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Cycle Home

“Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realise fishing is stupid and boring.” — Desmond Tutu, South African cleric

Dinghy Miscellany

"When a body or individual loses some of its parts which are replaced by others of the same nature, the body or individual will retain its nature as before, with no change in its form". Quote from Baruch Spinoza (1632 -1677) probably after viewing Only Fools and Horses.

Sail Away

"If a man must be obsessed by something, I suppose a boat is as good as anything, perhaps a bit better than most. A small sailing craft is not only beautiful, it is seductive and full of strange promise and the hint of trouble." - E.B. White.

Bits n' Pieces

"I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” - Groucho Marx

I am Who I Am!

Liking Cycling, Sailing, Poetry

This is probably the most self-indulgent site on the web. I make no apologies, it keeps friends, relatives and my insurance company informed of what I am up to in my rapidly approaching old age. To make the most of early retirement, I have done the odd long-distance cycle tour. Visiting on separate occasions Spain, France and the Western Islands of Scotland. My last trip followed the Rhine from its source to the sea. I have also done a number of the Sustrans routes in the UK.

Apart from the occasional 'big boat' sailing, I have for many years explored Britain’s wonderful coastline in a GP14 dinghy. This is usually a week's sailing based at a particular estuary. Sometimes with a tent on board and 'doing' the Caledonian Canal, for example.

I currently have two GP14 dinghies, ‘Soirbheas', in which I used to race most weekends. I also have 'Aeolian,' a GP14, built in 1950. I spend many hours rubbing it down and varnishing, then I rub it down again and varnish, then I ru.....
In the last few years, I have enjoyed attending 'classic' boat rallies, with either 'Aeolian' or, occasionally, with a 1950 clinker built, Sea Ranger, 'Pheonix' that I helped restore.

I am a member of the DCA (Dinghy Cruising Association), CVRDA (Classic and Vintage Dinghy Association) and the GP14 Association, (Cruising and Classic Section).
The Royal Yachting Association awarded me their Gold Medal Community Award in 2014. In 2013, I was a finalist in the 'Old Pultney Whisky' Maritime Heroes Awards.

This 'indulgence blogging' documents past experiences. It is also a wonderful, selfish way to share with you what I find in books and poems. If it brings a smile to my grumpy, old face or it simply inspires me, then I hope also it does the same for you.
My written English may leave a lot to be desired - sorry about that, I tend to write the way I speak.

These cycle/sailing trips take a long time to plan, and I may as well share these experiences with you hopefully, you will be inspired and encouraged to make the best use of your time on planet Earth.