Good picnic ruined!!

On a day that we knew would have temperatures soaring to 30 degrees or so,  the idea of a picnic was a definite consideration.

My dear wife who is excellent at conjuring meals or picnics from nothing, filled our little basket and two more containers with goodies comprising amongst other delicacies, two lovely pork pies and a bottle of Rioja Rose....I should add that we only had a small glass each!

Ready for off.

Anyway the Morgan was loaded up and off we went with great hope in our hearts,  picking up some fuel on the way.

The target once again was Littledale on our friend the Duke of Westminster's estate,  indeed our spot overlooks his grouse moor, where on the glorious 12th August the little road that leads up the fell will be crowded with Range Rovers carrying extremely wealthy individuals and their expensive guns.

Whether or not that will take place this year with this blasted virus goodness knows!

Coffee time

Well,  we arrived,  set up shop with table and chairs and I settled back to read my Telegraph, while Helen poured our coffee and served the 'choccy'  biscuits. Oh boy! It was heavenly, the peace being broken only by the calls of curlew and lapwing....then it happened!

A small vehicle  parked almost alongside us, whose occupants appeared even older than us,  wound their windows down, switched the radio on and destroyed the intense peace of the occasion. It was one of these ghastly commercial radio stations which are not appreciated by us!!

We endured it for a while and then we decided to pack up and move on.

We have never seen the Trough of Bowland so crowded, with four cars occupying our normal favoured spot with, amongst other individuals, a grossly overweight woman with skirt tucked in her knickers paddling in the river.

Overlooking the River Hodder

It was not for us,  so on we drove until we did finally find a spot where we could relish our pies and sup our Rioja.

This is all a result of Covid19,  as normally in midweek we oldies would find ourselves virtually alone and all those crowds we saw today would be either at work or school.

As the temperature soared it became a bit too hot for us and we drove back home for a welcome cuppa and a bit of peace!!! The day could have been much better!! 

First picnic of the year!

Normally we would have been at this very spot, one of our favorites, probably 8 weeks ago but due to the 'Lockdown' we had to wait.

Relaxing by the river

It was great to be back,  the weather was scorching,  the Morgan running well,  the birds singing, including a cuckoo and all was lovely with our world....except that for the whole population that isn't true at this time!  But it was super to get back to something approaching normality.

What a wonderful way to spend a few hours and this spot is just 25 minutes from our home.

Second 'Lock Down' project

Following the completion of 'Palamos' I decided to build another model, this time of a Spanish 'Light Boat',  the sort you may have seen fishing at night in Mediterranean climes.

First planking

First planking complete and deck fitted

Second planking (veneer) started

Second planking complete

Painting starts

Finished!

The stern with buoys, gas cylinder, bait tub and bucket etc.

The bow showing anchor and basket for the catch.

What am I going to tackle next?.....That is the question!!!!