White Wave's Journal
Forgive my toe in the pic!
We are that speck in the distance!
All the gear on board was tested, VHF, echo sounder etc and all OK. We had earlier found a leaking gas can on board, which I had to dispose of, it had rusted through, salt air....
We adjusted sheet and fairleads, trimmed sails and generally played boats. Jenny got the hang of her little ship.
There are grins from ear to ear.
When eventfully we returned to the mooring we did a few more little jobs. I had brought some new cleats down with me and we fitted these, here we are on the foredeck with Jenny learning a new trick with a rope! The easy way to tie a bowline... Did not know the camera was pointing our way.
Saturday morning Darian insisted on taking me for another walk, so I could do the steep bits. We walked down through this wood, and found the carvings, the ones high in the trees were a bit spooky!
After the wood we stopped for coffee at a beach cafe and Dave and Jenny introduced themselves to the new proprietors, they made arrangements to come back on Dave's Birthday with a party of walkers! I had to walk up to the top of the path and then back down and up again, as a sort of penance I suppose for leaving her on her own so much this week... We then took advantage of the low water spring tide to walk along the beach and round the cliffs to the next bay. Darian's favourite, rock hopping, in flip flops! I think Dave and Jenny were really protective and doubted she could do it. They weren't later.
When we got back into town there was a dance group setting up in the old market, Appellation clog! It was so unusual to see, I stopped to watch. a friend of ours dances it, we thought it pretty rare, but here were a whole team of them!
By the time we left Sunday, it was windy and rainy again and really it has remained like that most days they have been free, so once again she sits lonely in the marina. We did visit the Dart during our stay, and spotted a nice mooring area, which I would not mind betting, was a lot cheaper than the Marina, maybe next year.
We hope to return later in the year, if we may, we really enjoyed the area. Hopefully by then Jenny and Dave will have ventured out and maybe even taken a crew out with them, there is room for 4 on board, just!
Dad.
So it was then that the next morning Jenny and I puttered 'Beachcomber' round to the hard, where I had worked out that if we beached at 0900 we would dry out as the tide ebbed and be afloat again by about 1500. Perfect to do the job I wanted to do. In the meantime Dave had errands to run and would join us later and Darian was off to Paignton to meet her sister.... who just happened to be on holiday there this week. The things I have to arrange!
On the slipway the first job was a gentle scrub round as the tide dropped, even Jenny got her new boots wet for this! Surprisingly there was little fouling on the bottom. I say this because a boat that is not used often will foul up quicker than normal, must have been decent antifoul I used... (Blakes Titan).
Then we set to and removed the old echo sounder transducer, that had failed to work and tried to fit the new replacement. It was too big.... Rats. This now meant a couple of hours filing and scraping out the hole, till we could get the new one in, with me inside and Dave underneath, taking it in turns. By midday though all was sorted, loads of mastic applied and we went round tidying up and doing other odd jobs. Dave got some lubricant for the roller reefing forestay and we cleaned it out and got it moving...
Then there was the wait for the tide. As you can just see there was hardly a ripple on the water and the sun was shining down. Perfect day for a sail I thought.... We cleared up all the gear and sat waiting for the water to come back. We started a book on what time we would get off. It was 1515 before we did. By then the clouds had come over and a good breeze was blowing...
Here we are then, Jenny on the helm, motoring out of Brixham for our first real trial sail. Does she look apprehensive, no, not a bit I'm pleased to say. The feeling when that tiller comes alive in your hand excites me today just as it did when I first helmed our boat, I hope the excitement lasts as long as mine has Jenny!
We set off from Brixham towards Torquay in a gentle F4! At least it was a beam wind so not a problem tacking back. For the first time out I wanted them to be happy with her just under roller genoa, and with a little persuading, we managed to get the roller gear to work and the sail to go in and out and then as the wind increased rolled up a tad! Beachcomber is a small boat and very crew weight dependant, but she proved stable enough under sail.
Approaching Torquay Jenny had to watch out for ships and ferries! (The ship was anchored, so was not going to get out of her way really!). She was a little concerned about the Ferry, as she had learnt they had right of way. However as I assured her, here in the open sea, he was just a power boat and would go round us! We sailed 3/4 of the way to Torquay, then as the breeze seemed to be increasing and was getting gusty, I suggested we call it a day and head back
Here we are having turned back towards Brixham. The boat is hardly heeling and we are scooting along, probably doing 4 knots. The rolled sail sets OK, but a tighter backstay and more halyard tension maybe needed. I hope to get back to tweak the rig in 2009!
Dave and Jenny seem to be enjoying this their first outing, even if they have me along as ballast. After sailing on my boat I think it is going to take Dave a bit to get used to the quicker movements of this smaller, lighter boat.
Now the motor is back on and we are powering towards the harbour entrance at Brixham. Good for them both, (and me) to see how well she performs on a breezy day. by now the wind is the top end of F5. Beachcomber performs admirably. I am pleased with the motor we got hold of, a 4 hp Mercury, but under the bonnet it is a Tohatsu and exactly the same as Darian's lads Suzuki! OK not a Seagull, but I am happy with them.
We make our way back to the berth with a minimum of fuss and berth neatly, only for Dave to find water below. Lots of it! They had been finding water in the bilges and I was assuming it was rainwater from blocked cockpit locker lid drains, but no, it was salt!! As there are no through the hull fittings I was perplexed. I searched all the likely places to no avail... It took half an hour, with all three of us working it out before I sussed it. When Jenny and Dave both went forward on deck, water gushed into the forward locker. We had found the right area but it took a little longer to realise the culprit was the drain from the deck chain locker, through the hull to where it went over the side. A hole had been drilled through what should have been solid glass fibre, during the original building, but in fact there was a void there, part way along the drain, so with every little wavelet breaking on the bow, a teaspoon full would percolate into the boat.
Dave disappeared off to climb into a rubbish skip, the one he had ditched the mastic in that morning. He returned triumphant and with a deft finger full of mastic, stopped the leak!
I should explain that when I had found the boat, looking very sorry for herself, she was full of water and in a right state, she had nearly sunk at her moorings and I wondered where that amount of water could have come from. Ever since she had been afloat there had been that annoying leak.... This had probably been a problem on this boat for 30 odd years. We were very pleased to have cured it.
At this stage we retired to the William for a beer, a job well done. The Echo sounder worked, but not as well as I hoped... later when we tried it, there was a good signal and all worked OK.
We spent another day with Dave and Jenny, going by steam train to Dartmouth, a place I recall with pleasure, as I spent a rather nice week, with Jenny's mum, holidaying there back in 1972. We had a great meal at Black cottage, with Darian's sister and brother in law. Jenny excelled in the kitchen, we were impressed. Sadly the rain set in again with a vengeance and it remained wet the rest of the time we were down there, 'Come to sunny Devon, where it rains 6 days out of 7'!
We left Jenny and Dave early the next day, as Dave had organised a special treat for Jenny on their anniversary. He was wondering about fuel for his trip with her, just as well we had bought spare cans in the boot, as all the garages locally were out of diesel! As it happened they did not have a problem and the pair of them had a great time in Fowey, Jenny being spoilt rotten.
We went back up to Stonehenge and, the next day, the longest day, joined the thousands waiting at the stones for dawn, in the rain, to watch the sunrise.... not a glimmer of one.... another year maybe. Good to go and soak up the rain.... sorry atmosphere.
We did however go to Longleat afterwards, something Darian had been wanting to do for years. And spent yet another night at that new holiday Inn at Stonehenge. Great place. We also visited Salisbury, and at the museum bumped into Phil from Time Team...
Sadly we have not managed to be back at Brixham this summer... Would have been great to take the boat out with them on a nice gentle day, for them to get the confidence to jump aboard and go. Not to be. What summer! and Jenny and Dave have not found a single decent sailing day on the few days they have been at home. On the east coast we have had the same story. We had to cancel a whole week's sailing in July, wind and rain, and could only snatch a day here and there. a lot of boat owners spitting bullets at the weather, so Jenny and Dave are not alone.
I hope Darian and I can get down to Brixham in March next year, and in the meantime Jenny and Dave are looking at cheaper berths on the River Dart, the Kingswear side. Maybe Dartside. Then Jenny and I can sail Beachcomber west, round Berry head and into one of the best landfall harbours I have ever made, the Dart. We hope for a decent spring!
Dad.
We were slowed down, not by our load, but by the weight of traffic heading out of London. At times we crawled.
The M4 was clogged so we made our way south through Marlborough and all the local traffic, joining the A303 and heading past Stonehenge, a familiar route!
Trouble was the weather was getting worse. We had heavy rain and worse the forecast for the weekend was dire, gale 8 and 9! Snow up country as well, there was an inch back home later that weekend.
We had arranged to drop her in from the centre arm of Brixham harbour and the very friendly harbourmaster and his staff bent over backward to assist. (personally I think Jenny had been batting her eyes at all of them to win them over!) It worked. On the Saturday morning there was no way we were going to launch however, it was blowing a hooley! and it was postponed till the Monday, the bank holiday!
This gave dad the chance to finish a load of jobs, fit a new lamp and the echo-sounder etc. Sunday we got the mast up in a lull between dark clouds. As it is a small vessel Dave was able to get his shoulder under it and with Jenny pulling on a rope and me steadying it, it was up in no time. Jenny was mightily relieved!
Whilst this was happening, and in between the rattling hail storms, Darian had set off for a walk. She rang to say she was in Paignton! Getting in practice for a Sahara adventure them? We were impressed!
Monday morning bright and early we were ready to go, the sea was smooth and the wind light. After a few hair raising moments with chains swinging perilously close to the shiny paintwork, she was dropped gently into the Harbour.
We had decided to let Jenny and myself take her out and Darian and Dave were to scoot round the harbour to the marina to meet us. I started the motor, a replacement Mercury 4hp with reverse, to make it easier to negotiate the marina. The Seagull I had prepared had no reverse sadly... The motor ran fine, I warmed her up then sat firmly down and let the new skipper take the helm! A mild look of concern flitted across her face for just a moment, then we were off! I am so proud of her.
We headed out into the main harbour and I suggested she play with the boat for a while whilst the others made their way to the pontoons. We circled left and right, then pointed our noses to Torquay! Had Dave not rung us on my phone, we might have made it! They saw us as a speck in the distance! We turned and headed back, Jenny totally in control now, playing with the throttle and the extension tiller. In moments we were rounding for the berth and alongside! Neatly done. Under power the boat must do nearly 5 knots. I was pleased I had found the correct sort of motor!
Once in the berth, and we had our breath back, Jenny and Dave opened a bottle and, with a small libation to the bow, properly named their boat, 'Beachcomber'.
We then set too and loaded 4 truck loads of gear on board. Jenny had been busy with her sewing machine and all the bunk cushions were now tastefully covered in dark blue, to replace the mustard yuck colour. Jelly was on board of course and somehow she managed to find the perfect berth, in the halyard pouch!
All the wiring on the mast was finished off, all the lights checked and I called the Coastguard on the new VHF to test that all was well there. The only bit of kit that did not work, was the new echo sounder. I was relying on the original old transducer still working.. Drat... However as the boat had been full of water when I found her, and this had already meant all the wiring had to be replaced, and the transducer was the one bit I had not done. I did have a new transducer with us, but that will be a job to be done on the hard one day. We bent on the sails, resplendent in their new blue covers and with a little persuasion managed to get the roller reefing to work and all the ropes in the right place.
That night we had a celebratory meal in the Breakwater Restaurant. We wished that we had time to wait for the weather to improve so we could try out the sails, but at least all was in place for them to have their first sail, when the weather allowed.
Tuesday morning we bid our farewells. They looked a very happy pair of bunnies! We hitched up the empty trailer and set off home, a little faster than we had driven down!
Back home and Thursday morning I had a call to say they had been out in the boat, trying out the motor. I was very pleased to hear it! Time enough to get the sails up when it gets a little more settled and warmer. Can't wait to come back and sail her!
Dad.
Dad, (John) and Darian
Thursday 21st June 2007.
As some of you might know, John, (Dad), has been a little preoccupied for the past 8 months or so since he bought a little boat to renovate. The idea was to present it to Dave and Jenny as a wedding present... After some initial doubts as to my sanity, Darian pitched in to assist and the final paint finish is down to her!
This is her as I found her, I had been looking for the right boat for 6 months, all up and down the coast, on the internet, magazines etc, I found her in a boatyard just down the road!
Many of those who first saw it, raised an eyebrow or two, doubting if it was possible at all, let alone by Midsummer's Day and my Jenny's wedding! However after months of fun, here she is, waiting to go to the wedding to collect the happy couple!
All ready to go!
We named the boat 'Beachcomber', which if you know anything about them is what they do... with the articles they find they produce the most exquisite items of jewellery and other craft items, that they sell at the Brixham craft fair every week and elsewhere! We left the boat in the good hands of friend Richard, who was to arrive at the Castle after the short ceremony.
Waiting for the couple!
The wedding took place at Headingham Castle, Essex just 4 miles away from the field at the rear of my sister's house, where we retired to afterwards. The Castle is Norman and the keep is all that survives, but it boasts the largest Norman arch still standing in the UK, quite impressive.
Some of the guests
Guest of honour!
Jenny makes her entrance
Those eyes meet and the vows are made, brings a tear to the eye!
The special guest needs a special escort, Leila!
Meet the new Mr and Mrs!
Photo call
Best man and best friend!
More friends
Above are a selection of Dad's pics of the day! The sun shone, the bubbles floated everywhere and the cameras clicked and whirred. Just when we thought they were about to move off, they ran back up the steps into the Castle, for 30 minutes! more pics inside, from the galleries above the banqueting hall where the ceremony took place... We milled about outside.
We knew from a reconnoitre visit, that they would not be able to see the getaway car till they came out, went down the steps and across the grass, so all the guests made their way to a vantage point nearby. By now the secret was out and all were waiting to see their faces when they spotted their 'chariot', not that they would have had any idea that it was any more than a means of getting to the party....
We have their faces captured as the first saw their transport away from the Castle where they were wed. (They asked me to arrange something 'quirky'! as transport...)
As they see their transport for the first time!
They were having bets as to what it would be, with Jenny going for a combine harvester, courtesy of Keith, our brother in law's contacts, and Dave figuring on a Rigid Inflatable on a trailer. (They have both done their safety boat courses for the work they do with youngsters in Brixham harbour!)
When they first spot it, they burst out laughing as Dave says 'told you so!!' Then a quizzical look comes over Jenny's face, (she told me later that at that moment she spotted the port of registry.... Brixham.......) We gave the boat the home port of 'Brixham' as that is where Dave and Jenny have bought their house and are now based! So will the boat be!
At this point Darian gave Dave a long parcel and I gave Jenny an envelope to open.
Opening the card and parcel
Dave had no idea still and the odd look on his face when he finds a 'red ensign' on a pole is classic. What the.... is this??? However Jenny has now twigged and has found a boat shaped key ring and key.
Jenny has now reads the card to Dave
In tears she reads out the card, 'Bon-voyage, just add water'! The hugs and tears and the look on Dave's face, priceless!
Daves' Grin!
They wanted to ride in the cockpit all the way back to the farm, but were dissuaded... It was not till much later they got on board to open up the cabin, and find the goodies inside, even down to a copy of the designers life story, (Uffa Fox, for those who might recognise the design!), that was donated by dear sailing friend Doug! To say they were speechless is somewhat an understatement. We hope they get a few years fun from 'Beachcomber' before moving on to something larger!
Onboard for the first time!
And so a convoy of cars sets off following the bubble blower on the bow of Beachcomber! The Village cricket team stopped play as we passed to applaud the bride and groom, very quaint and English! Lots of horn honking!
Arrival
The couple arrived at Stonehouse Farm for the party to find the fairies had been busy... There was a wood-henge, (it was Midsummer's Day) with a petal lined processional route, that later the sun would set down! In the centre was the sacrificial fire, to be lit later!
The champagne toast
Sue's Peruvian Cake!
Darian brings out the Marshmallows to toast
Sun setting , the candles lit!
As they are both very Eco conscious, he being a tree warden with a woodland, she trekking eco trails in the Amazon and working in an endangered species sanctuary etc... It will come as little surprise that the event was to be a green and eco friendly as could be planned. There was no confetti!, at the simple feast in the field later, there were recycling bins for everything!
The Green Favour
One of the best idea was for the 'favours'. To celebrate the wedding every guest was given a small (recycled) envelope with a certificate, hand made, announcing that a tree was to be planted for every person in the new St. Paul's Wood, Tillingham, and listed the types of tree. There was a nice little poem to go with it! See the TWIGS website, go and have a look.. http://www.twigs.org.uk The names of all those attending will also be displayed later.
At the party the motor is fitted onto the boat for the first time! John had to modify it slightly to fit as he had forgotten the bracket had an odd shaped handle, but I don't think anyone noticed the hacksaw come out!
A new Seagull for power, made by John
Some of you might already know that Jenny's dad John is the British Seagull outboard man! It will come as no surprise to learn then, that John had a new Seagull waiting in the wings, albeit in bits, that he had been saving for a rainy day! It was duly put together, with all new parts and made into the motor you see, a very late model Seagull Curlew, 4 hp with enough power to bring them safely home if the wind drops!
The day was perfect, best was that the predicted heavy downpours all missed us and we had day long sunshine! Interestingly, as the happy couple got into their Jeep to leave, late that night we had 5 spots of rain, then it stopped... they drove through heavy rain most of the way to Gatwick!
They have already rung from Greece, to say they have already decided the first thing they are to do when they return, is go to the Brixham Y.C. to organise a mooring and enrol for the Day Skippers course! I think they took the boat key with them to Greece!! (good job I kept a spare!)
Soon I will be adding the finishing touches to the inside of 'Beachcomber', the lights and switch panels and arranging her transport to Devon, after that I suspect normality will seem rather humdrum! Hope to get time to go out sailing on our boat then!
Doubtless there will be loads more pics of the day to add when all the other photos come in.... enough for now.
A toast from the bride and groom!
Settling down
Well these two seem to be a little preoccupied at the moment so the Journal has slowed to a stop, as has Kiboko! She has gone to the resting place where all such giants go, the dealers! They have forsaken her for an American Red Indian Wagon! Have Teepee will travel, or at least they intended to for a bit!
In July 06 they had come to see dad, for a little sailing tuition. We spent a couple of balmy days sailing my boat around the River Blackwater Estuary. They arrived complete with trailed covered wagon and pitched the new tent in the garden for the first time.
We spent two whole days out on the Blackwater. Dave, who had never sailed before, so we motored, we sailed, we anchored and ditch crawled, we tacked and we gybed. Lots of sheet hauling and sail trimming, steering and chatting, things nautical! I am not sure if Dave was much the wiser, but he smiled a lot! I think he rather liked the boating bit!
When they left, setting off on their adventures again, they were without the luxury of their own mobile commode! Why one asks oneself??
The answer lay in deepest Devon. They have been seduced by bricks and mortar and now were winding down to end their travelling by roughing it a bit... So the luxurious 'Kiboko' has been sacrificed on the alter of the property market... Clip their wings? I wonder....
We visited them on a campsite a day later to find roughing it was real! The place was a dive! They were not impressed with the site at Althorne. Boldly venturing on they set off on more adventures, only to be stopped in their tracks when Jenny has a bad fall on a slippery floor and dodgy set of steps in a Craft Fair's shower block. Apart from being black and blue and having to be on her back for a bit... she now seems OKish... Jenny used this as a reasonable excuse to wrangle an end of season holiday chalet for accommodation. Dave is a big softee, I would have said a firm grassy mattress, under canvas. in Devon, in the rain, was ideal for a bad back, but there you go!
They settled in for a few weeks to a site in Devon not a million miles from Brixham, where they could keep a close tab on the house purchase.
Mid October and they are now living in sunny Devon, where it rains six days out of seven! Now under tiles! Moving furniture proved to be a bit difficult, as Jenny was in no fit state to lug the grand piano up the stairs... But they are sorting themselves out. When they get on line no doubt they will read this and ask for the editing codes to remove it!!
The best is yet to come though, she tells me she is going for a job interview, great thinks I, but will it clip her wings? Wings, she ends up dressed as a penguin! I ask you, if you are going to have wings they might as well be able to allow you to fly!
I have yet to see this vision, but as unlikely image as I could imagine, Jenny in a bird suit. She has landed a job with the Penguin section of Paignton Zoo, I kid you not! I just am itching to get a pic on here! Nearly bought a fluffy black and white to send to her last week, oh the jibes this is going to get!
The jewellery side still flourishes, with more local contacts providing a stable base to build on. I hope they have enough in the trailer to while away the winter nights, as the SW gales batter the harbour and the rain lashes against the shutters....
I'm hoping they will be getting a telephone and then Broadband... Then this page and the others on this site will perhaps get more regular updates!
Dad
Awaits!
We had always planned that a large part of the Motor home life style was going to run parallel with White Wave Jewellery and Crafts, in fact it was really an integral part of the overall plan. With that in mind beach combing to source, shells, pebbles and driftwood etc for the business and to a large extent the pleasure of being together on beaches collecting things was an important aspect of our future together. So it was a surprise to find ourselves so suddenly thrust into that activity in Wales whilst Kiboko was being repaired. What we thought was going to be an hour or so turned into over 4 hours as we waited for a call on the mobile phone to say she was ready. Colwyn Bay is huge and we began at one end of Old Colwyn and strolled all the way to Rhos on Sea and Penrhyn Bay then back with lunch in between. In the process we collected a host of shells and some odd pieces of driftwood a collection which was to grow and grow in the ensuing months as our ideas on usage began to germinate.
Kiboko mended - the mystery of the missing hose clip still not fully resolved - but with a promise that the trouble would not re-occur we set off to taste the delights of our first reception at a Caravan Club site just outside Chester. We had no intention staying overnight but had decided to call to check out our hook up (electric lead) 25 meters of cable which had failed to work at Jesse’s. It could have been his own extension cable which was faulty but we were a little worried at having been without a mains supply for 3 days and although we were heading to my place in Leeds it seemed sensible to check out the facilities at a Club site and also empty our toilet cassette which was dangerously near full.
Chester Fairoaks is a regal affair 3 miles from the beautiful Roman walled City and Cathedral. We pulled into the New Visitors Bay and we asked at Reception for help…….
Mistake No 1 - although a member of the Caravan Club unless you intend to stay at least overnight then forget it - you can NOT use the facilities. Don’t ask me why - rules are rules but they did bend them a little bit and we were able to check our electric cable (another story). Toilet still full we headed away from Chester to the M62 for Leeds - a quick stopover at my old place and then off to The Lake District for the famous Underwater Bike Ride………………….
Well the RAC arrived and a very nice chap minus regulation blue uniform, shiny knee length boots, peaked cap and failing to salute us did after some prompting from me find the problem with Kiboko. Staring us all in the face under the bonnet was an empty expansion tank or put more simply there was no water getting into the radiator to keep Kiboko cool. Although the problem should never have occurred in the first place - new Fiat Motor homes supposedly receiving a Pre-delivery Inspection (PDI) before the keys are handed over to new owners. We were thankful that Fiat have designed there engines so that should such a problem occur, an automatic shut off comes into play bringing the engine to a crawl so that the radiator does not blow. The fact that the PDI had failed to either identify the lack of fluid in the expansion tank or more likely the absence of a hose clip to stop fluid leaking out did not auger well for the future of happy carefree driving in Kiboko for the next few months. In fact we were in effect grounded - with the nearest Fiat dealer miles away.
But sanctuary was nearby as the arrival of the RAC chap coincided with the appearance of an elderly gentleman riding a mountain bike of doubtful origins. He quickly introduced himself as Jesse James a man of great fame in Mountaineering and Bunkhouse circles - my words not his. Ever since my interest in the outdoors had begun in the early 80’s his name had been synonymous with Wales, climbing, Mountain Rescue and all things of a tough and leathery nature. In the flesh he is over 6’, slim, tanned, broad shouldered with a mane of white hair and huge hands with hawser size veins from at least a century of working and living the Outdoor scene. He is also the legendary owner of The Jesse James Bunkhouse situated just outside Llanberris an establishment as old as Yr Wyddfa itself and host to huge numbers of Climbers and walkers over the years.
Jesse is also a very amiable character eager to help, able to chat at length on any topic under the sun and, as we were to find out later, drink large quantities of whisky into the early hours. We had actually been heading for his place and were now stranded a mere 100 metres away. He had received the message from the remainder of the GGG team who had been ensconced at the Bunkhouse that we had broken down and in true Jesse style had come to offer his help. Proudly showing us his strange saddle made for his birthday out of wood and Duct tape he insisted that we put away all thoughts of limping away for repairs and instead drive up to his place, park up outside on the lawn, enjoy the weekend and think about the repairs later. Fortunately the RAC chap had refilled Kiboko’s expansion tank and reckoned that we could go for another 200 miles before the problem occurred again. Finally booking a slot at the Fiat garage on Monday we accepted Jesse’s offer and were soon sipping tea and coffee with the rest of the GGG Team in the bunkhouse.
Jennifer had refused to leave me and Kiboko at the roadside to get off early with the girls on the hills - a fact which at that stage I failed to realise was a side of her nature which was most endearing. But after most of the problems were settled she was soon changing into gear for the Hills nearby on Navigational exercises. I waved her off for the afternoon and began to settle down to the chores of Motorhome life.
Jesse had kindly guided Kiboko onto terra firma with the help of some young guys who were staying at the bunkhouse. Although the turf outside Jesse’s was a great place to park her I had hit a small patch of mud and without the short push out we would have blocked the driveway. I tinkered with items in the Garage - I should explain that with the fixed raised Kingsize bed in the rear of Kiboko comes a huge space beneath which is accessed outside through a large door giving around 6 square metres for the storage of Mountain bikes and all other sorts of sports paraphernalia etc. This is the garage and I was in my element moving stuff around. I also needed to tidy inside as Jen had left in her usual whirlwind state leaving a trail of clothes behind her. Time had been very tight as we first set off in Kiboko and we had not really put things away in a manner akin to inviting friends back for a drink. Anyway for several hours I busied myself content that Jen was enjoying her return to the Welsh Hills and getting to know the rest of the Team. I will hand over to Jennifer at this stage to explain a little of the GGG story.
GGG……………..where do I begin..! (include drinks with Jesse and partner etc, climbing with Jesse.
(Come on Jenny, let's have your side of the story! .... Dad!)
I had always hated the Friday evening traffic jam which proliferate the roads of GB in the summer as thousands of flat capped, cardigan wearing, bespectacled middle aged couples up and down the country hitch up their chintz clad Phantom, Spirit, Swift and other exotically branded caravans and head off to clog every road heading towards the coast. Did they really have to travel everywhere at 50mph in convoy and fail to acknowledge that the 2 mile line of traffic behind them was actually the result of their diabolical desire to sit on a plastic striped aluminium folding chair at a camp site, enclosed by similarly striped windbreak and surrounded by other like minded people, sipping tea and playing whist, scrabble or throwing a rubber ring for a very small wired haired excuse for a dog.
May 16th 2006
Chapter 1
White Wave’s Journal - The story starts here
The relationship between the Hippopotamus and the green lace wing moth is as symbiotic as any other on the great Africa plains of Kenya and Tanzania. Mr De Barry also noticed the same desirable partnership in algoid and fungal elements In lichens. The latter may well have already been studied maybe even filmed for national Geographic magazine and TV programmes. As for the Hippo and the moth, I doubt this will ever achieve such notoriety despite the usual attraction of animal fornication which generally allows TV Editors to reveal sex scenes not normally allowed before the 9’o’clock watershed.
Hippopotamus is a Greek word meaning river-horse. In Swahili it is better known as Kiboko which means - well Hippopotamus, I suppose. It is also the name we gave to our Burstner 747-2 motor home, mainly due to its size. I will return to the Moth in due course but four weeks after we took ownership of Kiboko, the ‘Great Adventure’ which we had been planning for over a year, I stood next to Kiboko, our leviathan ankle deep In mud holding on to two filthy towels and some plainly inadequate pieces of yellow plastic intended to assist in extracting stranded hippo’s from mud wallows. It was by now dark, beginning to freeze as December evenings often do and I was reduced to a speechless whimper deserved of a testosterone fuelled bloke who thought he knew better that the lady farmer who had warned not to leave the hard track of the Cl campsite on the edge of London. Jennifer had also agreed with the owner, but loyally she stood by me panting. She had quietly watched my stupidity blossom in to insanity and her exhaustion was not only from mentally coping with my stubbornness but sadly from being the only available pair of hands to push and cajole kiboko out of her mud hole resting place. But 31/2 tons of fiat chassis,Burstner coachwork, two mountain bikes, assorted other outdoor paraphernalia, and crates of Jennifer’s trousers, skirts, belts, boots, shoes, scarves, jewellery and worse, numerous cupboards and shelves of garnier, clinique, max factor and nivia beauty products - refused to budge.
Kiboko had a big arse - sorry - double axles, and above all I was convinced she was trying to teach me a lesson! (well Hippo’s do like mud). Paralysed with fear, and acute embarrassment like a schoolboy waiting outside the headmasters office I knocked on the door of the farmhouse waiting to be flayed alive and then butchered to provide feed for the huge resident Vietnam pot bellied pig. Fortunately Ann who owned the farm -come wildlife sanctuary gave me a quick head to toe perfunctory glance and without a trace a passion blurted out the word ‘men’ at me, then smiled that sisterly smile and told me to re-join Kiboko while she unleashed the might of her Ford 7610 Tractor complete with spotlights salvaged form Guantanamo bay. Sucked out of the mud like a spoon from sticky toffee pudding, 10 minutes later Kiboko was back on firm ground and our motor home wine larder was one bottle of Stowells finest lighter - it was the least I could do to thank Ann.
Jen was easier to please with a hug and apology as she fumbled with the dials of kibokos heaters - something which she rapidly learnt without the need for any manual, such is her need to be constantly warm. She is of course a Southern Jessie but more about that later.
Back to the Moth of more precisely moths or more accurately the infestation of the little lace wings. Much research has now shown that the entire staff of Cranham Motors where we bought kiboko are aware of the nesting and breeding habits of the moth ‘Verdiannoyi caravani’. It seeks out warm dry ventilators, lays its eggs and several days later mysteriously concinciding with the lunar eclipse, the arrival of Mars In Pisces and the handing over of the keys to a motor home, the newly hatched await the opening of a cupboard and wardrobes to fly out and hide until the start of a meal of just as the last episode flashbacks of ‘Lost’ begin on TV. But of course as the salesman ‘Geoff’ said - ‘there’s nothing you can do about nature’. Oh Really! Well watch my cheque book as you try to extract the last £500 of my monies for Kiboko - sorry mate the moths ate it!! Nature you know! This is of course not to assume I am bitter but Jen and I did have our fair share of unexpected and unnecessary adventures following our departure from Cranham on that day in mid November as we set off in Kiboko, on our UK quest to circumnavigating the UK coast or as soon transpired the M25 outer peripheries of London. So how did it all begin???
