Scribble Picnic. . . . . . .whatever floats your BOAT!

In Kenneth Grahame's Edwardian era children's book WIND IN THE WILLOWS,

 published in 1908, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepherd ~~~ Mole and Rat are rowing

 up the canal in Rat's boat. They are discussing nautical things and life in general

 when Rat is heard to utter ~~~

"Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely 

nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about

in boats."

I've messed about in boats a lot!

From ocean going cruise ships to kayaks.

From river boats to ferries.

From ice breaking expedition ships to rubber Zodiac boats.

I've loved them all and in fact am getting ready to travel on 

another in early May - more on that trip later.

So why the very ordinary, somewhat plain wooden rowboat

for today's Scribble Picnic entry?

Well this could almost be one of the very first boats I ever sailed 

on as a child. Family friends took me mackerel fishing along the coast on

 a sunny English summer afternoon, long, long ago!

I still remember it to this day, and when I noticed this similar rowboat

 anchored in the calm harbor on a chilly December day last year while

 visiting home, so many memories came flooding back.

I turned my photo into a sketch - added color with watercolor pencils.

Hope you stop over at Michael's creative blog HERE today and view the boats

our little group of talented artists will be sharing at the Scribble Picnic.