Zen Again 4

 

Cherry blossom sunbathes, beside the path, which leads to Boyce’s the bakers. At the foot of Gillingham high street. Where a large wholemeal farmhouse loaf, and a half dozen hot crossed buns, await me. Along with uplifting banter, on a random topic of the day, to further brighten the morning.

I roam restlessly between Stargazer, the house, and the local shops. Like a honey bee, drawn from its hive by the spring warmth. Moving from bloom to delicately fragrant bloom, sampling their wares. I fetch forgotten charge cables, gather in overlooked provisions, work the washer-drier overtime and gorge on high speed broadband.

From the Historic Craft pontoon, astern of Stargazer, the world-girdling thirty-six footer, Lively Lady, looks on, serenely. Aboard her, Sir Alec Rose circumnavigated, in 1967. During a golden decade, for pioneering, solo, ocean sailors: Moitessier, Knox-Johnston, Chichester, Rose, Tabarly et al.