Week 16 Back to Work...
Week 16
To finish off last week we had to take the boat back to Heerenveen - it took exactly 1 hour longer than the outward trip - due to to a good-for-sailing stiff headwind.
We left at 0730hrs - with the mast down and everything on board the night before - we slipped slowly out of town without waking anybody. I haven't yet learnt to sleep in the way most of the other boaties seem to...
For Sale...not far from Burgum... "with room for a pony boat"...
Our major project this week was to get the "tunnel" set up...
First, the foundations....
We used an old fashioned spirit level (water) to get it level...
Half-way (after 3 days) - it didn't help that they had included 60mm bolts instead of 70mm! - rectified after stern words from Janny...
On Saturday, I had help from one of our boys. He comes from a socially "weak" family and has been with us for quite a few years. It creeps up on me now and then that they get older and leave when the time is right. This boy's father works in the building trade making and installing aluminium spouting so he has been doing a little bit of work learning the trade. It showed in his ability to help me finishing off the framework - ready for monday morning, when we will put the covering on.
Some New Zealand Blue pumpkins coming along...
Our closest freeway has been open for more than 2 years now - it has a camera system to detect speeding "Trajectory Controle" - it measures the time taken between two points - at the off-ramps. In just 2 years there has been €4 million in fines!
Frank pointed out to me that there is a shortage of newspaper deliverers - with a €1000 starting "bonus" being offered...
This morning's walk...this is the National chart for this 2 week block. I'll be overtaken when people get out of bed - it is Sunday, after all... the weather is on the improve - I still need a beanie early in the morning.
I never tire of this walk - every day different colours - and today a few more leaves and lots of birds - including a woodpecker.
The Great Spotted Woodpecker
(From Vogelbescherming Nederland) (Bird Protection)
Black and white bird with red 'trousers'. In flight, the large white shoulder spots stand out. The male has a red spot on the back of the head. This is missing in the female. Young woodpeckers have a red cap and are therefore sometimes mistaken for a middle spotted woodpecker. But the red of the middle one is a shade lighter and the middle spotted woodpecker has a more white 'face'. For example, there is no black border along the crown. The great spotted woodpecker has the undulating flight characteristic of woodpeckers. Their roll and call ("chik") can often be heard in mature woodlands, parks and gardens.
The thing I like best is that their brains are protected when they peck the wood...
To start with, woodpeckers have very small brains, which weigh just 0.07 ounces, according to National Geographic. Bigger brains have more mass, which increases the risk of brain damage, so their smaller brains are protected.
The design of their skulls is also beneficial for several reasons. The frontal bones of their skulls work in conjunction with a pair of muscles at the base of their bills to act as a shock absorber, according to the National Audubon Society.
Fantastic photos, glad you are getting so much use out of your boat.
ReplyDeleteregards to you both
Horrie & Evon