Yesterday was one of those “good” days. Flashing round the village like a loony on my wheels and grabbing an opportunity to photograph Marlene and Angela. I now have mini business cards with my photo, email and mobile number. For those of you thinking of trying portraits I have found this also puts people at ease, they can contact and check up on me. One other benefit is that I offer them prints from postcard up to A3, free, which is usually gladly accepted. If they give me an email address I also send them a jpeg which can be forwarded to family in these difficult times. I am now fighting off an attack by Denzel, my bug. 

Now then where were we…..
There’s a main image and an extra. The main is a bunch of us from the Amphibious Training Unit Royal Marines, ATURM. Except for the guy on the near right, our medic, these were members of the SBS, look it up. :-) I had been attached to them for 18 months representing the RN and RM as a canoeist; :-) only in the services. I have removed their ugly pusses! 

We drove up to Fremington, stayed at the Amphibious Experimental Unit and borrowed an Amphibious DUKW. After crossing the River Taw we would pound a few miles up the beach and set up camp for the day. 8 hours in the water requires heat. Our first job was a fire, while two of us did this the rest offloaded the Gemini, with 40 Hp Johnson engine and fuel, and the Klepper Aerius canoes. In total there were 8 of us plus the driver. The stage was set for some learning and huge exciting fun times. 

Driving a gemini in heavy surf requires skill and timing. To stop the nose flipping one guy drove, two of us stood near the bow holding ropes and rode like a water skier. Thrilling. The Klepper is quite heavy and as manoeuvrable as Oprah Winfrey on ice. The rudder is controlled by the rear seat man as the front seat is for the swimmer/diver. Paddling out in the surf was brilliant, bursting through waves. To get back we would paddle to the surf line, turn to face the seas then paddle backwards between waves, as the next wave came in we paddled hard at it, went over the top then reversed again. That’s hugely tiring. Inevitably the sea won and you got the best part of 85 pounds of canvas and wood pounding you into the sand. If the gemini came down on top of you that was about 250lbs bouncing on you. 

We ate huge amounts to compensate for the energy used. We went out in the boats at night and after a few hours a halt was called. Head count, “one two three four………seven…..???? Where’s Shiner?” Looking out to sea we caught sight of a white light bobbing off to Westward Ho. Screams of laughter and the DUKW went off to rescue him. One afternoon the wind rose to about 25 knots. We were sheltering behind the DUKW sipping red-hot tea when we all heard “Thumpada - thumpada- thumpada….” We peered around the DUKW and saw the Gemini bouncing down the beach, still with the engine attached, going like an enraged bull. The Kleppers were following, also at a high rate of knots. We raced off in the DUKW, trapped the Kleppers then drove past the Gemini and let it crash into the DUKW. That was it for the day and we already had the gear loaded. Win - win!!!!

Before we drove back to Poole we ran from Westward Ho to Clovelly, about 14 miles. The big bloke bending over the rear of the canoe thought he would stroke a baby seal. Nearly cost him his fingers. Great pint in the Red Lion, Clovelly. Good blokes, good work, good fun. Actually better than aviation.