Before Ben leaves we take the Scaffie out of the water for her winter refit. She needs lots of Teak Oil, sanding, varnishing, scrubbing and general love. Don’t we all.

We sail the Scaffie to the best harbor in the world, Shioya, where the the trailer awaits.  I have never been able to back the trailer down the slipway accurately. It jack-knives, it goes the wrong way and I end up pushing the trailer by hand thereby herniating my gut.  Ben takes control and gives a master class in backing up a trailer. We winch the Scaffie onto the trailer consummately.  We then take the boat home and again Ben backs her into the winter position without the slightest problem. I am in awe. How does he do it ?

What a masterly performance!

So, the Scaffie awaits months of tender care.

“I’m afraid we shall waste an awful lot of time.” “Don’t worry,” answered Snufkin, “we shall have wonderful dreams, and when we wake up it’ll be spring.

You may remember that I spent a lot of time working out how to winch the Scaffie into Dead Man’s Gulch. Check out: https://quietripple.wordpress.com/2015/04/11/dior/

and

https://quietripple.wordpress.com/2015/05/10/dont-it-always-seem-to-go/

However, now the fishermen allow me to use their slipway, as I am clearly mad, the need to winch the boat up the beach has evaporated.

However my brain has been squirming like a toad on the subject. The wheels on the trailer are too small. Yesterday, with a little help from my friends, I install new wheels, which, if I ever lose fisherman favor, will allow me to winch the Scaffie out of trouble like nae borra.

Previous decadent wheel situation

I like to keep my wheels on the ground.

Little Blue Boat on the trailer.

I feel a little bit over-prepared. I don’t generally like people who prepare for possible future difficulty.