Rootsie is on the move

Hello everyone

It has been a while since I posted anything on this blog.

I have opened a new website and I am busy transferring all my posts to the new site.

Please have a look at it and if your receive notification of this blog then thank you for your patience and I will see you on the other side!!

www.rootsies.com

Jon

 

Countdown to operation!

It has only been two and a half years since my last post and, contrary to popular opinion, I haven't been hibernating - well not much.

Today it is looking like I will be going in for my heart operation on Thursday 1st October. Nothing too serious - but it does involve open heart surgery, so recovery time will be a bit longer than usual.

I was preparing for the op in February this year and then everything was put on hold as the World ground to halt. Finally things have got moving again and I have started preparing for surgery with lots of phone calls and a visit for tests to the Royal Papworth Hospital.

I am sorry that there will be little or no sailing talk in this part of the blog - except to say that Dylan now has a new boat and you can follow exploits on his site www.keepturningleft.co.uk and here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtgAe4jKit0&feature=youtu.be

Patrick, suggested it may help my recovery to record my progress in a blog. He did the same following his hip operation - https://hipopman.wordpress.com/author/hipopman/ - and I plan to give it a go.

There is not much to tell yet but I will be back on here as I surface from the event.

Watch this space.

Getting ready for the put in

We spent a day getting the last few things ready on Harmony before Tuesday's put in. Then went for a lovely walk on the hill behind Largs, where there is a neolithic chambered tomb and then great views over Largs Bay.
Hilary has finished knitting her new hat, and took it out for an airing.

Following the blog

To those of you who like to follow the blog but get bored with checking back to see if I have added anything new, you can get an email notification when I add a post.
Just put in your email address in the box on the right of the blog page and then follow the instructions.
I thought we can try it and see what happens. Cheers Jon

2016 - a new adventure

Arrived on the boat yesterday, after the usual long drive up. Stopped off for a break at the NT gardens Acorn Bank - loads of fritillary in the orchard (they must practice rigorous rabbit control!)

Then on up to Largs through the rain. Harmony is stored right at the back of the yard adn looks quite smart as we drive up. I had been up a month earlier to antifoul the bottom and do some fettling.

Priming the antifoul

Looking a lot smarter

We sorted the boat and then battened down the hatches for gales and rain forecast for the night.
It was a rough night with the boat being rocked on the stand by the wind.
Rain this morning and then  breakfast round the new table. Hilary came up with the idea of an 18" diameter table in the cabin - great idea, it works really well

A day of fettling ahead in between the showers. The sun is shining and the oyster catchers a reeling about the yard shouting at each other.

Tuesday - Portavadie to Largs

Alice and I investigated the new Spa facilities at the marina - pretty amazing, have a look at their website here.

Found some great cards in the shop as well, including this one from Emma Ball

The day started with a good F4 steady breeze from the north west so we crossed Loch Fyne to the western shore close to this scallop dredger - a classic fishing boat shape.

Alice took the helm as we crossed then we ran down Loch Fyne to the Cock of Arran

Then headed east to the southern tip of the Isle of Bute, for a time escorted by a single porpoise which played around the boat, to Glencallum Bay where we anchored at the head of the bay and went for a swim.

As we left we had an argument with some rocks - my fault, I knew they were there, well not quite where they were. However we just touched the keels and then reversed off. No damage done but a salutary lesson not to get too cocky.

Great sail back to Largs and and a sunset to finish the day

All in all a great few days sailing, averaging 25 miles a day and a lot of it was sailing. We were blessed by the weather. Alice enjoyed her first 'big' boat sailing adventure and got in some wild swimming as well.
Alice headed off the next day and I spent a day doing inside jobs on the boat as the morning sun soon left us and the rain set in for the day.
I left the next day and had a long but easy drive home.
A great trip made better by a great boat to sail, thanks Dylan, and thank you Jane.
You can see Dylan's latest exploits here

Monday - Port Bannatyne to Portavadie

An amazing day weatherwise, lots of sun winds only F1or F2 or just calm.
Caught some mackerel as we started up the East Kyle and Alice learned to gut her first fish.

We anchored in Loch Riddon and ate the fish after Alice had another swim - avoiding the jelly fish, of which there are plenty.
The wind died away after lunch so we ended up motoring most of the way to Portavadie.
This place is as strange as ever, but I just had to show Alice. See their website here

Sunday - Loch Goil to Port Bannatyne

Alice got up before breakfast and went for another swim - she is a very hardy chap!
It did mean that we could have a cooked breakfast.

We headed out down Loch Goil and Loch Long on the engine and then round to Port Bannatyne. It was along days sail and motor but the weather was lovely. 

We saw a large piece of  aircraft carrier being towed down the Clyde by tug, headed for Rosyth.

As we arrived the boat next door had bagpipe music blasting out, so we were piped into our berth.

Port Bannatyne is still the same although they have taken away the old boats in the parking spaces and put up some lovely flower baskets.

I cooked a tasty stew for us, though I say so myself.

Saturday - Rhu Marina to Loch Goil

Rain again, and I'm sure they promised a fine day! There was sunshine too.
Sailed round from Rhu spotting a rather nice yacht called Drum out on the water,

and then up Loch Long past lots of mysterious buildings guarded by patrol boats. Alice and I were entranced by a family of Porpoises that played around the boat for five minutes or so as we turned from Loch Long into Loch Goil.
Then slowly sailed up to Lochgoilhead only to discover all the visitors moorings were full.
Turned back down the Loch to Carrick Castle but the two visitors moorings there were full so decided to anchor. A few minutes after dropping the anchor we were hailed from the shore. A very nice man, with a couple of GSDs said we could use his mooring for the night - for free. Thank you very much sir.
Alice swam that evening in the Loch. Both exhausted so in bed early- didn't wake up til 9 the next morning!
This was the view from the hatch that evening - magic.

Friday - a contrasting day weatherwise

The weather changed this morning but we have decided to head off on an adventure. First destination is Rhu Marina. Forecast F1/F2 with rain later.

So some sailing but having to work our way up the Firth as wind from the north. Eventually resort to the trusty engine and soon find the rain.
Passed by the Waverley as it did its rounds of the Clyde

Still there are lots or porpoises, birds and the odd seal. Arrived in Rhu about 7pm. 

Boys in the marina office very pleasant and they recommend the fish and chips from the cafe on site! Wow Alice and I got the last two portions and it was excellent. Fish delicious and full of flavour, chips light and crispy. Only on Friday nights and a limited number of portions available - worth a visit, definitely a treat. Cafe Rhu

Drying out now and looking forward to a good night's sleep.

August - back on the boat

Arrived today in blazing sunshine at midday. A couple of hours to get Harmony straight before Alice arrived.

Straight out on the water to drift and motor to Millport Bay on Cumbrae so that Alice could go for a swim.

Back in Largs for a quick supper then off to sleep

A walk round Great Cumbrae

Having had such a great sailing trip we decided to have a change and go for a walk on the island of Great Cumbrae. A scorcher of a day, we caught the ferry and set off - it was magical........I am just going to post the pictures.

Three day trip around Bute

We have just completed a three day trip around Bute. Monday 8th June to Wednesday 10th June.
Winds about Force 2 or 3 and lots of sunshine. This is Scotland at its best!

Picture postcard blue skies, sparkling seas and very gentle sailing.
We sailed from Largs to Portavadie on Bute, via the Cumbrae Islands and the Cock of Arran, up Loch Fyne to Portavadie on the first day. The second day from Portavadie up the West Kyle of Bute and then past the Burnt Islands and down the East Kyle to Port Bannatyne on the other side of Bute. The third day took us back across the Firth of Clyde around Little Cumbrae into Largs.

This was ideal sailing conditions and warm days but cold nights. We had supper outside for the first time when we got back to Largs.

I can't believe we have had such a good trip so early on. Let's hope the summer will be good and we can do some more .I'll post some pictures later and I promise to learn some basic editing to tidy up the videos!!

Tomorrow we hope to go walking on Great Cumbrae island.

Glasgow - an urban experience

The weather forecast for today was foul - wind and rain all day

We opted to take the train to Glasgow -
where the weather was also foul but less critical.



What a place full of wonders! we saw some great wall art

A church with a cash machine and a neon flashing OPEN sign

We walked up to the cathedral and found the Glasgow Necropolis, with amazing monuments, mausoleums and headstones

 From where we got a great view of the Cathedral and shamelessly took a selfie
Apologies!

Inside the Cathedral were some beautiful stain glass windows - I particularly liked the fisherman hugging a fish.

Also everywhere in the Cathedral, founded by St Mungo, were images of a fish with a ring in its mouth - I looked it up and this is what it said on Wikipedia

In the 'Life of Saint Mungo', he performed four miracles in Glasgow. The following verse is used to remember Mungo's four miracles:

Here is the bird that never flew

Here is the tree that never grew

Here is the bell that never rang

Here is the fish that never swam

The verses refer to the following:

• The Bird — Mungo restored life to a robin, that had been killed by some of his classmates.
• The Tree — Mungo had been left in charge of a fire in Saint Serf's monastery. He fell asleep and the fire went out. Taking a hazel branch, he restarted the fire.
• The Bell — the bell is thought to have been brought by Mungo from Rome. It was said to have been used in services and to mourn the deceased. The original bell no longer exists, and a replacement, created in the 1640s, is now on display in Glasgow.
• The Fish — refers to the story about Queen Languoreth of Strathclyde who was suspected of infidelity by her husband. King Riderch demanded to see her ring, which he claimed she had given to her lover. In reality the King had thrown it into the River Clyde. Faced with execution she appealed for help to Mungo, who ordered a messenger to catch a fish in the river. On opening the fish, the ring was miraculously found inside, which allowed the Queen to clear her name.

After a lovely salad and copious amounts of coffee and hot chocolate we walked the mile or so to the Scotland Street School Museum a building designed by Charles Rennie Macintosh and now a museum to him and to early 20th century schooling. All those tiles and desks and blackboards brought memories flooding back for both Hilary and me. The building is a stunning bit of architecture both inside and out.








We arrived back tired but happy to a still windy and rainy Largs.
Bacon and eggs for supper!
Goodnight.