Llaut

Well,  that's another 'Lockdown' project finished.

First planking

On this occasion, out of the boatyard has emerged a Llaut boat,  a fishing and pleasure vessel of a type found predominantly in the harbours and marinas of the Balearic Islands.

Further progress

From an Italian manufacturer it has taxed my patience at times but the result is not too bad but would not compete well against real professional competition.

Sailmaking!!

However,  that is not the point. It has allowed me to avoid the deepest depths of depression in the present dismal circumstances and will be an ever present reminder of happy days looking at boats in Majorca and Minorca.

Finished!

I  will give boat building a miss for a little while and perhaps concentrate on the Morgan, the Volvo and gardening....plus increasing the amount of walking I do.

Pride of place in the front window.

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!!!!

'Palamos' completed!

It's kept me occupied for over 5 weeks to the point that I am almost enjoying lockdown,  not really,  there is nothing I wouldn't give to hop in the Mog with Helen and pootle off into the hills.

However, no chance of that yet,  so something like this is a good second best and there is yet another about to be started, a Calella Light Boat....you know the little fishing boats with lights that you can see at night offshore in Mediterranean countries.

A brief rest now,  planting spuds,  nurturing runner bean seedlings and cleaning the inside of the Morgan's wheels.

Deck completed

First planking

Second planking

Hull complete

And varnished

Bits and pieces ready to be fixed to the deck.

Finished!!

Add caption

My fleet today with a rogue 'Soller' tram!

Problem now is a potential shortage of shelf space!!!!!

What Crisis?......

.....I am joking of course,  but in these strange times there are some things a man must do apart from sitting around,  watching TV and imbibing copious quantities of alcoholic appetizers!

Preparing to begin the polish.  No I am not promoting 'AutoGlym'  but those are the products I use!!!

Anyway,  these are two things that have and are keeping me occupied until they let us out!

All finished including the leather and as a chap once told me,  'A car is never properly cleaned until the tyres are  'blacked'.

These activities are great but just at the present time we are enjoying some lovely Spring weather with reasonable temperatures and under normal circumstances that would mean delightful drives in the Morgan for picnics in the Bleasdale Fells,  Yorkshire Dales or the Lake District.....stopping by the odd local tavern to enjoy their hospitality.

You will have seen this type of wooden fishing boat all around the Mediterranean.

None of that now,  so I am building another model boat to keep me occupied and my wife sane!

This is produced by the Spanish firm Occre based in Barcelona I think and the second of their kits I have built,  the first being the 'Soller' tram.  Now back to my first love,  boats!

Progress,  but oh those bulwarks were tricky!

More on the build in the future.

Winter project completed!

All my illustrious readers who have visited Puerto Soller on the lovely island of Majorca will immediately recognize this....a model of a Soller Tram.

Early in the build.

The Tranvía de Sóller (Catalan: Tramvia de Sóller) is a Spanish heritage tramway serving the town of Sóller and the coastal village of Port de Sóller,  It is owned by Ferrocarril de Soller,  the same company operating the heritage rail line linking the town to the city of Palma.

Planking added...just like boatbuilding!

Roof planked ready for painting.

The Tranvía de Sóller is one of only two first generation tramways to survive in Spain, along with the Tramvia Blau in the city of Barcelona.

Running gear fitted

Getting close!

Building this model, produced by 'Occre' of Barcelona has certainly kept me occupied and at times, due to my increasingly clumsy nature,  caused much aggro and extremely bad language on many occasions,  for instance, after  knocking a container filled with minute bits off my worktable and on to the floor which is wooden with gaps strategically placed in between the boards...perfect for catching little parts!

Finished tram on the roadway.

Control panel

'Rock hard' seating!

Anyway,  it is completed now after spending a couple of hours a day over almost 2 months......and now it is time that I removed and cleaned the Morgan's wheels plus giving the car a good valeting!!!