Hiya cousins,

I've just been enjoying your photos. Now that my pickled brain has remembered to track down the website I look forward to keeping abreast of your adventures. You seem to be enjoying the story so far. Wishing you even better days to come.

Happy New Year.

love Kate

Hello to the intrepid explorers

everyone was in grans, the view was dreary so we decided to see the world with you.some were sick at the forth bridges, some were sick at the bay of biscay, some were just sick jealous.Hi there .Gran here .Just had a good day with the birthday boy et al.Usual mad house on a sunday, but I love it .Wishing you a continued safe journey.Keep well and take care.

Thought that you'd be glad to know that you're not the only one to have had to deal with baby-wipe-blocked heads. I took out a crew of schoolkids earlier this year, who blocked both heads on the boat within five minutes of each other. Unfortunately, both blockages were in the pipes, where they couldn't be shifted using pressurised water or prodding. In the end, I had to give up trying to clear them and produce a bucket, telling the kids that it was that or the rail for the two days it would take us to reach a town. Being too shy and fastidious to use either of those options, there then followed some surreptitious night-time use of the still-blocked heads. In Tobermory, the old pipes were scrapped and replaced with new ones and the two heads compartments and I given a thorough dettoling. :(

I've spent quite a few really enjoyable hours in that cliff-side cafe near the marina in Cascais, too.

Which of the marinas did you use in Baiona? When I passed through, I would have really have liked to have gone into the old one, having heard how impressive the building was inside, but, after having read the warning in the pilot book about the standard of dress and grooming required, decided not to risk offending the sensibilities of the members there by appearing among them.

Mike (ex-"Atair" from the 2007 Banff-Stavanger race, last seen in the canal marina in Inverness earlier this year)

Hi Gordon and Anne,

Great to catch up on your travels so far. We have decided to winter in Falmouth so will unfortunately miss you in the Canaries but may catch up elsewhere. All the best.

Craig and Sue "Freya"

Great to see all your pictures, scary ones and all. Thinking of you and what interesting places you're travelling to next. Obviously having a ball (most times)

Sheila

WELL DONE GORDON AND ANN KEEP GOING SOUTH THE RAIN WILL STOP SOON

JOHN & JOAN

Great going! glad to see the Equinox gps icon is now in spain! Love the stories so far, well done.

ian

Hi Gordon/Anne

Glad to hear the bay of biscay was kind to you, I too had similar conditions when I crossed this, enjoying your stories and piccies, wishing you fair winds and calm seas for the next leg.

Cheers

Dave

I'm sure the sunny/rainy day ratio will increase from now on for you guys..

Glad mum has rejuvenated her mojo with the five star two hour long bath!

lots of love, Chris.

Sunday evening and its fireworks night so thinking about you. Its raining of course but otherwise a perfect Edinburgh evening.

Many thanks for a fantastic weekend, when I got back everything seemed very mundane.

The jouney was uneventful except we were held up for about an hour at Cork while the engineers immersed themselves in one of the engines. At one time one of the engineers got out what appeared to be avery large file and started filing away on the engine very vigourously.! If I'd had the nerve it would have been off the plane and back with you!!

I presume you are now 1/2 way over the bay of Biscay so all the best.

All the best.

Richard

At last! A nice picture of Mum enjoying herself! You look Fantastic- I know, I know, you don't believe me! Tough, it's true! Miss you both

Love Rachel x x

Hi Gordon & Anne - thinking of you and always sending a prayer to the weather gods for good luck and safe passages. Waiting for your next blog entry.... Iain.