Nick's Arrived

Full on Day!
Rough-Skinned Newt

Tue Jun 1st

This morning's walk was the more peaceful part of the day as apart from the Rough-Skinned Newt creeping across the path to Mixal Lake, there is not much to report.  

That said, as I write this at 2100 local time, the black circular tire marks on the local roads are explained by the petrolheads having their night out doing 'donuts' in their overcharged vehicles some kilometres distant.  When it is so quiet the sound echoes around the valleys.

This morning Fred disappeared off to the local supermarket to stock the fridge before Nick's arrival.  Jack spent ages on the edge of the lake looking for a ball he'd dropped between some rocks.  Found several hours later. Then I worked out how I would acquire a PCOC (Pleasure Craft Operators Certificate), the ticket one needs to hire (or own!) a boat.  Test tomorrow!

While Nick spent the morning on work conference calls, Fred and I disappeared off on the Lion's trails to see if I could find my camera lens cap.  The day was billed as 22c, the car said it was 29c - 31c.  It certainly felt like it.  No lens cap.

As we ended the walk we got a call from the fishing boat we'd agreed to buy 10lbs of fresh prawns
(Dublin Bay size) for $14 a pound (£18.70kg) that they were back early.  So off to the public dock at Hospital Bay to collect them.  They were fresh, in fact so fresh they were still moving! and jumping!  Some went in the freezer, some were cooked, all to be enjoyed during the rest of the week and for Nick to take back to have with Lizzie in Van.  

Once the prawns were dealt with we returned to John Henry's in Hospital Bay for a beer and view of Pender Harbour.  It is such a stunning setting.  The beer is good too!  A chap we've seen there most times we've popped in was chatting to one of the local boaters.  Brings his own mini-Sony speaker with him and quietly listens to jazz enjoying his beer. 

Back to Mixal Lake and Nick introduced me to the Paddle Board.   For the uninitiated, it's an inflatable surfboard that, after much practice, you are meant to be able to stand up on and paddle around with an extra long paddle.  Though an inflatable it is amazingly rigid once pumped up.  

Nick adds walking on water to his repertoire of accomplishments
Great fun and surprisingly fast.  I went from sitting to kneeling,  standing is the next challenge.  The odd thing was that as soon as I was on the board, Capt Jack Sparrow leapt on thinking he was coming too!  I'm not sure that was going to work first time out.

It also makes a good dive platform, which I managed to avoid and Nick demonstrated several times as he paddled around the lake, checking out lakeside properties.   It is a really tranquil setting.  One of the lakeside properties was occupied and a dog walker watching Nick dive off his board, laughed in appreciation of his diving skills.  Otherwise it was completely quiet.  



Capt Jack finally gets to go paddle boarding 

First Officer Fred sets off on voyage around Mixal Lake with Capt Jack







Comments

  1. MaddyRJune 2, 2021 at 10:07 AM

    Wow thats impressive on Day 1 - next up, three on a paddle board?!

    ReplyDelete
  2. BobJune 2, 2021 at 11:57 AM

    I'd settle for video of Mike standing on the board! Bruv

    ReplyDelete

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