Author Archives: spikekalashnikov

Big day at the boatyard. Otis, marine biologist at OIST, comes down to help. We spend the morning sanding the bottom of the boat. We hear the thunder of the Harley and Kiyano san arrives. He explains that during the … Continue reading →

Those of you who have watched the film Braveheart will remember that  the Scots were kinda blue – not emotionally but rather pigmentally. I am faced with more awfulness of scraping ancient anti-fouling paint, of which there are at least … Continue reading →

I take a day off from cruel and unusual punishment and wander around. It is the best day. This time of year is unpredictable weather-wise in Okinawa. It can be drab rainy and grey, but this year the weather has … Continue reading →

First and foremost, ” Happy Birthday Mummy!”  Today my Mummy is 95 and a finer person I have never met.   I celebrate her birthday by struggling with my centerboard. I belatedly read the boat’s instruction manual with due care, … Continue reading →

On my first visit to Japan, which was in 2001 I think, I bought a kitchen knife. This knife has brought me happiness and joy ever since. She has been my companion in  the kitchen for 20 years. She is … Continue reading →

So, Monday was a very busy day. I have to go to OIST, en route, I pass what was once a wonderful vegetable garden. https://quietripple.wordpress.com/2018/01/20/torpor/ Not now. I so hope that the old lady who tended it is OK. My former … Continue reading →

I fortuitously rented an apartment in San Francisco in 2010. This was probably the best thing I ever did. It is a wonderful place. There are four bedrooms, a big kitchen, bathroom, and an outside porch that houses the washing … Continue reading →

James has to get back to work so we set off early for San Francisco. This time we are going to take a very difficult track up to Mengel’s Pass, then back down towards Panamint Valley, stopping off at the … Continue reading →

We go over to the cabin the next morning and the people have shipped out so it is ours. The cabin has become much more civilized since I first stayed here. https://spikekalashnikov.wordpress.com/2010/12/26/dutch-oven/ Better furniture, camp beds, lots of food, solar panel … Continue reading →

Gassed up, we drive down through Death Valley heading down to Sweet Water Canyon where we will head off into the Badlands. The scenery is majestic. The big crunch comes at the turn off into Sweet Water Valley, the fractured … Continue reading →