Blogs from Oceans and Seas - page 98

For new readers: if you click on the photos, you can see them enlarged. Friday, Sept 7 We eventually sailed at 0700. Sunrise was 07:20. The sea was flat but there was a mist that obscured our exit from the harbour. Sylvia had woken at 0330, disturbed by the noise of containers being loaded onto the ship. They were being loaded right next to our cabin and she was concerned that they would “accidentally” be smashed into our cabin. Having experienced how containers are loaded, it was not a frivolous fear but we managed to survive the loading without any damaging problems. As we get further from the shore, however, the waves grow bigger and the period between the waves increases. We are truly in the Atlantic. Lunch: Ham and pea soup / Fish and potato ... read more

8thSeptember Up at 4am. Graeme took me to the airport so was there around 5.30am. Had to wait until 5.45am to check in but that was very quick. Luggage was booked straight through to Buenos Aires as I had printed off my boarding pass for the second leg. Had hours to kill so went and had breakfast and logged on to check out the wi-fi process. This little thing works well.. Went through customs about 8am. Had to practically empty my backpack to pass through security but I suppose that’s what you have to do these days. Plane was late so we didn’t leave until 11am (flight supposed to leave at 9.45). Great flight and it was a quick flight as we arrived only 10mins late. Must get great tail winds going East. Absolutely unreal coming ... read more

I have mentioned, but haven’t yet fully shared, my curiosity with ‘names’ on the island. It all started at Donny’s (as usual) with a conversation about the challenging road systems here. Mention was made of ‘Capt. Wright’s Turning’. “Was this the real name?” I enquired. “Oh yes” came the reply. “Why so called?” “Well in the 1800’s poor Capt. Wright was said to have ridden in a horse and carriage at too great a speed to take the said corner safely and consequently both he and the carriage came off the road and his death ensued.” Now whether this is fact or island legend I do not know but what I have gleaned is that Capt. Wright was commander of one of the squadrons that escorted Napoleon to St Helena and was a respected officer on ... read more

More from Di ... Why on earth would anyone want to throw tennis balls onto our roof, or at least that’s what it sounds like? As I stir from my sleep I glance at the bedside clock and find it’s 7.30am and I realise, of course, that it’s the roof of the house expanding as the warmth of the sun strikes it’s surface. All the roofs are made of corrugated metal, some green, some pink but most are brown, I guess shipping slate isn’t feasible and so it features regardless of how ‘grand’ your house may be. Now I don’t want you to get the impression that we are basking in glorious tropical sunshine here, far from it. The days start in much the same way at this time of the year. The weather in ‘Scruffy ... read more

We have been away for 33 days, of which we went to sea on 19. We have visited 17 different destinations: 2 buoyages, 2 anchorages, 4 marinas with locks, 3 without, and 6 tidal harbours where we mixed it with fishing boats, ferries and other commercial vessels. We have been accompanied by 4 friends, 1 dad and 1 brother. We have covered 548 nautical miles, our shortest day being 2 miles and our longest 67. We've been in Essex a week, I will be 47 tomorrow, and we have something short of 100 miles to go. One week from now I'll be walking back into the office. We are a lot better at sailing than we were. Today, we motored from Burnham-on-Crouch to North Fambridge and the Ferry Boat Inn for Sunday lunch. We sailed lazily ... read more