Vicar's last sailing blog

VICARS BLOG 13^TH SEPTEMBER  2013.

MARGATE OLD TOWN,

KENT.

Well, it’s just nine days since we sailed Pilgrim into Chatham. ( Although she is now moored on a buoy in the middle of the Medway very near Hoo Ness, where  we were all blessed by the Bishop of Rochester.)

It’s taken me a while to get down to writing this blog, at the end of an amazing three month adventure. Towards the end of the trip, I experienced so many emotions, sadness that a journey which was a year in the planning was coming to an end, a great respect for a boat that had sat eight years in dry dock that had been a perfect boat, a companion, and a home. (Pilgrim, in rough seas proved she was an extraordinary boat.) I was also looking forward to family and friends I hadn’t seen for three months. Over the last week there has also been a sense of anti-climax, as we get back to ‘normal’, after a trip that we had been planning for so long.

We visited so many inspiring shrines, churches, communities, that when towards the end of the trip, Chris asked me what my favourite place we had visited was I couldn’t say, each one had given me something in different ways.

Another important aspect of the trip that was unexpected was being made aware of various issues facing coastal towns, the sea being a main source of employment and tourism. For example, when we were in Newlyn, Cornwall, I saw a poster advertising a service of blessing of the fishing fleet. After details of the service, was a comment which made me think, ‘ when you buy a piece of cod, you also buy a fishermans life.’  I love fish, but have often complained about the price. After seeing that Fisherman go out in dangerous sea conditions I think again before having a moan. Chris and I would listen to the shipping forecast and if we didn’t like the sound of the force of the wind or the condition of the sea, we would often decide to stay put in harbour but Fisherman have little choice. In the early morning (if I was up) I would watch the Fisherman come into harbour after a nights at sea, they would then work a couple of hours preparing the catch for market, and then cleaning up their boats for the next trip.

I have also come back from the trip with enormous respect for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, men and women who volunteer to come to the aid of those in difficulty at sea. While we were in Dunbar Harbour, the Dunbar lifeboat was called out four times in two days. We also heard during our trip, lifeboats called out to assist, a man who had run out of Petrol, the lifeboat crew came out to accompany him into harbour, a crew called out as a woman was having a miscarriage at sea, and a diver who had resurfaced to soon.

In harbours and ports around Britain I became aware of those organizations that minister to those at sea, The Mission to Seafarers and The Fishermans Mission. TFM, I was particularly interested to discover supports wives who have lost their husband at sea, and also pay for fisherman to receive Physiotherapy after injury at work. Both organizations have an important role in the spiritual and social care of those who work in the Fishing and nautical industries and services.

So as well, as this being a spiritual journey, I learnt so much about our coastal communities.

Chris and I also felt we wanted nature, to be so much more a part of our life, after this trip. I bought myself a pair of Binoculars and spent a lot of time Bird watching,    I now have a greater appreciation of our Britain’s amazing wildlife.

We started off with a desire to visit Celtic shrines around Britain, but the spiritual element became so much bigger, as we visited Findhorn ( Eclectic Creation centred eco-community.........I refuse to call this community ‘new age’, as it encompassed so much of a Christian ethos.) and Holy Isle, where Buddhists have their centre, for World Peace, and run retreats but are also doing so much god environmental work on the island.

So in so many ways, the journey.......pilgrimage has finished. Or has it? In so many ways this is just the beginning.......let’s face it, life is a pilgrimage. There were some places on the journey that I would like to have visited but for one reason or another it just wasn’t possible.

Chris and I want to return to Holy Island (with Nelson) for a week, there is a very tangible holiness about the place. While there I would like to visit the Farne Islands where St. Cuthbert died. ( A link here with the RNLI in that it was around the Farne Islands that Grace Darling and her Father rowed out in rough seas to rescue survivors of a shipwreck, which in later years inspired the establishment of the organization.)

Because of a growing fascination with islands, I have already been looking at the websites of Lundy and Bardsey Islands.

Bardsey Island, the site of an ancient religious community  today continues to be a place of spiritual pilgrimage as well as a conservation area.

Lundy Island again a place of conservation and natural interest but also an Island that appeals because the cottages that tourists stay in are quite primitive, in that there are no televisions or radios to save energy, and after a certain time of night lights are turned off, for light people have to rely on oil lamps. For me this sounds bliss.

So now I draw this final sailing blog to a close, I was reminded what the spiritual writer Margaret Silf writes in her book ‘All at sea with God’ about the role of the anchor that it has to be strong enough to hold the boat down in any kind of terrain. But also it has to be able to hold the boat in a sea that is calm or a bit more vigorous. (I remembering anchoring and having many sleepless nights, when the wind was wiping up the sea, making Pilgrim move up and down to an endless motion. No matter how uncomfortable I felt I knew we were relying on the anchor holding us down.)

Silf goes onto to talk about the relevance of the image of the anchor in the spiritual journey. “The only trouble is they can throw down roots! We need the still point of rest and restoration that our anchor offers, but we also need to be able to let go of the mooring and set sail again. We must let go of every signpost and journey on. We cannot be ‘established.’

I hope that in the spiritual journey I am never ‘at home’ comfortable with where I am. When Chris and I were sailing I would often have a nervous feeling, not knowing what the sea would be like. Each day there was a sense of unknowing, which wasn’t always comfortable, but I was exhilarated and nervous at the same time. Basically I knew I WAS ALIVE! This is what I feel the spiritual journey should be like; we hopefully are courageous enough to face the UNKNOWN, which can be slightly UNNERVING, mostly EXILARATING, but always LIFEGIVING.

Margaret Silf quotes a prayer that was written by Archbishop Helder Camara, that describes this so well.

Pilgrim

When your ship

Long moored in harbour

Gives you the illusion

Of being a house;

When your ship begins to Put down roots

In the stagnant water by the quay

PUT OUT TO SEA!

Save your boat’s journeying soul

And your own Pilgrim soul,

Cost what it may!

Journey's End (Skipper)

Journey ends or more accurately, Pilgrim’s progress is finished for now but journeys never end they continue in a different way.

We reach Chatham marina after almost 11 and a half hours. We left Dungeness after anchoring for the night as the sun was rising and entered Medway as the sun was beginning to set.  73.5 miles, the longest distance we have travelled in one day.

The day before we left Brighton and beforee that, Yarmouth on the Isle of White, and fought the tide for 3 hours until it changed in our favour. 

The tides have been Neaps so not too strong but any tide against us is energy spent and fuel used in our case as the wind was nonexistent at times.  We had a good day but passing Dungeness was a bumpy ride and light was fading so we anchored in the lee of lighthouse for protection against the South West swell.  Wind was light so the night was calm.  We had great luck to see the Clipper Yachts racing, these are yachts with amateur crews sailing around the world in identical boats.

The last week has been a race for us to get Pilgrim home and ourselves as we wanted to finish this trip cleanly rather than returning to move Pilgrim in a few weeks from a port on the South coast.

Tears have been flowing abundantly as we pass each headland, Beachy Head, Dungeness, North Foreland and so on.  We wanted to go into Ramsgate as this is where Pilgrim was stuck for 8 years on land.  She, Pilgrim is now once again a boat and we have a relationship with her.  On Wednesday evening we moved Pilgrim to her new moorings with Hoo Ness Yacht Club.  As I lowered the ensign Jeanette was very emotional.  Once you live on a boat or other vessel for 3 months you form a relationship and become connected. 

Jeanette is going to write very soon but for now thank you for reading and I hope you have enjoyed these blogs and following us around the coast.

Skipper's Update to our present position.

Quick update as we have been making great headway in this marvellous High pressure system which has brought moderate wind and very calm conditions so we have sailed, motored and motorsailed!! By this I mean if the wind is very light we leave up the head sail to motor as the boat is more stable.

Here is a summary of our last week.

Lundy to Padstow (Rough conditions)

Padstow to St. Ives 34nm (calm conditions began to take affect)

St. Ives around Lands End inside Longships light house to Newlyn  30nm. Left at 0430 to get correct tidal gate.  Visted St. Micheal’s Mount later in the day.  Very emotional day to reach such a significant point.

Newlyn to Fowey 50nm

Fowey to Salcombe 39nm

Salcombe to Lyme Regis 50nm

Lyme Regis to Yarmouth 63nm (rounded Portland Bill by the inner route to avoid the strong race which produces very confused sea.  Lovely to pass another significant headland and marker.  Also passed the Needles into the Isle of White.

Today we hope to reach one of the South Coast seaside resorts. Possibly Shoreham/ Brighton or Newhaven.

Skipper's thoughts

To leave or not to leave!!!

A skipper has the hardest choices to make.  Using the weather forecast to judge the safest route to travel, the potential sea conditions around the coast, especially in open water extended passages and avoiding navigational dangers.  When  we left Milford Haven to cross to Lunday the passage plan was provisional until we reached the mouth of the Haven and a few miles out to sea as I wanted to judge the swell in the Bristol Channel although the weather forecast said “slight or moderate” meaning up to about 2.5m waves.  The boat is solid but her crew are human and we are the weak link.  Long passages can be exhausting and demand navigation, helming, and making hot drinks often to keep up crew moral and strength.   The swell was uncomfortable but not undoable. We were actually following a boat half our size.  We reached Lunday in good time but once we were committed we had to make for the anchorage or turn back in enough time to reach a safe port.  The wind was SW so the anchorage would be a haven but had the wind changed to NE, as possibly suggested by the Met Office we would need to get to the other side of the island, but the swell might prevent us staying at anchor.  It’s always a gamble to weigh up all the factors and to go.  Overnight at anchor, the wind got up to Force 5 and built the swell in the Bristol Channel and our sleep was like trying to get comfortable on a roller coaster for 4 hours.  We had to stay another day as there are few havens on the Devon and Cornwall coasts within reach and it is a lee shore in the prevailing winds .  We wanted to get to Padstow but if conditions worsen then we would be stuck to find a shelter from the NW wind. Keeping safe but also taking some calculated risks is a lesson I continually have to remind myself to do, not just as the skipper but in life.  When we did set off for Padstow the confused sea was very uncomfortable and took a lot of energy on the helm.  The day before, passengers had got off the Lundy ferry looking grey with seasickness so we realised it was not going to be easy.   I calculated that the wind had been slowly decreasing so the swell should be within our capacities.  We did however get to Pastow in the afternoon but aching all over with the constant movement of the boat.  When I saw the harbour with the numerous  eating places and pubs it was a very welcome break after 2 nights at anchor.  Curry sauce over chips was a delight!!!!!!!!!!

We are now in Newlyn having rounded Cape Cornwall.  We went inside Longships Lighthouse as the weather and conditions were very favourable. 

A major point in our journey, NOW it will be EASTWARDS ALL THE WAY>>>>>>>>>

St.Ives

McLARENS   BLOG 23^RD AUGUST 2013.

LUNDY ISLAND, ENGLAND.

I am writing this blog on the back of Pilgrim…….I should say the stern, we are anchored at beautiful Lundy Island. We can see the Devon coastline in the distance, so we are definitely ‘ homeward bound.’

The last few days have been a mixture of highs and lows. We arrived in New Quay, (Wales) with concerns about lack of diesel, we also couldn’t continue with our trip because of head on winds. However New Quay bay was full of dolphins and much dolphin activity. It was great to go see dolphins playing in the bay, over a morning cup of tea.

We arrived in New Quay on the 21^st of August and ended up staying two days, we were both suffering from cabin fever because we couldn’t go a shore, as the boat was anchored to far out, and it wouldn’t have been safe for Chris to row, in strong currents.

On the morning of the 22^nd we did try to leave New Quay, but owing to wind against tide we decided not to risk sailing that day. However it was great to have dolphins swimming beside Pilgrim. ( In fact later that day I was speaking to a man who organizes trip boats for visitors to see the local sealife, and he said that that morning he just pointed to Pilgrim and said ‘ If you look out to the red boat, you will see a number of dolphins.’ It’s lovely to think that Pilgrim will appear in a number peoples holiday snaps.

On 23^rd August we did manage to leave New Quay, without concern of lack of diesel as another boater informed as that someone did sell fuel to visiting sailors. So that was a relief!!

We had a great day sailings, the sun was shining, the tides were with us for most of the day. Sometimes we were travelling at 10 knots. We passed St. David’s Bay, and the Ramsey Sound, and making our way to Milford Haven. After an excellent days sailing  we treated ourselves to a meal in the marina restaurant.

Yesterday morning we left Milford Haven at about midday, the weather was ,’variable’ ( The Coastguard safety, weather reports favourite word.)

a mixture of cloud and sunshine. It was great to see Lundy Island in the distance. Lundy is a marine conservation area, maintained by the Landmark Trust. There are a number of ruins on the island, revealing that people lived on the island hundreds of yeas ago. There is a church, but an attraction for people who love bird and dolphin watching. A frustration for us was that we couldn’t go onto the island, as we were just too far to row. But it is a beautiful place to anchor, and I’m sure we will be back.

McLARENS BLOG 26^TH AUGUST 2013.

ST. IVES.

It is hard trying to make space to write blogs at this stage of the journey, as we concentrate on making our way back South-West. We are now in St. Ives after spending one night in Padstow. Once again because of high winds Chris, and Pilgrim and I were battling with ‘confused seas’, which made for an uncomfortable days sail. However we saw a number of Dolphins, who jumped through the water near us, and some even sailed alongside Pilgrim, which was amazing. REALLY BREATHTAKING.

As we sailed into Padstow harbour, which is small, we saw hundreds of people on the quayside, listening to a brass band. In sails Pilgrim, and I must admit I thought, if there was a situation to go wrong in our mooring manoeuvres this would be it, to give all these delightful people a good afternoons entertainment. However we moored against another boat without any mishap, such has our team work come on.

PILGRIM: Oh, please, you haven’t told them about the fact that you had to moor on a buoy, to wait for the tide, so you could enter the harbour, and that you shouted at the Skipper.

JEANETTE:  No I didn’t.

PILGRIM: I think you did.......at one point while the Skipper was trying to tie a rope around the buoy he asked you to reverse twice and you responded, ‘I AM REVERSING!’

JEANETTE: Yes,

PILGRIM: And another thing, why do you always end up driving around the buoys about five times........their great big yellow things.....you always seem to miss them. No wonder the Skipper gets angry.

JEANETTE: Sorry.....this is my blog.

PILGRIM: Can I write the next one.

JEANETTE: Do you want to spend another eight years on dry dock, it can be arranged.

PILGRIM: OHHH.........that hurts.

This morning we left Padstow and we are sitting ‘on a buoy’ ( This time we managed it in one go.) in St. Ives. The sea was kind to us, it was lovely and hot, but because of the heat haze we didn’t see the coast to well, which was disappointing as the Cornish coastline is beautiful.

We saw dolphins again today, always so playful and graceful.

When we were Portpatrick Chris asked me what the highlight of this trip has been, I couldn’t answer. ( And will leave that for another blog.) Because I have a ‘Creation centred Spirituality’, I have enjoyed so much of the natural world which we have encountered, the seals, dolphins, porpoises, the deer on the Isle of Arran and, the amazing bird life.

This afternoon, I was flicking thorough ‘The Iona Worship book’  and came across this lovely meditation by Meister Eckhart, which I will finish this blog quoting.

Apprehend God in all things,

For God is in all things.

Every single creature is full of God

and is a book about God.

Every creature is a word of God.

If I spent enough time with the tiniest creature-

Even a caterpillar-

I would never have to prepare a sermon.

So full of God

Is every creature.  

  

Vicar's blog 19th August

McLARENS BLOG MONDAY 19^TH AUGUST 2013.

TRWYN PORTH DINLLAEN, WALES.

This trip has certainly been full of challenges, spending three months living in a confined space, me having to learn basic sailing skills, Chris and I taking Pilgrim through locks on the Crinan Canal, sailing in different sea conditions. But we reached our hardest challenge, when we left Isle of Man, Port Erin, to make for HolyHead Wales, we left at 7.50am and were still sailing through the night……..this was meant to be a days sailing!!!!!!

But the sea was choppy, a South West wind, Force 5-7, visibility poor. We fought the force of the sea all day, as it was getting near dusk we thought we could see our destination, then it got dark. Pilgrim was riding the waves which swept over her bow, and then would come crashing against the wheelhouse, we would be clinging on, with the weight of our bodies against the way the boat was swaying. I became more frightened…….as it got dark and later, I just curled up and started crying. There was no harbour near us we just had to keep going…….even though the sea was not taking us anywhere. I turned my back to the windows I couldn’t bear to see the height of the waves and Pilgrim being battered by the sea. I reached a black moment when Chris put a safety harness to our life jackets. I was in this state for many hours. Then I looked at Chris and knew he was ‘rooting for me’ but he was actually in so many ways alone.

At some point I pulled myself together, I remember looking at the clock on my mobile at about 1.30am, I think it was about that time that I became a crewmember again, and started telling Chris what I could see while he did the co-ordinates to plan a course. Eventually we did begin to see lights in the distance, although it took hours to see the lights become towns.

We finally sailed into an anchorage at six o’clock in the morning, just as it was getting light. We had arrived in Anglesey near the Menai Straits.

Despite the fact that we had been up all night we were up drinking tea at eight-thirty next morning. The sun was shining, we decided to have a day’s rest. Throughout the trip, Chris has tried fishing with a line, he decided to get the line, after seeing what was movement on the water, which was definitely fish, he quickly retrieved his line from the cabin and caught us five mackerel, which made a wonderful supper.

Later that afternoon, we sailed along the Menai Straits, into Caernafon. When we walked around the town it was lovely to hear people speaking welsh.

On Sunday morning (18^th) Chris and I didn’t get to visit a church, but we did say Morning Prayer.  We thought it appropriate that we read Marks account of Jesus calming the storm. (Mark 5. 35-41) I must admit that I related in a way I never have before, to the disciples saying to Jesus ‘Don’t you care that we drown.’

When Chris and I were riding the waves in the Irish Sea that night I did say to Chris, ‘At what point do you call the Coastguard.’ He responded by saying, ‘ I know what you mean, but that is a last resort.’ As a sailor, he knew he had to rely on his own skills to get through, and he had the confidence. It was my own lack of experience as a sailor that made me fearful. After talking to other people we have met in Marinas our experience was not unique. And is all part of the challenge and risk of sailing.

I have mentioned the word ‘risk’ in this blog a number of times. Risk was part of this trip, even before we set sail. It was a risk to buy a boat that had been sitting in dry dock for eight years. It was a risk to keep working on Pilgrim making her seaworthy, when we were let down by those we had employed to work on her, it was a risk to continue with the project when we were the victims of ‘boatyard politics.’ After a period of work not going ahead, we decided on a day off, to do some work on her anyway, only to get a phone call as we were replacing paneling, from Chris’ brother to inform us his Father had died.

Two days before we were due to be blessed by the Bishop of Rochester, the mast went up. The night before we were due to meet the Bishop, we were sailing Pilgrim down to Hoo Ness Marina, which is where we were due to meet family, friends and members of our Church, for the blessing.

At times I would want to give up, even days before we were due to set sail, I was texting Chris full of doubt as to whether we would actually ever be going to sea.  It was only Chris’ tenacity and faith in the Project, which made it happen.

RISK
RISK
RISK

Risk, so often in life we try to avoid it. Risk makes us fearful, unsure of ourselves. Risk means we may fail, be laughed at. Risk may leave us feeling stupid. Risk takes us out of our comfort zone.

Some years ago Chris and I came across a poem by William Arthur Ward, we have both pinned it above our desk, and has continued to inspire us since we first heard it.

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.

To reach for another is to risk involvement.

To expose your ideas, your dreams, before a crowd is to risk their loss.

To love is to risk not being loved in return.

To live is to risk dying.

To believe is to risk despair.

To try is to risk failure.

But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

The people who risk nothing, do nothing, have nothing, are nothing.

They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live.

Chained by their attitudes they are slaves; they have forfeited their freedom.

Only a person who risks is free.

The Quakers talk about living the faith journey ‘adventurously,’ adventures can be risky, that’s what makes them exciting. But as Christians we have a God who is constantly with us, and so we shouldn’t fear the risk of the unknown.

As I write this I am aware of a slight irony, in that because of being taken off course and ending up in a part of Wales that we never intended to visit and have got behind schedule. But I do know that God has blessed us on this Pilgrimage, he brought us through the rough passage of Wednesday night and we will trust him in the final two weeks of our trip, we don’t know the details of our final destination at present. We are hoping the weather, winds, tides, will allow us to make headway.

But I will say this, in the past I’ve waxed lyrical about the spirituality of sailing,……………but the reality is very different!

One of the books Chris and I brought with us was At Sea with God, written by Margaret Silf. A book in which the parallels of sailing and spirituality are explored. I found this wonderful passage, which really spoke to me.

‘Perhaps the destination is nothing more, or less, than the ocean of God’s love with its potential to transform us from the partialness of who we are now into the fullness of all creation into which we are being called. To live a life of faith is to trust the journey and to shape our choices in favour of the spiral that leads to life.’

   

  

Skipper

Skipper’s Log UTC 1720 Saturday 17^th 2013-08-17

You may have heard from Jeanette on Facebook that we had a bad passage down the Irish Sea.!!  We are at rest after what can only be described as exhausting and quite terrifying for Jeanette who hasn’t experience open sea on a 12m yacht.  I was very impressed by her lack of seasickness in general but when you are in fear for your life and very very anxious one would expect sickness.  At one point Jeanette suggested we call the RNLI and I reassured her we were safe and in no immediate danger. The RNLI is not there to accompany frighten sailors but to rescue when life is in danger.  Had one of us been injured or the boat was compromised due to water intake or dis-masted then one can call the RNLI.  In our circumstances, they would have only accompanied us to a safe port.  It was frightening but not dangerous with a 12m steel blue water boat capable of crossing oceans.

We left the Isle of Man at 0750 Thursday and reach Anglesey 22 hours later!!!!!!!! 0620 Friday. The South West wind drove us towards Cumbria.  The large waves kept us from going South West and we needed to get into the lee (behind) Anglesey to protect us from the wind.  The wind was force 5-7 went up to 34 knots, near gale at one point and the boat went backwards. The boat speed was painfully slow and we did not want to do night sailing but once you are in the situation the choice has gone.  When we reached a safe anchorage we had hot chocolate and went to bed. Amazingly, the same day we went into the Menai Strait at 1500 and had a wonderful sunshine sail.  What a crazy weather world we live in.  Even caught 5 mackerel with a line over the side of the boat. Supper was very nice with a slice of lemon.

The passage reminded me of a cartoon with a group of 3 sailors after a long sea passage, 2 sailors walking towards a pub and a third walking towards a church.  When the third sailor is asked by his friends where he’s going he says, “I’ve got a promise to keep I made out at sea”.  The sea must have made many a believer.  According to my reading, John Newton who wrote Amazing Grace was converted at sea in a storm.  When I asked Jeanette if she had prayed on our trip down the Irish Sea, she said “many times that God would keep us safe”.

Hope you can see the chart of our journey, Jeanette is going to put it on a wall.

Pilgrim waiting in Portpatrick for a fair wind to Isle of Man.

Not happy with the Met Office forecast of force 6, frustrated as we lost a favourable tide and wind.

Still it's nice here and lots of people are taking an interest in my colour and design. Pilgrim speaking!!!!

Moving tomorrow!!!

11th August

MCLAREN’S BLOG.

PORTPATRICK, SCOTLAND.

11^TH AUGUST 2013.

PILGRIM’S PROGRESS.

‘Will your anchor hold in the storms of life

when the clouds unfold their wings of strife.

When the strong tides lift and the cables strain

will your anchor drift or firm remain.

We have an anchor that keeps the soul,

steadfast and sure while the billows roll,

fastened to the rock which cannot move.

Grounded firm and deep in the saviours love.’

Hi me hearties, Pilgrim here, her Holiness has finally sat down again and given me a voice.( All ‘me’ that one.) By the way if I actually spoke, I would have a slightly nasal, sound to my voice, and if I was human I would have a broken nose, but more about that later.

I begin MY BLOG, with my favourite hymn, and it has certainly been appropriate these last few days or so. At times it’s been so windy, we haven’t been able to move, when we were in Stranraer, the Captain had to hold me down to the mooring with extra rope, so choppy were the sea conditions, and that was in harbour.

We have also been battling against wind on tide. ( Her Holiness doesn’t know what that means. She don’t speak ‘boaty speak’ like me and the Captain. She just says things like ‘Blimey it’s a bit lumpy,’ when the sea is rough. But the Captain and I know when it’s a North-East wind going against the tide.)

I’ve had the most marvellous time on this Pilgrimage. I’ve heard seals singing at Holy Island, since coming North I’ve seen the most amazingly huge Jelly Fish swimming so close to my hull,  I’ve sailed across Loch Ness ( Yes under Canvas) sailed into Holy Celtic places, the way the early Celtic missionaries did, sailed up the Caledonian Canal, with the posh boats.

Actually, this is where I put up with ‘boaty discrimination’, from other boats and their owners. This is because I am quite big, made of metal and have a huge…….huge………huge, belligerent bowsprit. (For those who don’t know what a bowsprit it’s a huge feature on the front of boats that people can stand on. Think Kate Winslet and Leanardo and ‘I’m Flying’……that’s a bowsprit.)

Mine is huge, metal, slightly rusty, (although the captain has put anti-rust paint on.) Well, on the Caledonian Canal, right from the very beginning I was met with derision, I could see boat owners and the actual boats thinking ‘Please don’t put that thing next to me.’ I would enter the lock chamber full of the love of Jesus, singing ‘Does your anchor hold’, and get looks as if I was a punk rocker, walking into the posh enclosure at the Derby. Well, I could say that Jesus loves you even if you do look like something lethal that could smash every boat within the lock. But no, I say to the ‘You shouldn’t stereotype boast like that. I may look like something, ugly but I’m loved and was blessed by the Bishop of Rochester, I have visited Holy sites, I’m going to visit the Buddhist monks and nuns on Holy Isle.

JEANETTE. Hang on we didn’t know we were going to Holy Isle when we were on the Caledonian Canal.

PILGRIM: Do you mind this is my blog. Why don’t you do something useful, like cook a meal for once.

Right that told her Holiness.

Anyway, there was one group, who made her Holiness very angry. A Skipper, had given all his crew jobs to do, to get their boat through the locks. One was given, the job of holding a fender, in front of my bowsprit, in case I got too close. Her Holiness, tried smiling at him, but all he did was give grim looks my way. This really annoyed her, all the way up the locks I could see her…….its like she was really quite protective of me.

But there was an incident on the Crinan Canal, when I thought this Pilgrimage had come to an end. On these Locks Jeanette, was ashore attending Lock gates, filling the Lock chamber, while Chris was in on board. We were going up the Locks, we had gone through the first Lock, without incident. But on the second Lock, Her Holiness had accidently let the water in too fast forgetting how heavy I am. (She is used to Narrow Boats which are lighter.)

The water gushed into the Lock chamber, the Captain couldn’t hold the ropes because of the surge of water, so the conversation went something like this.

CAPTAIN: Jeanette get the ropes……….shut the puddles……get a rope…..shut the paddle.

Her Holiness floundered around, not knowing which one to do first.

In the end she did decide to close the paddles.

CAPTAIN: Jeanette…….JEANETTE (Sounding anxious and angry.)

I was heading…..or my bowsprit was heading for the Lock gates.

PILGRIM: Oh, no,……….I’m gonna crash! I’m Gonna crash.  I’M GONNA ……..BOOM, BOOM.

I had hit the lock gates.

Her Holiness was fighting back tears. Chris was anxious and angry.

CAPTAIN: JEANETTE, JUST GET A ROPE WILL YOU!!!!!

It was at this point that Her Holiness got a rope, reeled it up made it neat, but then she lifted it up, and actually aimed it at him.

I MEAN CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!!!!!!

HER HOLINESS: Right, there’s a rope, this is the last time I ever do anything with you again, in future I want relaxing holidays!!!!!!

The rest of the trip up the locks was done more carefully……….but I have to say more silently.

The captain would try and make conversation, but there was no reply, from Her Holiness. After Her Holiness, had chatted, with a women at one of the Locks for quire some time, the captain tried to make conversation.

CAPTAIN: You and that  woman were having an animated discussion, what were you talking about.

HER HOLINESS: Nothing.

Later.

CAPTAIN: Right time to moor up, this would be a good place to moor up, what do you think.

HER HOLINESS: I couldn’t care less.

They moor up, when I’m tied up, she just walks off. It’s like that for a few hours, they manage to go shopping, the meal that evening is eaten in silence, she’s outside, he’s inside. Then he walks off.

It goes on and on…..threats of going home……honestly.

But then I said to them, hang on doesn’t the good book say do not let the sun go down on your anger. Come on guys make it up, this is a wonderful trip, don’t ruin it because of a couple of mishaps, one of them being a bent bowsprit…….but I’m forgiving, I move on.

HER HOLINESS: No, you didn’t. From what I remember, we both apologised. Talked about the positive aspects of the trip, and decided to put it behind us, and look forward to the places we would be going. We both agreed this was a chance of a lifetime, something we have both been wanting to do for a long time, and make the best of the rest of the trip……although we still had challenges ahead. I do feel guilty about the bowsprit, I must say. I like the fact that you look like a boat made in the bowls of hell, but that you are called Pilgrim.

Right, how about , you and I sing the chorus, of my favourite hymn.

Here we go:

We have an anchor that keeps the soul,

 steadfast and sure while the billows roll,

fastened to the rock, which cannot move,

grounded firm and deep in the saviours love.

PILGRIM: I must say Vicar, I would do anything to attend one of your marriage preparation courses.

9th August

VICARS BLOG FRIDAY 9^TH AUGUST.

STRANRAER.

As I write this I am feeling somewhat queasy, and we are not even at sea. We are moored on a pontoon in Stranraer. We were on our way to Portpatrick, but because we were fighting the wind decided to bring Pilgrim into the nearest possible port.

This morning we awoke, hoping to make way, but by the time we had got up, the winds were up again. So instead of moping on the situation we are in at the moment, I have decided to think about and write about more positive aspects of our trip in the last week or so. (Chris has just had to go out with more rope.)

On 5^th August we left the Crinan Canal, after being there three days, again because of strong winds, to head for the Isle of Arran where Chris has some friends who run a Bed and Breakfast in Loch Ranza. After mooring up, and pumping up the dinghy, (we are getting very efficient at this.) We rowed over, well I didn’t, Chris did the rowing…….. but I do carry out most of the pumping, on the ‘blowey uppey’  pump thing though. Although just to explain I don’t blow it up using my lungs, I use my legs.

Anyway we had a meal with Jean and Andy, and during the conversation we had explained that we had been to some of the other Scottish Islands in the past to visit many of the amazing Standing Stone sites. Jean happened to mention that there were some stones on Arran pre-dating Stonehenge, and she would be willing to take us. We were delighted and took her up on the offer.

Jean, in the past had lived in Beckenham had spent many years as a child holidaying on the Isle of Arran, and was so knowledgeable about the local birdlife, wildlife, and geology of the Island she was an excellent guide as we drove around the island. And the six stone circles at Macrie Moor were spectacular. We had lunch in a Golf course with spectacular views of Mull. Jean drove us back to the B& B, for a cup of tea before a quick pint in the local hotel, before returning to Pilgrim.

After a drink in thehotel, Chris tried to row us back to the boat, but because of the wind and an incoming tide, we made our way back to the shore, resigned to waiting the wind to calm down. It was as we carrying the boat along the shore that we noticed Pilgrim’s anchor was hanging down, in a very precarious way, swaying in the wind. It definitely began to dawn on me, that sometimes it seems sailing is just going from one possible disaster or hazard to another. Those who have romantic ideas of sitting on the front of the boat drinking wine, sunbathing, and relaxing, HAVE NO IDEA! My sister and her husband went sailing with friends in the Mediterranean Sea, and she told me that when it came to mooring up in a harbour, she would make her way down to her cabin, because  of the inevitable tensions that arose between the couple who were responsible for the trip.

Anyway because of the anchor we needed to get back to Pilgrim, Chris suggested we walk over to the little jetty, near the harbour as there may be someone who could help. Luckily for us, a chap came along to check his dingy; Chris explained our situation and he offered to take us over to Pilgrim.

I’ve had to take a break from writing as I have been feeling really sea sick, as I was walking up the pontoon, which was moving, Chris shouted out, “ Are you sure you don’t want to go to sea.” This rather barbed comment, because it’s always me who wants to be moving on, and I get frustrated when we are held up by the weather.

“Oh blimey, what now another crisis.”

Right a charter boat that normally moors on the Pontoon, (although we are on approved visitors mooring) where Pilgrim and another boat are at present, wanted us to move to make room for him, but decided the wind was too strong, has gone somewhere else.

Right, anyway.

After our stay in Loch Ranza. We sailed down the breathtaking coast of Arran making our way to the south end of the Island, to the bay of Lamlash, as we wanted to visit Holy Isle, which had been the site of a hermitage of a Celtic Saint, St. Molaise, monk, who had been born in Ireland, raised in Scotland.

St. Molaise, lived in a rock shelter above the shore western shore. By the 1100’s a monastery had been founded, to act as a hospice for the many pilgrims visiting his monastery.

Holy Isle is now owned by Buddhists from the Tibetan monastery of Samye Ling, in Dumfries, which Chris and I visited some years ago, we were very impressed by the gentle, respect for all forms of life that Buddhists have, for me the spirituality of Buddhist monks and nuns is very like that of Franciscan monks and nuns within our own Christian tradition.

When Chris an I were at Samye Ling monastery, we saw information on Holy Isle, and back then I had hoped that one day I/we would visit Holy Isle, and the Centre for World Peace. At the centre an ongoing programme of retreats and conferences are held, the community who run the centre work with environmental groups, working with nature for the well being of the plants and animals that thrive on the Ireland. There is a community of Lay people who work with the monks and nuns.

Holy Isle has is a rocky geology, with a high peak. From Lamlash you can see the Jetty where guests arrive, and the Centre for World Peace. There is a small ferry that motors across to Holy Isle, run by Jim a real ‘salty sea dog character’.

Jean our friend on Arran, had told us of the anxious reaction of the local people, when it was announced that Buddhists, were moving on to the Island. But over the years, they and their work have come to be respected, especially the environmental aspects of conservation and ecology that are so much part of the ethos of the community, both religious and Lay.

,

On Wednesday (7^th August) Chris and I caught the first ferry (a small motor boat) to Holy Isle. All visitors are met at the jetty by a member of the resident community. The history and the ethos of the centre is explained, and visitors are encouraged to visit the organic garden, and walk around the Island. There are two main suggested walks, around the coast path, which passes, the healing spring, St. Molaise’s cave. Which is regularly swept and cared for by the community.( The cave continues to be a place of prayer.) There are also three ecological pods, built into the hillside, where people live in retreat. There are also painted rocks along the way of different Buddhist deities.

As well as the amazing birds that make the Island their home, there are also Eriskay ponies, Sanaan goats, and my favourites the Soay sheep. It was the Vikings who brought these to Holy Isle, so that when they were passing through on their various voyages, there would always be a meat supply. However, these animals live long and happy lives, as the diet of the Buddhists and the guests are vegetarian.

The walk along the coast ends at the Southern Lighthouse and lighthouse cottages, where an international group of twelve women are participating in the first Tibetan Buddhist closed retreat in Holy Island’s history. This is a traditional Tibetan retreat, which lasts THREE YEARS AND THREE MONTHS, and is made up of silence, study, meditation and prayer. The women are now half way through their retreat.

I put the period of time of the retreat in block capitals, because for the last few years I do an annual silent retreat of five days. I would at some point like to take part in a thirty day Ignation retreat, as many people do, but the thought of three years is certainly challenging.

The second walk that visitors to the Island can do is across the top peak which is a rugged walk……climb. Which Chris and I tried, but felt we didn’t want to climb the last bit. (“Oh! If you had approached by the other side it’s so much easier”, we were told afterwards.)

When Chris and I arrived on the Island, we visited the organic garden first, I am not a gardener, but I came across a notice which made me smile.

‘The centre and the garden are staffed entirely by short and long term volunteers. The garden is also staffed by worms, insects, birds, slowworms and the odd red squirrel.’

This made me smile and resonated with me because so much of what the Celtic Church was about, the interconnectedness of all that is on the earth. The Celtic church with its creation centred ethos is not unlike that of the Buddhist ethos.

It was Chris who pointed out to me, what the Celtic Church started, living on Islands, the appreciation of ‘thin places’, the promotion of the interconnectedness of all creatures, the Buddhists now seem to taking up the mantle. The same principles that we found at the Community of Iona are the same as the Buddhists of Samye- Ling.

Although Jesus for me is the way, the truth and the life, I have never subscribed to a Christianity that writes off the truths, wisdom and religious writings of other Faiths. I prefer to seem them as fellow travellers.

Chris actually brought  ‘The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying’ by Sogyal Rinpoche.  I would like to conclude with a prayer as I always do with these blogs, and I will choose one from the above book, that sums up what the spirituality of Holy Isle is all about.

May I be the protector to those without protection,

A leader for those who journey,

And a boat, a bridge, a passage

For those desiring the further shore.

May the pain of every living creature

be completely cleared away.

May I be the doctor and the medicine

and may I be the nurse

for all sick beings in the world

until everyone is healed.

Just like space

and the great elements such as earth,

may I always support the life

of all the boundless creatures.

And until they pass away from pain

May I also be the source of life

For all the realms of varied beings

That reach until the ends of space.

PILGRIM: When am I gonna get a say. You said I would write the next Blog. I’m being censored……even though I know you would say you don’t believe in censorship.

Jeanette. Why would I censor you, its just I wanted to write about Holy Isle, it’s such an amazing place.

PILGRIM:  Your censoring me ever since you and the captain had that row.

Jeanette: Why would I do that.

PILGRIM. Well, for a start, your waxing lyrical about peace and harmony, when you…

Jeanette. No don’t….you wouldn’t dare.

PILGRIM. I’ve been censored since you had that argument on the Crinan canal…..

Jeanette. No don’t I would be very embarrassed.

PILGRIM: I saw you throw a rope at the captain in temper.

………hey everyone her holiness threw a rope at the captain!

Jeanette: That’s it I’m off to the pub.