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Captain's Blog (3) "Beachcombers"

david

By david

32 comments


Having had a few days of almost gale-force winds and some driving rain (the Spring Equinox?), it was a great relief to have a return to calm, sunny, blue-sky days for the weekend. Great! We had agreed to go to a beach to gather anything which might be useful in our “Pirates” garden.

I deliberately chose a rocky shoreline a mere 7 miles “as the crow flies”, because it has other good “ingredients” apart from the “treasures” to be found.

The smell of fresh, salty air seemed to drive the crew wild, until I hollered, “ATTENTION!!!!! Start SEARCHIN’’!!!”

_Aye, Aye, Captain!_

We had our eye on sea-worn bricks with holes, for use in mini seashore planting schemes (from “Garden Answers” magazine, Sept. 1997 – more later), and found lots!! These are great for planting up with things like Sempervivums, Armeria maritima and small alpines.

Lots of smooth pebbles, seashells, fossils and sea-tumbled green glass, which my daughter thinks of as emeralds.

We got some sun-dried seaweed and bleached driftwood, too.

Eilidh even found some artificial flowers!! Not real silk, mind you, but we took them anyway.

Hmmmm…..I quite like the “blood red” colour of those “carnations”. Thinking that a single one in a black goblet might look good on the captain’s table?

My own personal “treasure” came in the form of two 12ft lengths of garden decking railing, which must have been dumped, as it had not even been in the sea!

This will help enormously when I make ship’s railing! I had to break each length roughly in half to fit into the car, by repeatedly dropping a boulder on them,,,,,haha!

The other “ingredients” I mentioned above, came in the form of caves, and a ruined, clifftop castle. It was a real thrill to listen to my children’s imaginations rule their explanations for what we saw.

This particular cave is called the “Doocot Cave” (dovecote).

James was pretending to be chained to the cave wall, to await a slow death by drowning at high tide – lol!! I, however, was more interested in the boxes carved out of the cave wall (soft sandstone) for use as nesting/roosting boxes for pigeons. This belonged to the (now ruined) castle on the cliftop above, but is still used by wild pigeons, several of which flew in and out of the cave when we were there, adding to the “atmosphere”.

Several of the caves here have/have had some very good “wall art” dating back to Pictish and Viking times. Unfortunately, most of them have become obliterated/ greatly damaged, through time. An attempt to protect them was made, by erecting metal grilles across the cave entrances, but even these have been vandalised, and sawn through.

James told me that the bars were put up by pirates, to keep their prisoners in the cave…do pirates even keep prisoners?……. Okay, guys, will be back for you 10 years hence!!……..

Just jokin’! Had some time to explore the ruined castle before getting our “loot” home.

This old tower house is closely linked with Macduff, Thane of Fife, of “Macbeth” fame. It is a real shame that it has been left to fall victim to the elements, and vandalism.

My children immediately suggested that the various holes in the walls were made by cannonballs fired from pirate ships offshore…lol!! James has suggested that we trace this “window” outline and use it to make the island shape on a treasure map – brilliant!!!

Alas, we really had to bring an end to our “awfully big adventure”, and get our treasures safely home.

(chest still to be painted, and sand still to be laid! What the heck?? We had a great.time!!).

:-))

More blog posts by david

Previous post: Captain's Blog (2) Beginning to get "Ship-shape"

Next post: Captain's Blog (4) "Curse of the White Peril"



Comments

 

Brilliant David ~ it looks like you and your crew had a great time!

23 Mar, 2010

 

love the sea worn bricks David they look smashing,clever children to choose the map shape it just looks like one too,you all found lots of ..goodies..treasure. a lovely day out for you to brush the cobwebs away, i cant wait to see this pirate theme when are you doing it ? :O))

23 Mar, 2010

 

Oh David, you did so well to find all that 'treasure' on the beach, the driftwood is great, as are the bricks with holes. We find pebbles with holes through the centre down here, would cost a fortune to post them up to you !
I love the idea of the treasure map island from the window shape, well done James. Last photo looking really good. : o ) ) )

23 Mar, 2010

 

Joan - great minds think alike .. we posted at the same time .. it's looking so good isn't it ?

23 Mar, 2010

 

This one is brilliant, that fossel is great, and some are worth a lot of money so keep hold, shame about the tower gate its lovely. The hole reminds me of the dablume out of the film the Goonies lol Your children will grow up to be very clever adults, as they have a brilliant imagination, like their dad. Love the carnations, and I find it very funny your bottom brick is nearly exactly the same as what I took from my sons house, the other day lol, from an old brick wall from years ago, to do exactly the same as you to place a plant in the two holes, will put a photo up to show you tomorrow.

23 Mar, 2010

 

Well David thanks for sharing your adventurous day with us, glad you found such good treasures to take home with you. But I think the biggest treasure you all share is the very obvious love that you have for each other.

23 Mar, 2010

 

What a lovely day out for you all , and you found some great treasures.

23 Mar, 2010

 

YES megan looking great :o))

23 Mar, 2010

 

You did well David especially when you realise how much you would have had to pay out for a piece of driftwood like that. I know how much it costs around here, anyway it always feels better to actually find a piece on the shore.
I can well imagine your childrens enthusiasm for this garden scheme and days out finding their treasure is obviously a pleasure for you all..........

23 Mar, 2010

 

Many Thanks, all! Would you believe this? We will be watching "Goonies" this coming weekend, 6d!!- LOL!!!

Megan, Thank You so much for the kind thought of posting us some stones with holes in, lol!! If you find some large stones/.boulders with neat roiund holes drilled through, they might well be "anchor" stones, as not all sail ships had anchors, as we know them! Still a few to be found around here. :-))

Hi, Megan and Joan! Can't wait to trace the window shape onto a Treasure Island map (so clever of Jhames to see this, wasn't it?) :-))

Joan - we are now up to our necks in piracy - haha!! :-))

Stroller - Many Thanks for this!! I think that you might have hit the proverbial nail right on the head!! :-))

23 Mar, 2010

 

It was a day none of you will forget, such good fun and lots of booty.

24 Mar, 2010

 

I like the bricks with holes... great for Sempervivums...

24 Mar, 2010

 

That was wonderful David. You all had a great time, and so did I reading it and looking at the photos. It will be nice to see more pics of your treasures in the garden .

24 Mar, 2010

 

David another great adventure and we all get to go along too. Its great i always look forward to the captains log cant wait to see everything in its glor come summer it will look fantastic :-)

24 Mar, 2010

 

Brilliant photo's,you have had a very adventures day and enjoyed yourselves.Stroller what a nice thing to say but its true.

24 Mar, 2010

 

glad you all had a good day.... its amazing what you can find on the beach isnt it.....i love finding old bits of driftwood..... to put round my pond area.... : O ))

24 Mar, 2010

 

forgot to say your flag is brill.....

24 Mar, 2010

 

What a brilliant day you all had if we take anything of our beach like stones etc we get find if court.

24 Mar, 2010

 

Great blog!!

24 Mar, 2010

 

Sounds a brilliant day out. It's a long time since I went beach combing but I remember it being great fun. Your garden is coming together and it will be great to see it take ship-shape.

24 Mar, 2010

 

looks like you all had a really great day, nice photo`s - its just amazing what you can find, now when can i get to the coast?___mmm

24 Mar, 2010

amy
Amy
 

What a fantastical magical day , I love the way James and Eilidh let their imagination run away with them , , I wish you had been my dad ...LOL.. or rather I wish my father had been like you ...LOL... those worn pebbles with the holes in are great ... it's making me want to come up that way for a holiday , you should be working for the tourist board ... :o))

24 Mar, 2010

 

lovely blog . i used to think sea glass was emeralds too.I grew up 'on the beach' so so many of your treasures were mine too. there is a large saccharine seaweed that we used to imagine were crocodile tails. worn kelp was the lions tail tuft 'daktari' was a fav tv programme along with Jonny Weismuller a Tarzan.

24 Mar, 2010

 

Many Thanks, everyone, for taking the time to add in. Daktari and Tarzan, Sbg, I still have my christmas annuals from those, lol!

Hmm, Amy, I should give the Tourist Board a call, lol!! You wouldn' treally want a mad nutter for a dad - would you? :-))

The garden is coming along better than I thought. The transition from Willy Wonka and chocolate, to pirates and treasure, is really quite easy, as the brown fencing (antique oak) and "gold" all fit the new theme. :-))

24 Mar, 2010

 

What a brilliant education you are giving your children :) Were you ever a teacher ? If not I think you missed your vocation lol

25 Mar, 2010

amy
Amy
 

David yes ! I would much rather have a 'mad nutter ' for a father than one that hardly had a conversation with me ... .. Thank goodness my son is like you with his children .. :o))

25 Mar, 2010

 

Fascinating blog David, amazing scenery and real treasure trove. wish I'd been with you all:-)

25 Mar, 2010

 

A wonderful blog,David,and what a lovely way to spend a day out.This is exactly what children should be doing,and its so nice to see them having a great time,not forgetting Dad of course! your coastline seems a fitting place for treasure trove,and love the stones with holes in.:o))

26 Mar, 2010

 

Never was a teacher, Aster. Do you really think I "missed the boat" there? Hehe! :-)

Oh, Amy, that is a sad memory to have. :-( I really like the sound of the "crow's nest in the tree, though. :-)).

Luckily for us, Bloomer, there are plenty of good beaches within easy reach. My children want to do this again, but somewhere else. May do it this weekend. :-)

26 Mar, 2010

 

great day you all had there david, and lots of treasure to be had, love the worn bricks, wouldnt mind a few of them myself, the kids look so happy david, your a great dad :o)

27 Mar, 2010

 

Poor James - being chained up like that! LOL. Where did he think that one up?

You had a great day - I bet J&E had a whale of a time.

29 Mar, 2010

 

It's magical to see the kids using their imagination as well. You have obviously released their already creative little heads and it makes for fun times and a great garden......as well as great days out into the bargain!

1 Apr, 2010

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