Author Archives: spikekalashnikov

The night before, I oil the gears and chain on my bike. I am very excited as I am going to Ie Jima lily park where hundreds of thousands of lilies bloom in early May. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ie+Island/@26.7217993,127.75505,14287m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x34e4e52234ae3037:0x2f5216e8c1d1df09!8m2!3d26.7201277!4d127.7928395 It is that time … Continue reading →

When I come home from work, I mean messing around with the boat and going to the shops, I throw all my loose change into a historic stainless steel bowl. https://thequietripple.com/2018/07/20/burt/ After a couple of months the change builds up. … Continue reading →

As I have mentioned before, I used to be ashamed of my feet. In European years and to a lesser extent in U.S. years, I had vile feet. They were enclosed all days in tight shoes and hot socks that … Continue reading →

Nagano – Best Place in the World! was a much longer entry than the version that was posted last night. I think there might be a maximum length for WordPress posts. Anyway the piece was cut off in mid paragraph … Continue reading →

Off we go to Nagano! Plane to Haneda, shinkansen to Ueda. Do I need to add to the acclaim for shinkansen? Er, yes! They are always on time, super clean, totally silent and very fast. Well done Japan. We get … Continue reading →

If it is windy, it is a good idea to put a reef in the mainsail. This makes the sail smaller and the howling wind does not heel the boat over so alarmingly such that you think she might capsize. … Continue reading →

Having a big hole through the hull through which the sea can pour is not a good idea. Regretfully this is something my boat has. How I don’t not know. The collar has come off the exit of the cockpit … Continue reading →

It is now nearly 3 years since I started the big job of repainting the boat. At the time I was worried that the paint would not adhere and would soon flake off. However this has not been the case, … Continue reading →

Japan has been very slow to start Covid vaccination. The over 65s, a group that I easily qualify for, get the jab first. Nobody seems to care. I finally grilled a friend and we looked at the Ginowan City Hall … Continue reading →

Excuse my French. After 3 months of repair, adjustment, poor weather, I finally get the boat out on the water. It is a truly glorious day, bright sunshine, not too hot but shorts and Tshirt all the same. The engine … Continue reading →