Geo: 44.0996, 3.08127Warm and sunny around 18oC Chris was off early in the morning to go wood chopping in another forest to replenish his stocks for the wood burner so we said our goodbyes early. My thumbs worse and from the first knuckle to the tip is swollen to the extent that the skin feels ready to burst, Julia's examined it and thinks I need to see the doctor But I've said I'll leave it and see if it settles down after breakfast.Later on. No Joy the thumbs still playing up so reluctantly I gave in and Julia rang her Doctor (who happens to be the Mayor of the town) after a long discussion it transpired that he wasn't on duty today so arrangements were made to see his locum at the surgery annexed to the ... read more

Geo: 51.1297, 1.31114A delightfully serene crossing made even better by the absence of passengers, hardly anyone on board; and NO coach loads of children, foreign or otherwise. A quick top up of diesel before we trundle off from Calais ( not as cheap as I'd hoped for at €1.35) we enjoyed an uneventful journey down to Rouen avoiding the Autoroutes where possible, most of the prices we've seen for diesel so far are around the €1.45 mark. My thumb is well an truly on the mend I've now got full sensation back until the last knuckle and from there to the tip it just pins & needles. From Rouen we took the slow route along the N154 Evruex/Dreux/Chartres and then the N10 to Châteaudun, then D924 to Blois the D956 to Contres followed D675 to our ... read more

Geo: 50.8998, -1.39561Saturday 11/04/09 At Sea Wind force 6 swells 2-3 m Some of the outside decks are off limits due to the weather so we completed the packing, but as for some bizarre reason tonight is a formal night we can't pack the last of our formal dress items so they'll have to be done tomorrow. After the evening show I decided to nip up to the Cyb@study and log on, update the blog and use up any outstanding minutes. Porno Pete was there as usual, I can't remember if I suggested it previously or not but we've come to the conclusion he must be owner of one of the websites as he's never off the PC, at Ponta Delgada after only 5 minutes off of the ship we saw him login on at a ... read more

Geo: 17.0817, -61.8077Sunday 05/04/09 St Johns - Antigua Temps Air 28°C Sea 27°C Our berth once again is ideally placed being right alongside the city's main waterfront, straight off the ship to the many bars & cafes. Although it's Sunday the place is already humming as already berthed is the Holland-America Lines ship Maarsdam, and 15 minutes after our arrival the Fred Olsen Lines Booddica arrived and there's another due in later in the day We'd booked a 4 x 4 excursion to the centre of the island, which in view of the number of visitors now deposited on the island seems like a lucky choice. Off we lurched in our LR Defender through the city with our guide pointing out local points of interest, he was a proper laugh, so chilled, no problems man; up ... read more

Geo: 8.99427, -79.5188Monday 30/03/09 At Sea Temps Air 27°C Sea 28°C Around mid day we started to notice the odd green turtle swimming around in the sea, we'd been told in Acapulco that the turtles migrate to beaches all along the coast there every year to lay their eggs, and as the afternoon progressed we passed alongside hundreds of turtles all making their way back to the nesting beaches still some hundreds of miles away. The clouds started to darken after lunch and we expected a passing shower which never materialised, but when we looked over the starboard side there in the distance was a waterspout, you could clearly see the funnel emanating from a massive dark cloud formation on the near horizon down to the sea, what a sight! Other than a strong surge of ... read more