BY BARGE, SAILBOAT, CAMEL, HORSE OR BIKE!         
Noel & Jackie's Journeys
  • Our Travels
  • About Us
  • Our Books
  • Gift Store
  • Contact
  • Travel Photos

Bike on Boat

4/29/2016

4 Comments

 

​Rouge Corsair is back to being a working boat!

​​‘Naw, we'll do it tomorrow.’ He said.
But I knew better.
 
I was about to touch up a window frame (lucky thing!), in the wheelhouse and thought better of it. Although Noel had decided to lift the motorbike onto the boat ‘tomorrow’ – I am quite used to plans changing.
 
At about 6:00 pm the clouds cleared, the sun shone, and as I slipped dinner into the oven (Mousakka) Noel announces, ‘I think we’ll move the boat up the canal and lift the bike on board.’
Picture
I didn’t even roll my eyes (well, perhaps a little) – I am used to this.
 
With the oven timer set, we disconnected the power, untied, and did a beautiful reverse manoeuvre into the canal.
 
Puttering along to the turning point we almost kept going. The sun warmed our faces, the engine purred and finally, after a long, cold, Belgian winter, we were on the move – although briefly. It was such a relief.
 
Suddenly, we were back on the dock with the bike and derrick at the ready.
Picture
The crowds gathered, the band thrummed out an ear-splitting drum roll……
 
Well, a few of our buddies came to see…
 
 Via Noel’s carefully constructed rope-bridle on the bike we hauled it up, swung the derrick around and smoothly lowered the bike onto the deck.

Picture
It was almost an anti-climax it was so easy!
 
We puttered back to our mooring, just for a few more days – soon we head down to Ypres. Butterflies flitted in our stomachs, we’re almost ‘on the road’ again.
 
What task/job have you achieved that was surprisingly easy?

Rouge Corsair is for sale - take a look around here.
​More escapades here.

 
4 Comments
Val
4/29/2016 12:34:02 pm

This almost made me cry. I'm so sad the barge is for sale, but I do understand. Getting the bike on board looks a cinch! So when are you coming to see us then??

Reply
Jackie link
4/29/2016 10:54:05 pm

Awwww - it is a bit sad, we are always sad to move on, but take our memories with us and feel blessed we've got such wonderful memories.
It was a cinch! Way easier than we thought - we used to have a similar (smaller) derrick on our last sailboat to life the dinghy - that was harder!
We're planning an Italy trip first -will keep you posted ..... boats usually take a while to sell - we can enjoy the boat and the bike - and friends first! :-)

Reply
Col
5/4/2016 11:44:31 pm

Piece of cake really?? Rouge Corsair looks terrific & you both have done a fabulous job on a complete refit. Look forward to seeing you both in the spring!! Col.xo.

Reply
Jackie link
5/12/2016 01:27:36 am

Thanks Col! We are in the mountains of Italy, more on that soon - not good internet - will catch up when we are back on board! x

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Follow us on FB to
    receive new blog posts 

    Further Reading

    Read more on our sailing, horse, barge and bike escapades here

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    October 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.