Arwen's meanderings

Hi everyone and welcome to my dinghy cruising blog about my John Welsford designed 'navigator' named Arwen. Built over three years, Arwen was launched in August 2007. She is a standing lug yawl 14' 6" in length. This blog records our dinghy cruising voyages together around the coastal waters of SW England.
Arwen has an associated YouTube channel so visit www.YouTube.com/c/plymouthwelshboy to find our most recent cruises and click subscribe.
On this blog you will find posts about dinghy cruising locations, accounts of our voyages, maintenance tips and 'How to's' ranging from rigging standing lug sails and building galley boxes to using 'anchor buddies' and creating 'pilotage notes'. I hope you find something that inspires you to get out on the water in your boat. Drop us a comment and happy sailing.
Steve and Arwen

Friday 19 August 2016

The Sicilian stand-off

Taking advantage of our indecision at the small road junction, he stepped into the road. He stood blocking our way, kneecaps on our bumper. Wizened, wiry, deeply tanned, he sucked air through missing teeth gaps whilst his brown eyes scrutinized us over the top of ancient golden wire rimmed round glasses. His face wrinkled, weather beaten and lined, the product of years out in mountain fields. Old, well-worn and patched trousers held up with a cracked leather belt, a light blue shirt rolled up at the sleeves. Clearly we were a novelty, something unusual, out of place, an unusual phenomenon penetrating the sleepy monotony of another sunny afternoon siesta high in the remote mountain interior. We stared back, unsure how to proceed, our way blocked by a septuagenarian Sicilian of the hills.   A Sicilian stand-off.  You did lock us in darling, didnt you?  whispered a hushed ,small voice in my ear.




Then, suddenly, as always has been the case everywhere we have gone in Sicily, a huge smile broke out on the leathery face and arms were thrown wide in welcome. We had passed muster, our village sentry was a happy man. Waved on, we parked up in a sunlit village piazza lined with mulberry trees under which in the cool shade, residents sat, chatting. Smiles, the odd wave and nodded greeting.  We were invited to see the geological museum. Although closed for the afternoon siesta, they were happy to open it. There would be no charge. "Prego, prego". Welcome.  


"Had we visited the Cliffside necropolis? Would we like a guide or just see it ourselves? It would be no trouble either way. Had we eaten, would we like some mineral water?  Did we know Wolverhampton in England? The family had a home there and occasionally visited it. Feel free to wander; any questions, please come and ask. We were the only visitors so far, and if we could be so kind, please sign the visitors book on the way out, if we have time and it was not delaying us on our travels. 





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