Styling on the S.S. Bigwin

 Capt. Paul, on the S.S. Bigwin out of Dorset has his hands on history.  In his left hand, the helm of the ship, over 100 years old, lovingly recued and restored and now plying the Lake of Bays.

In his right hand, a piece of the railing from the iconic Bigwin Island Rotunda. A piece of railing that has felt the hands of the Rockefellers, Carey Grant, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, Dief the Chief and so many more of the movers and shakers of its era.

The ship is now sailing 3 times a day -- and you'd be well advised to take the hour and enjoy the cruise!

 It is a delightful way to see part of the lake -- including the Dorset cliffs -- look closely and you'll see the kids jumping off! A true rite of passage, that.

 Here's another rite of passage that makes indelible memories -- 6 year old Simon takes the wheel and steers the Bigwin through the channel.




Would the passengers have been quite so relaxed if they knew who was in charge of the boat???   Powered by an electric engine, the boat is virtually silent except for the slap of water along the hull. Magic.






Looking for something to do, Jim replied to an ad that simply read "Wanted, Deckhand."  Now this is how he is spending his summer.  Could do worse!

I was very honoured to be invited along on this cruise by a good friend and his family. It was a lovely chance to take a step back and just breathe.