoever is watching.

Tag: ‘boat’



Changing habits

Friday, October 16th, 2009

So today I did something new, I ate fish! I have good reason to.
Alan and I did stuff, and finished off with breakfast burgers while driving across town to meet a man with a boat.
This man with a boat is known as duck, strange, but true. Duck took us on this boat out towards Cuba, until we couldn’t see land any longer.
We went out into the deep blue to fish, deep sea fish. I think we were inspired by the large photograph that grandpa has hung in his house of him stood by a very large marlin, or sail fish I’m not sure, that he caught down here in key west.
We sun creamed up, and from the red patch on my back, I can’t quite reach my whole back, oops! For it was a glorious sunny day, and then we went in search of birds and sea grass. The birds tend to hover around fish activity which they can see much better and from much further then we on the surface can. And the grass makes for a good hiding place for small fish trying to avoid predation.
Six hours at sea went by in very little time. We dragged lines, searching for tuna and dolphin. The dolphin are not the mammels that we all know, but a fish which goes by the same name. And bites we got, catching a couple of dolphin.
This didn’t last long, and so we motored off further toward the horizon. And before long, by aid of the birds, we found more activity. But now this school of fish was hungry and excited. So we used some more classic rods, making for harder work, but more fun. We caught 8 dolphin so far, lost a couple, threw one back as it was too small. Fish polulations need to be maintained.
Time running out we head back to land. But following sone birds we came across commotion, tuna. However there were dolphins, the mammels, chasing them around, so we started the chase. You have to get ahead of them, so as not too spook them by getting too close. Yet to no avail, we caught no tuna.
No matter as we were lucky enough to see some great turtles, who watch us then dive into the blue below. And even more beautiful we were entertained by the dolphins to a dance, some flipping in the sunset!
Alan and I got set up in the supermarket with some olive oil and Ginger sauce, and I made a salad. So the moment came, and it must have been maybe 8 years since I ate fish, but I did, and enjoyed it, but don’t think that I’ll be making a habit of it. Well that’s pretty extreme for me.
The other guys here commended us on our great fish, so yeh, a great day and successful. :)
What next but to watch ‘into the wild’ and chat about life and loss. It seems that most of us here out of 7 have lost a sibling within the last year, strange, connection, but most of all the realisation that we all go through these strugles and surprises that come at us as we go through life.
So the film has been done beautifully, not to the book, but based upon real life, it is beautiful while sad, but paints well the picture of his life and the effect he left upon the world after death.
And with that it’s that. Another day in America, doing the American thing!

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Air lifted out

Monday, September 28th, 2009

An early rise yesterday morning, breakfast and then onto a big yellow school bus. We had a very bumpy 45 minutes down a canyon, chatting with some 60+ year old thrill seekers.
We finished up donning lots of sun lotion, life jackets and climbing aboad a big blue motorised inflatable boat.
We came to ride the rapids on the Colorado river through the Grand Canyon. It’s pretty awesome having a water proof camera to catch the action. We all got soaked, and the water is bloody cold, under 10 degrees C, so petty chilly.
We stopped and climbed a rope ladder to see a water fall, cool. So the rapids on the Colorado river don’t go by the worldwide scale of 1 to 5, but by it’s own scale of 1 to 10 due to their severity. The highest we rode was six, extreme enough that there is a plaque commemoration a few people who didn’t make it in the past. The afternoon was a leisurly boat ride in the sun taking in the awesome scenery. How many people who have been to see the grand canyon have seen it from the bottom, and then how many have ridden the rapids down there, probably not too many.
And then as a bonus, to get back out of the canyon we had to be air lifted out, in a helicopter! I’d never been in one before, and it was great to do it there.
All of this is arranged by the haulapai Indians, the same guys who have built the sky walk out over the canyon, so they’re doing pretty well for themselves.
The day ended with a bone crushing 2 hours aboad a yellow school bus across the bumpy desert, not fun.!
We set off to drive onwards at half five and again the car battery is dead, so it could be down to a light being on. But it’s slightly worrying that we could get stuck out in the desert without anybody to give us a jump start, so we’ll check at a garage in a bit.
Last night we stayed in Seligman on the Route 66. This town is a serious tourist Route 66 place, big neon signs and stuff. The Roadkill cafe where we ate last night has things like pavement possum, curbside kitty and airbrake owl on the menu. Alan had 18″ ribs, and amazingly finished them all!
So onwards through the desert.

This is England. ‘s summer

Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

I’m down on west wittering beach. Lovely golden sands. Old English country homes along the dunes. Kites flying. People swimming. Yachts sailing. Reeds twitching. Children laughing. Second world war planes droning above. Waves crashing beyond. This is the most english beach i’ve been on. Perfect for a bit of sun bathing!
Where’s the ice cream? Cider?
Sat here is gorgeous on this beautiful sunny day, with the isle of Wight a haze out there. England at it’s finest. I guess the cycle ride here put me in the perfect demeanor. This area Is awesome.
Yesterday was quite a sucess. After an early wake, tidy up, the boat was hauled off down to the mud. We kept busy doing bits. And a few hours later, the tide was up, and the boat was afloat, can I day huray? It’s taken a bit longer than initially planned, but we motored her down to a marina.
It feels like purpose is partially fulfilled, and is great to feel her floating. Not long now and she’ll be ready to sail.
Last night after all of the excitment, I went off with oli. I worked with oli in the Cyberdog shop in Camden years back. It was great to have such a serious, deep conversation. And quite a surprise, as I never knew oli was of such a way of thinking.
The two pint of local cider, and take-away Chinese made for a good sleep.
Well I better get moving, wash and get yo London. It’s ben’s birthday party.
It’s such a shame to leave paradise.
…another time.

Soggy pug pig

Friday, August 21st, 2009

Today was a glorious sunny day, for the most part.
It was great to have the day with my other family. After a hearty breakfast we went for a walk along the coast, with much Fronk play, channel swimming and a pic nic on the beach.
Deb managed to put us half to sleep with a fire at home.
So I ran off before my eyelids fell. And now I’m back near Chichester.
I’m very happy to have managed to get down to kernow and the draganfly cottage.
So an early rise tomorrow, and time to see if this big boat can float!

Just what the doctor ordered

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

I’m laying in a cottage in Cornwall with big green letters painted on my front saying ‘lucky dip’ :)
I had a lovely morning chatting with trixie. A wonderful pretty fairy girl, and lots of sunshine. So I left Glastonbury feeling much better than when I arrived. All the people there helped me feel good, and some told me that I did a good deal to make them feel better, so all in I left there feeling good ;)
Well I got to cornwall and the gorgeous weather was grey and English. But I was instantly ordered to get naked, painted up, stuffed pants with lottery tickets and the family and I went off to stand in a field, laugh at others, but mainly get laughed at.
We did not win the dress up contest, by far. Deb scared away all of the photographers. And we had a long walk through town, scaring children who we only wanted to give sweets and make them smile. We were carnival :D
Ali, deb and I had Chinese, mmm and met Izzi, mark and a rather hairless drink.
I really hope we get to go to the sea and swim tomorrow, even if it does rain.

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Rumbles

Friday, August 14th, 2009

I ate some cheesecake earlier, now my belly is bubbling something scary. It serves me right for eating soo much creamyness for the first time in a long time.
So I’m at grandpa’s up north. I drove up this afternoon in order to see them both before I leave with alan for the states.
I’ve come from Chichester, where martin and I have been working hard on the boat. I’m awed at how boat like it is now looking. It is finally almost ready to sail. And it us due to be in the water next week!

Why is there a great big Belgian helicopter in Regents park?

Sunday, August 9th, 2009

There’s a huge helicopter here in the north of Regents park, why?
I got a new passport the other day, after lots of waiting and hanging around. While waiting I saw G.I. Joe in Peterborough cinema, which wasn’t bad. I did expect the worst, but was quite entertained. I guess I was impressed due to my poor expectations.
Afterwards, I met jab for a pint at charters and we were joined by sean and tessa which was nice. It’s been years since I’ve seen them. Sean’s becoming hippy! And I saw adam. It’s wicked to have time to catch up with people.
Last night hannah, angel and I went out in the east end, cargo. It was cool. Even cooler that the club has a photo booth :) It wasn’t cool that I lost my phone. As it turned out it slipped out of my pocket in the taxi. And luck would have it that the taxi driver answered it and returned it :)
In Angel’s place they have a free gym and pool. So after breakfast we had a quick sauna and jacuzzi, wonderful.
Are these Belgians lost?
Today I’m just chilling. I think I’ll head back up to Cambridge in a bit.
I wish it was sunnier here in England.

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Park life

Saturday, August 1st, 2009

I’ve been trying to sleep in the shade in the park, but the shade is moving too fast and just as I pass out of consciousness the sun falls on my body, roasting me. I give up.
Yesterday I had a curry by oktogon after my walk around the big park. I had a lie on margit sziget island.
After I caught up with bobby, we saw an environmental, futuristic park. Then we had some beers and chats in a park, I can’t find the name on the map. It was fun, there was even a bum diving and swimming in the 30cm deep water.
Later, leslie, bobby and I went down to A38 the club boat. Quite an experience, many young people. And I woke up on the other side of time.
So today bobby admitted to me that I wad taken in for just two days in case I was too much of a wierdo. Pre judgements based upon my couchsurfing photo. I have to change my photo as this is obviously affecting peoples decision on whether to ahve me. Well he liked me and offered for me to stay longer, however he has two French girls, and I’d already booked to stay at the suite hostel, so I’m booked into the hostel. But I’ll stay with leslie, or maybe a Dutch girl after tonight.
So now I’m waiting to feel better free last night. Humous hasn’t helped. Two litres of pineapple juice hasn’t helped. Sleeping in the park hasn’t helped. Maybe some booze will, but I’ll wait til later for that.
And I lost a phone. The new phone I bought three days ago. At least it only cost me £25, but I’m now without my normal phone number. Oops!

Roadkill

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

Driving from Dover to here, dads place, I ran over something, I’m hoping a badger, rather than a dog. But still it was horrible to hit something, anything.
Well apart from that I had a nice day. Chatting French here and there. I had the best crepes I have ever had at a place called grand mere alice in st. Malo.
Then I took a leisurely drive through the country to mont saint michel. It is impressive, it is touristy, and I didn’t feel worth the parking charge.
I took a little tour of boulogne in my car, and my verdict is that it’s just as manky as Calais.
I hate the sound of my car, I need the exhaust fixed, so job 1 tomorrow is to go to the garage.

Thunder n lightening, very very frightening

Friday, July 17th, 2009

I’m soaked through, have been for hours.
I took today to learn to change the engine oil in a car, my car. Well to start with I had to make a repairation to the exhaust, easy as pie. Just picked up. Kit from halfords and stuck it all together. Draining the oil involved a quick google to get instructions, jack the front up onto blocks, but then came trouble as the previous person to do it tightened the sump valve and oil filter too much. Well with some violence this was solved.
While martin went off to give blood, I closed up, refilled the oil, and then lost half of the new oil due to a minor mistake. So finally seal up the underside of the car, while the heavens opened, hot covered in oil, went up to the boat to find the laptop soaked, along with lots of other stuff, oh well!
So martin and I went driving around to find more oil, and Chichester is flooded, seems they can’t build roads, or even roofs!
Well I’m all ready to leave for Switzerland, actually can’t wait, with this bloody weather, even if all this lightening is awesome.
Yesterday involved specs shopping around bristol due to a two hour queue for the Bristol museum to see the bansky exhibit. No we won’t come back tomorrow an hour before the museum opens.
And for something positive, martin and I signed up for our PADI 1 course :)
See ya in swissland.

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