Canoe pic.

This is Josh and I on step 5 of an 8 step dam.
We capsised at number 8 due to getting our paddling out of whack.
Good fun though.
I'll get back into my blogging when the cold winter nights come in.
Gordon.

I've been having lots of fun with the canoe this last few weeks. This pic was taken last night on the river South Esk between a wee town called Brechin, and the Bridge of Dun close to the Montrose Basin. There had been a lot of rain so the water was very high and fast. Very difficult to get decent pics on a canoe trip because no-one is very keen to bring camera's or cellphones in case they get wet. This part of the river has quite a few rapids and wiers, and also lots of hairpins and islands.

Great fun....

Chickens.

I finished the chicken coop/henhouse a week past Sunday and on the Monday, Sandra and I went to see a breeder to buy some point of lay hens.

These are called Light Sussex and cost just £10 each. They were much bigger than we expected, and have been laying 4-6 eggs per day between them. The eggs mostly have two yolks of a very deep orange colour and taste great. I have'nt let them out yet but over the next few weekends I'll let them out for a short while in the evening to see if they are happy to come back when it gets dark. Watch this space.............

Sunsets, Rainbows and Chickens.

I've been on holiday this week. Not for a rest but
to catch up on some projects, mainly the chicken
run. I started on the Wedensday by digging eight
eighteen inch deep holes. I then put in the posts with
concrete which I hand batched myself. Thursday
the concrete had set so I set about building the
compound. This has to be tight to the floor to keep
foxes and badgers out.

At this point I have hung the gate, and built the

three sides up with chicken wire. Still have to work

out how to do the front. I intend to have a double

stable type door and another mesh panel. I'll need

to resite the smoker. I'll need to start using the smoker.

Too much work and no play makes Jack

a dull boy.

Nice sunset from my front garden.

Looking out back and there was this nice part

rainbow.

Finally some leaves appearing on the beech trees.

Its going to be a good summer of hard work and hard play.

Canoe trailer project.

Myself and a few guys from the Paisley Pikers
Fishing Club have purchased Canadian Canoes
this year. The are many rivers in Scotland
suitable for open canoes and we will be doing
a few expeditions this summer through until
autumn and beyond. To do a river its a good
idea to have a trailer capable of carrying a
load of camping/fishing gear and anything up
to 6 canoes. I got this for the taking away.
Its an old caravan chassis, and formerly was
a towable holiday home for a family of four.

Not much to look at but great potential.

Here I have welded angled mild steel sections

to beef up the frame and give us some storage

space. A good mate gave it the treatment with

a wire brush and grinder.

Typically I give it a couple of coats of paint and

on comes the rain, but it was almost dry anyway

so no harm done.



Here I've made a start to timbering the floor and

sides, and fitted a replacement hitch as the other

one was beyond repair.

With a little help from friends I built the canoe

frame. It will take five sixteen foot canoes and

a whole lot of camping and fishing gear. Room for

another canoe on my roof rails if need be, and

more stowage space in the back of my estate car.

Cheers for now.

Gordon.

Plans for this growing season.

First proper post for a few months. The last couple of weekends have seen an improvement in the weather so I have made a start to the veggy plot. I now have 20 raised beds.


Shallots do'nt mind if its a wee bit cold.

This garlic was planted last October and should be ready about June. I have lots of veg started in small pots in the greenhouse including tomatoes, zuchini and peppers that will stay in there, and also some cabbage, beans, sweetcorn, fennel etc that will be transplanted into beds once they are established.

Other projects have included rebuilding an old Yamaha TT 600 Enduro motorcycle, converting a old race kart to an offroad buggy for my grandson, and converting a old caravan chassis to a trailer for transporting my logs etc, building a canoe rack to fit the trailer and lets not forget working 6 days and a couple of evenings a week. Sometimes it feels like there are not enough hours in a day.....

Canadian Canoe.

Inspired by Mungo's canoe trip into the wilderness

last year I decided to see what it's like for myself.

Sandra bought this for me as a Christmas present.

It's a wee bit too cold just now and some of the lochs

are still frozen, but if its not too windy I will definitely

try it out this weekend.

Have to practice my J stroke....I'll report back;-)