An overnight cruise in early Spring, deep in the shallows of the Rade de Brest, featuring lots of drizzle, wading about on muddy saltings, cooking and musing on American and European table manners.
Comment: I like this guy, a quirky British architect and sailor now living in Brittany. This is Roger Barnes’ first video of the sailing season. He seems to be enjoying himself in spite of the dreary, wet weather. He wears solid wet weather gear, solid enough to surely keep his bung hole dry. My young Ranger buddy back in 1976 told me you can stand any amount of bad weather until your bung hole gets wet. Once that happens, you’re miserable and there’s nothing you can do about it. Over the years, I’ve found that to be true. That was a wise young PFC. I hope he’s a happily retired CSM now.
Back to Roger Barnes and his rainy day overnighter, he manages to keep himself quite comfortable and content with a boom tent and simple meals. Simplicity can be joyous. In the 25th Infantry Division RECONDO School, I remember talking about such simple pleasures with one of SSG instructors, another early veteran of the reformed Ranger Battalions. We spoke of the joy of laying under a poncho hooch on an air mattress and wrapped in a poncho liner in a steady rain… and not having to go anywhere. Roger’s boom tent reminded me of that conversation.
My advice is to pay attention to the world at large, but take the time to enjoy the small, simple things and cherish the memories of those small, simple things.
TTG
Nice. My brother Denis lived on his sailboat for years. He was quite happy.
Nothing worse than wet skivvies or wet socks. His gear looks a lot better than a poncho liner. I still have mine, a bit torn and threadbare. Nice boots.
I’ll pass on that gourmet sardine gumbo.
I need one of those articulated tilting boat trailers. Some of the back-slough boat ramps here are unimproved and all bumps.
I’m an 84 year old ex-soldier ( 85 this coming August). What about Pat Lang? Noel S. Cowling
Noel S. Cowling,
I just spoke with Pat. He’s coming along fine and is in great spirits. He’s religiously enduring the torments of physical therapy as one must. He’s also deep into doing his taxes now. He’ll be back on his blog before long.
TTG – Some more “Believe me my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats”.
https://twitter.com/LifeAfloat
https://www.youtube.com/c/NickRayLifeAfloat
https://www.lifeafloat.co.uk/
I enjoyed the video of exploring of him at Fingal’s Cave, those Basalt columns are unbelievable: https://twitter.com/LifeAfloat/status/1513392013898567680