March 31st

Heading into Newcastle on the 308 to spend yet more money on chandlery! Just minor bits and pieces. Need to pick up a solar panel at some point. They certainly got the weather wrong today. Sitting here on the bus the sea looks very inviting. There seems to be a lot of brown silt out there - probably due to the heavy rain we've been having recently. When the weather's like it is today the trip doesn't seem as daunting. The other night I was lying in my bunk listening to the wind srceaming through the rigging of the boats around me along with the rain lashing on the cabin roof and I began thinking " Jesus Ivan are you really ready for this - maybes you're putting yourself in a position where you're going to be out of your depth." But then I tell myself, unless I'm very unlucky, I'm not going to be sailing at night in conditions like that. And then the sun comes out with a gentle breeze. Aye that's more like it.

Everytime I'm in that mind set I tell myself that that's part of the challenge - the doubt - trying to keep it at bay. Keep positive and keep chipping away at the never-ending list of jobs that need to be done. Don't doubt your ability. Money and time concerns shouldn't infringe.