Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Westward bound
Just incase you'd thought I'd done a Donald Crowhurst - I'm still hard at it trying to get home. Sorry I haven't uploaded anything over the last week or so - just haven't been in places with Wi-Fi until now. I got through the Forth Clyde Canal without a problem and I'm now at Port Edgar next to the Forth Road Bridge. British Waterways Scotland let me through free of charge and Port Edgar Marina is waiving all berthing fees. Thank you so much for that. Had to go through 39 locks in two days. The assistants on the canal were extremely helpful and friendly. Great bunch of lads. The canal itself was much more beautiful than I'd been given to expect, particularly the section between Clydebank and Falkirk. The weather for once looks like it's going to be in my favour over the next few days so I'm hoping to get back to Blyth sooner than I expected - perhaps before the weekend. Next stop Dunbar or Eyemouth if the going is good. Got the mast put back on today. Ready to hoist my sails again.
Friday, 16 July 2010
Heading North
After lenghthy and careful consideration I have decided to turn around and head home. I am gutted. So disappointed. I feel am not making the necessary progress to get round in time and the long range forecasts continue to dismay. I've been so unlucky with the wind strength and direction since I started out. Frustrating moments aside I have had an incredible time. I know I am going to look back on the last couple of months with great nostalgia. I have met some wonderful and generous characters on my travels. I don't know why but this makes me feel sad. I am sure I would have continued to meet similar people on the rest of my journey south. But now that opportunity is gone. People have been so kind, eager to help out and offer valuable advice. That more than anything else will be the lasting impression I have of this trip. The people - and then the dolphins leading me to the Caledonian Canal. I am so sad I am actually finding it difficult to write this. It feels like the end of an era. Hard to explain. If I ever tried to do this again I wouldn't do it alone and I would go clockwise. It's hard work on your own and perhaps the scary moments wouldn't have been so scary if I'd had crew with me. Perhaps I would have had more confidence and in turn got much further than I have done. But then again I would still have had the elements against me. Perhaps I am too cautious. Nevertheless I do believe I have made some very sound calls regarding whether or not to leave port given the sea and weather conditions. I am at the end of the day a fair weather sailor. I think being cautious in certain situations can only be positive. There's absolutely no point in scaring yourself.
Thank you all so much for your support and your donations for the Ellen Macarthur Trust. When I had the dolphins off the bow leaping out of the water and showing off I thought afterwards how fantastic and beautiful it would be for kids who have been through serious illness to experience something like that. It makes it all worthwhile even if I didn't achieve what I set out to do. I think sailing can offer so much to these youngsters. Please please please give something to the Trust if you haven't done so already.
So now I head north - that is if I can get out of Portpatrick without running aground again! I'm heading for the Forth Clyde Canal via Glasgow and Edinburgh. I am actually really looking forward to sailing down my beloved Northumberland coast. It does take some beating. In a way there is some comfort in the knowledge I am sailing for my home port once again - good old familiar Blyth. I now feel focussed on getting home and anchoring in some of the beautiful places I didn't have time to drop anchor in on my way here. Sorry - I tried my best.
Thank you all so much for your support and your donations for the Ellen Macarthur Trust. When I had the dolphins off the bow leaping out of the water and showing off I thought afterwards how fantastic and beautiful it would be for kids who have been through serious illness to experience something like that. It makes it all worthwhile even if I didn't achieve what I set out to do. I think sailing can offer so much to these youngsters. Please please please give something to the Trust if you haven't done so already.
So now I head north - that is if I can get out of Portpatrick without running aground again! I'm heading for the Forth Clyde Canal via Glasgow and Edinburgh. I am actually really looking forward to sailing down my beloved Northumberland coast. It does take some beating. In a way there is some comfort in the knowledge I am sailing for my home port once again - good old familiar Blyth. I now feel focussed on getting home and anchoring in some of the beautiful places I didn't have time to drop anchor in on my way here. Sorry - I tried my best.
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Portpatrick
Yet again I find myself stuck in port. Desperate to get across to the Isle of Man and to keep moving but again the weather and winds are against me. So frustating! Why didn't I just hire a charter yacht in the Med! What the hell am I doing. The weather doesn't look suitable for an Irish sea crossing for the next few days. It seems to be low pressure system after low pressure system coming in from the SW. Over the last day or two I have had to think about my future options if the weather continues to go against me. A - double back on myself and go through the Forth Clyde Canal through Glasgow and back down the Northumberland coast. B - wait here and continue with the risk of running out of time and getting the boat hauled out of the water somewhere down south and transported back to Blyth. C - Head for Whitehaven in Cumbria which is closer to Newcastle and have the boat taken out and transported to Blyth. Who knows? All I can do for the time being is sit tight and wait. British weather - aaaaarrrrgghhh!!!!
Still I'm getting to know a lot of people here and it's all great experience for future ventures - future ventures in some place like Greece or Croatia - somewhere with beautiful weather and fair winds.
Still I'm getting to know a lot of people here and it's all great experience for future ventures - future ventures in some place like Greece or Croatia - somewhere with beautiful weather and fair winds.
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Monday, 12 July 2010
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Friday, 9 July 2010
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Day 5 in Largs
This is my 4th night here. Haven't been able to move south for southerly gales as I mentioned before. Strange how you can change from being so negative when you're tired and demoralised to sheer optimism and drive after you've had a rest. Nearly jacked everything in a couple of days ago. The weather and wind - or should I say the forecast is doing/predicting some very strange things these days. But it looks promising. If I can just get to the Isle of Man and take it from there. Looks like everyone is having beautiful weather down south. As much as I have a passion for Scotland I seriously want to get south. A guy called Mark on a boat called Celtic Wind gave me some serious inspiration along with the dependable and much appreciated support fron you guys and in particular a comment from the one and only Mr Simon O'Neill and his colleagues at Gateshead College where I once worked. Great to hear from you Simon. Are you still one step ahead of the men in black? Jed are you still on 2 wheels? Do you still use 'Poor Pablo'? (sorry private jokes) I'm only going to get one chance at this - I'm no spring chicken and I don't think I'll be allowed another 6 month sabbatical so I might as well give it a go. Thank you everyone so much for the support through emails, calls and texts - keep them coming please. They make such a difference and make me smile and sometimes lol.
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
Friday, 2 July 2010
Thursday, 1 July 2010
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