tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73369957364346321052024-03-14T07:48:31.924+00:00Living Spirit - The AdventureIf you want to get more out of life, you must lose your inclination for monotonous security and adopt a helter-skelter style of life that will at first appear to you to be crazy. But once you become accustomed to such a life you will see its full meaning and its incredible beauty.Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.comBlogger194125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-32011113702513741252018-09-24T11:35:00.001+01:002018-11-09T16:57:56.930+00:00Four Years Later<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9h-HpFrUIKA/W6i5XXrw3mI/AAAAAAAANs8/LU_KooRXXWAb65z_nu0yX8qMRhe7hCuvwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_8196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1320" data-original-width="1600" height="264" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9h-HpFrUIKA/W6i5XXrw3mI/AAAAAAAANs8/LU_KooRXXWAb65z_nu0yX8qMRhe7hCuvwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_8196.jpg" title="" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm not sure where the past 4 years have gone, but they certainly were not spent writing this blog! </span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r1KF_PahPhs/W6i5eyrG7OI/AAAAAAAANtI/QfKhFgodgbQYzzkPpRPyx2p3Gc-8kgMkACLcBGAs/s1600/DSC01951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r1KF_PahPhs/W6i5eyrG7OI/AAAAAAAANtI/QfKhFgodgbQYzzkPpRPyx2p3Gc-8kgMkACLcBGAs/s320/DSC01951.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I did run a blog on fitness for a short while alongside this one, but I found it difficult to compete with the many web pages and sites dedicated to that subject and it was also quite challenging to produce original material. </span><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9rD7PqI9LXw/W6i5y2FUSfI/AAAAAAAANtc/rx_8wtYQKNsx0idm3049OP1TzUdBsyvRgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC02755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9rD7PqI9LXw/W6i5y2FUSfI/AAAAAAAANtc/rx_8wtYQKNsx0idm3049OP1TzUdBsyvRgCLcBGAs/s640/DSC02755.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I haven’t been idle during my absence, continuing to travel, sail and run as much as possible, along side completing a degree in Sport, Fitness and Coaching with the Open University, which I feel complements my Personal Trainer and UK Athletics Coaching qualifications.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F_oLcf_EHU0/W6i5LVgCFXI/AAAAAAAANs4/lDvDVx-0EaMtuV3xMXuri7NMs1o9oS-WgCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_502c.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1457" data-original-width="1600" height="291" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F_oLcf_EHU0/W6i5LVgCFXI/AAAAAAAANs4/lDvDVx-0EaMtuV3xMXuri7NMs1o9oS-WgCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_502c.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-20EwxHJJIfY/W6i7sm_RXdI/AAAAAAAANt0/Gz-9PFsY_YsqktfRnq10ZwGPJ0MHK9kZQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-20EwxHJJIfY/W6i7sm_RXdI/AAAAAAAANt0/Gz-9PFsY_YsqktfRnq10ZwGPJ0MHK9kZQCLcBGAs/s200/IMG_1681.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhfLiLy5ptU/W6i7r3xtHzI/AAAAAAAANtw/M0YBshPWcOMMJOztr325MApJlTOJkZwAQCLcBGAs/s1600/DB9F8C6C-B324-4CD7-B068-319C3DA93F5A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1210" height="177" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhfLiLy5ptU/W6i7r3xtHzI/AAAAAAAANtw/M0YBshPWcOMMJOztr325MApJlTOJkZwAQCLcBGAs/s320/DB9F8C6C-B324-4CD7-B068-319C3DA93F5A.jpg" width="320" /></a> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ole6v08dttg/W6i7rnYalLI/AAAAAAAANts/iFZ2GHy1cdUZl-lHjTLT1TIIFBac8VqIQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ole6v08dttg/W6i7rnYalLI/AAAAAAAANts/iFZ2GHy1cdUZl-lHjTLT1TIIFBac8VqIQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1803.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-exfFS0rrx4M/W6i5cobC3eI/AAAAAAAANtE/dI9_aFvyfXEsDidZHDL1Ag1KA4xsk222ACLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_5028.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1tAPStZXo6Q/W6i5pPUb-yI/AAAAAAAANtU/jgJX1kkefA8vKGBzizFpy-6Jp9XT7dM3wCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC02468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1600" height="313" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1tAPStZXo6Q/W6i5pPUb-yI/AAAAAAAANtU/jgJX1kkefA8vKGBzizFpy-6Jp9XT7dM3wCLcBGAs/s640/DSC02468.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, this blog will continue to occupy a very small space within the narrow confines of the infinite inter-web, whilst I go out and continue to explore the big, wide, wonderful World......</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y1CoMwRr_6E/W-W8CHg_flI/AAAAAAAANvs/-XBL0FoMOuI5Xf1P051XLt1V-xnhU_vMQCLcBGAs/s1600/adventure-life-quotes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y1CoMwRr_6E/W-W8CHg_flI/AAAAAAAANvs/-XBL0FoMOuI5Xf1P051XLt1V-xnhU_vMQCLcBGAs/s640/adventure-life-quotes.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-23870523625767190672014-09-09T13:39:00.002+01:002014-09-09T13:41:39.889+01:00Keep on Running......<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Earlier this year I had stepped up my training and devised a new training program for myself to follow, so I thought it was important to put it to the test and check that it was working by getting a few races under my belt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First of all I revisited the Stour Valley Path 100km race which I had attempted last year (see earlier post) and had unfortunately timed out after 40 miles - I had put this down to the fact I had only finished my UK circumnavigation 2 weeks previously and my lack of running fitness was very obvious. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This year I went for the earlier start time, which gave me 15hrs 30mins to complete the course and, as the race was being held a month earlier than 2013, there was also more daylight to complete the event in.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L6qm3P6i3ZQ/VA7yOUHg74I/AAAAAAAAHDA/oUwh1YJu0f4/s1600/10556482_330741310426481_6376077878685351437_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L6qm3P6i3ZQ/VA7yOUHg74I/AAAAAAAAHDA/oUwh1YJu0f4/s1600/10556482_330741310426481_6376077878685351437_n.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">At the finish of the SVP100</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm pleased to say I completed the 62 miles in 13hrs 47mins (<a href="http://www.svp100.co.uk/results-2014/" target="_blank">results here</a>). Reviewing my performance post race, I realised I had let myself get very dehydrated and this resulted in me slowing considerably in the final stages, resorting to a walk for much of the latter stages of the course. I put this down to using a bladder and tube during the race to take on my fluids and was unable to properly monitor how much water I was drinking, or get the water into my mouth quickly enough. So I decided to switch back to bottles for the next event.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Vx2m_dIr0Q/VA7yO3_xoNI/AAAAAAAAHDI/Y-V7R1-iT30/s1600/10649917_706790276079937_4161556362324187924_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Vx2m_dIr0Q/VA7yO3_xoNI/AAAAAAAAHDI/Y-V7R1-iT30/s1600/10649917_706790276079937_4161556362324187924_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">On the start line with 50 miles to go....</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Three weeks later I was on the start line of the Dig Deep Ultra Tour Suffolk 50 miles, another trail race. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This time I made sure I drank enough fluids and felt much more comfortable throughout the race, although towards the end of the race I found it difficult to eat anything. I manage to complete the distance in 9hrs 43min, well within my 10hr target, finishing in 11th place ove</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">rall and the first over 50 finisher! </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">(<a href="http://8point2.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Results here</a>)</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jaiYobKffgE/VA7yOlLytDI/AAAAAAAAHDE/EqYD3EwSTpU/s1600/10626797_10202754226273589_1479928591373310488_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jaiYobKffgE/VA7yOlLytDI/AAAAAAAAHDE/EqYD3EwSTpU/s1600/10626797_10202754226273589_1479928591373310488_n.jpg" height="482" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">At the finish and still running....</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am currently waiting to hear if my entry into the <a href="http://www.dragonsbackrace.com/" target="_blank">Dragon's Back Race</a> has been accepted; I should find out by the end of the month and if successful this event will become the main focus of my training over the next 9 months. Entry is limited to around 150 runners and previous experience to taken into account...fingers crossed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-54429052731559529292014-07-23T19:26:00.000+01:002014-07-23T19:26:45.602+01:00To The Isles of Scilly.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_vbrtfvpHZg/U8_2E5nIIjI/AAAAAAAAGyo/Xvx8tljN7-s/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+14-47-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_vbrtfvpHZg/U8_2E5nIIjI/AAAAAAAAGyo/Xvx8tljN7-s/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+14-47-31.jpg" height="287" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Having recently returned from another sailing trip, I thought I would share a few photos with you. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zWLDsl7Jnng/U8_2JbTkjoI/AAAAAAAAGzg/TzHDTUN_amU/s1600/Making+Way+07+at+06-23-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zWLDsl7Jnng/U8_2JbTkjoI/AAAAAAAAGzg/TzHDTUN_amU/s1600/Making+Way+07+at+06-23-30.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Weymouth</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IrDVT2Ggw7A/U8_2Hlp6N-I/AAAAAAAAGzM/-qMgqXYepiQ/s1600/Making+Way+07+at+06-24-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IrDVT2Ggw7A/U8_2Hlp6N-I/AAAAAAAAGzM/-qMgqXYepiQ/s1600/Making+Way+07+at+06-24-05.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I joined the yacht "Moonstone", a Westerly Konsort, in Weymouth and from there we made our way along the south coast, before setting off from Newlyn Harbour heading for the Isles of Scilly....which is somewhere that I have wanted to sail to for some time now.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NZsgchVeF0c/U8_2HIOQSHI/AAAAAAAAGzI/JM8qgQEW7mw/s1600/Making+Way+07+at+06-24-49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NZsgchVeF0c/U8_2HIOQSHI/AAAAAAAAGzI/JM8qgQEW7mw/s1600/Making+Way+07+at+06-24-49.jpg" height="234" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The wind, tide and weather were all in our favour and we arrived at St Mary's well ahead of our schedule, but not before being entertained by the dolphins:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XdKQr1SUeqk/U8_1OanxF0I/AAAAAAAAGvM/VIJyLwZKS-0/s1600/Making+Way+11+at+10-16-56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XdKQr1SUeqk/U8_1OanxF0I/AAAAAAAAGvM/VIJyLwZKS-0/s1600/Making+Way+11+at+10-16-56.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0J_-vr33-FE/U8_1OC_JwOI/AAAAAAAAGvA/c_yGmcq4J3k/s1600/Making+Way+15+at+07-05-58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0J_-vr33-FE/U8_1OC_JwOI/AAAAAAAAGvA/c_yGmcq4J3k/s1600/Making+Way+15+at+07-05-58.jpg" height="190" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9rrIKGbMw0k/U8_1RBv4HSI/AAAAAAAAGvY/WMsmvFdLLLQ/s1600/Making+Way+15+at+07-07-38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9rrIKGbMw0k/U8_1RBv4HSI/AAAAAAAAGvY/WMsmvFdLLLQ/s1600/Making+Way+15+at+07-07-38.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_hflsbJ8Oug/U8_1QZj5jsI/AAAAAAAAGvQ/1-7Yoe_I6DI/s1600/Making+Way+15+at+07-07-57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_hflsbJ8Oug/U8_1QZj5jsI/AAAAAAAAGvQ/1-7Yoe_I6DI/s1600/Making+Way+15+at+07-07-57.jpg" height="381" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nva8L5aqYAw/U8_1ZrkkybI/AAAAAAAAGvk/5NU4bkPv1Bw/s1600/Making+Way+14+at+20-48-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nva8L5aqYAw/U8_1ZrkkybI/AAAAAAAAGvk/5NU4bkPv1Bw/s1600/Making+Way+14+at+20-48-15.jpg" height="200" width="191" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FG3fjDzHs-c/U8_1ZSfmCOI/AAAAAAAAGvg/SFNVu2c7wI8/s1600/Making+Way+14+at+20-48-43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FG3fjDzHs-c/U8_1ZSfmCOI/AAAAAAAAGvg/SFNVu2c7wI8/s1600/Making+Way+14+at+20-48-43.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4DNpl9UN1QU/U8_1vvdpgsI/AAAAAAAAGv4/SdBXZ152Mb0/s1600/Making+Way+11+at+13-27-43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4DNpl9UN1QU/U8_1vvdpgsI/AAAAAAAAGv4/SdBXZ152Mb0/s1600/Making+Way+11+at+13-27-43.jpg" height="218" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our approach into the Isles of Scilly</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yOV3O82nBzw/U8_1vAIB2mI/AAAAAAAAGvw/sZGkZZ3SO3g/s1600/Making+Way+12+at+12-37-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yOV3O82nBzw/U8_1vAIB2mI/AAAAAAAAGvw/sZGkZZ3SO3g/s1600/Making+Way+12+at+12-37-31.jpg" height="229" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kz2q3D1vihA/U8_1vXWeCzI/AAAAAAAAGv0/Ycp4ULXBOgY/s1600/Making+Way+12+at+12-56-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kz2q3D1vihA/U8_1vXWeCzI/AAAAAAAAGv0/Ycp4ULXBOgY/s1600/Making+Way+12+at+12-56-01.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HFxIz_p3Uf0/U8_1ynFfm9I/AAAAAAAAGwM/UfVtiBEQSL4/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+08-38-59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HFxIz_p3Uf0/U8_1ynFfm9I/AAAAAAAAGwM/UfVtiBEQSL4/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+08-38-59.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It may look like the Caribbean, but this is the Isles of Scilly!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bBoMdGvdXkM/U8_1yrzDhlI/AAAAAAAAGwQ/pmftgdVi3cY/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+08-42-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bBoMdGvdXkM/U8_1yrzDhlI/AAAAAAAAGwQ/pmftgdVi3cY/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+08-42-12.jpg" height="320" width="283" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wPUdmYbDHQU/U8_10qMCubI/AAAAAAAAGwg/121t2MeE19Y/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+08-47-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wPUdmYbDHQU/U8_10qMCubI/AAAAAAAAGwg/121t2MeE19Y/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+08-47-13.jpg" height="184" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TH_vgGPYsPY/U8_11JuufsI/AAAAAAAAGwk/-HOWg_DakKA/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+08-59-33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TH_vgGPYsPY/U8_11JuufsI/AAAAAAAAGwk/-HOWg_DakKA/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+08-59-33.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aJSBGcmUfDc/U8_120VOZ7I/AAAAAAAAGww/7YspZeySztg/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+08-57-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aJSBGcmUfDc/U8_120VOZ7I/AAAAAAAAGww/7YspZeySztg/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+08-57-31.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4HohZgmhxJk/U8_13uUFpAI/AAAAAAAAGw4/3TBZN9A7T_k/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+09-11-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4HohZgmhxJk/U8_13uUFpAI/AAAAAAAAGw4/3TBZN9A7T_k/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+09-11-11.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JHtObsFFaMg/U8_15JZz9GI/AAAAAAAAGxA/FUO6gXQs2SY/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+09-16-55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JHtObsFFaMg/U8_15JZz9GI/AAAAAAAAGxA/FUO6gXQs2SY/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+09-16-55.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HzhQP9l2wXg/U8_16W44-eI/AAAAAAAAGxI/ZDm4njU4cjE/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+09-17-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HzhQP9l2wXg/U8_16W44-eI/AAAAAAAAGxI/ZDm4njU4cjE/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+09-17-07.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There was a whole beach covered in these stone towers!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HOJlTiJPAc0/U8_17o_gxiI/AAAAAAAAGxY/XVd3l5SQfC4/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+11-08-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HOJlTiJPAc0/U8_17o_gxiI/AAAAAAAAGxY/XVd3l5SQfC4/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+11-08-19.jpg" height="310" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qV1goKLKzf0/U8_1-nB2qFI/AAAAAAAAGxw/DvK0vnPDd1I/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+11-26-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qV1goKLKzf0/U8_1-nB2qFI/AAAAAAAAGxw/DvK0vnPDd1I/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+11-26-02.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U1dRHRuIk40/U8_1_RTizCI/AAAAAAAAGx4/7tLDxWzaqho/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+11-26-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U1dRHRuIk40/U8_1_RTizCI/AAAAAAAAGx4/7tLDxWzaqho/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+11-26-30.jpg" height="264" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ui98pONqOSk/U8_2AbxCRAI/AAAAAAAAGyE/mdAdpseD5Xs/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+14-03-34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ui98pONqOSk/U8_2AbxCRAI/AAAAAAAAGyE/mdAdpseD5Xs/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+14-03-34.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q6nOP0vQKTs/U8_1_LXi7mI/AAAAAAAAGx8/m_5mFiJqHWk/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+11-45-40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q6nOP0vQKTs/U8_1_LXi7mI/AAAAAAAAGx8/m_5mFiJqHWk/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+11-45-40.jpg" height="168" width="200" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MwkG9wNA-bo/U8_2CtZa1vI/AAAAAAAAGyQ/GZxOt-Y6HYI/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+14-28-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MwkG9wNA-bo/U8_2CtZa1vI/AAAAAAAAGyQ/GZxOt-Y6HYI/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+14-28-24.jpg" height="134" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bNaFzZbXdfQ/U8_2EgGokLI/AAAAAAAAGyk/2f0hTmG46Fs/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+14-31-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bNaFzZbXdfQ/U8_2EgGokLI/AAAAAAAAGyk/2f0hTmG46Fs/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+14-31-11.jpg" height="197" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PMGps4WE3QY/U8_2DZywBEI/AAAAAAAAGyU/Z-J_BGPRbdA/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+14-32-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PMGps4WE3QY/U8_2DZywBEI/AAAAAAAAGyU/Z-J_BGPRbdA/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+14-32-08.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F7qzRrdY3aU/U8_2EWhhy3I/AAAAAAAAGyg/E28YDnnDCNg/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+14-38-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F7qzRrdY3aU/U8_2EWhhy3I/AAAAAAAAGyg/E28YDnnDCNg/s1600/Making+Way+13+at+14-38-05.jpg" height="344" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">St Hugh's</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XLuQ2oOvNHk/U8_2FgKIARI/AAAAAAAAGy4/OYLxwqP7yj0/s1600/Making+Way+14+at+14-38-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XLuQ2oOvNHk/U8_2FgKIARI/AAAAAAAAGy4/OYLxwqP7yj0/s1600/Making+Way+14+at+14-38-09.jpg" height="205" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">After a few days exploring St Mary's we headed back to the mainland, this time making our way along the north coast of Cornwall then Devon. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BDG3rF9ZnEQ/U8_2IsQ81dI/AAAAAAAAGzY/fxoyBHSdwEo/s1600/Making+Way+07+at+07-42-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BDG3rF9ZnEQ/U8_2IsQ81dI/AAAAAAAAGzY/fxoyBHSdwEo/s1600/Making+Way+07+at+07-42-01.jpg" height="320" width="244" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BHMdiTnmnYg/U8_2M8am53I/AAAAAAAAG0A/cENGsn3570E/s1600/Making+Way+08+at+12-31-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BHMdiTnmnYg/U8_2M8am53I/AAAAAAAAG0A/cENGsn3570E/s1600/Making+Way+08+at+12-31-02.jpg" height="236" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NzzOCvvrp4E/U8_2MSJppEI/AAAAAAAAGz4/8vTK_ZvVT3A/s1600/Making+Way+15+at+18-20-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NzzOCvvrp4E/U8_2MSJppEI/AAAAAAAAGz4/8vTK_ZvVT3A/s1600/Making+Way+15+at+18-20-30.jpg" height="123" width="200" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ypbze2lNuFo/U8_2Ntz0_II/AAAAAAAAG0Q/nSOiKW-8jzQ/s1600/Making+Way+15+at+18-21-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ypbze2lNuFo/U8_2Ntz0_II/AAAAAAAAG0Q/nSOiKW-8jzQ/s1600/Making+Way+15+at+18-21-03.jpg" height="110" width="200" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lXgBhMa7IN4/U8_2PBbRNSI/AAAAAAAAG0Y/nRZTjLU0T30/s1600/Making+Way+15+at+18-21-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lXgBhMa7IN4/U8_2PBbRNSI/AAAAAAAAG0Y/nRZTjLU0T30/s1600/Making+Way+15+at+18-21-14.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">You see some amazing things!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SmTIfbkP980/U8_2Qmp8RFI/AAAAAAAAG0o/y09mViIDRpg/s1600/Making+Way+16+at+19-37-44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SmTIfbkP980/U8_2Qmp8RFI/AAAAAAAAG0o/y09mViIDRpg/s1600/Making+Way+16+at+19-37-44.jpg" height="227" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Clovelly from the sea</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I stepped ashore again in Clovelly and made my way up the narrow cobble street, to catch a bus at the visitors centre, 400m above the sea, to start my journey home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Moonstone continues her journey around Britain and I may well join her again as she comes down the East coast.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qhchEpHCZt4/U8_2P1oD--I/AAAAAAAAG0g/bJlyOisyXyw/s1600/Making+Way+17+at+06-56-38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qhchEpHCZt4/U8_2P1oD--I/AAAAAAAAG0g/bJlyOisyXyw/s1600/Making+Way+17+at+06-56-38.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looking down into Clovelly Harbour (Moonstone on the right of picture)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-riPbzIOCKuM/U8_2Rgft33I/AAAAAAAAG0w/xY6kzuf_Z10/s1600/Making+Way+17+at+07-01-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-riPbzIOCKuM/U8_2Rgft33I/AAAAAAAAG0w/xY6kzuf_Z10/s1600/Making+Way+17+at+07-01-32.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Heading up to the bus stop!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ypbze2lNuFo/U8_2Ntz0_II/AAAAAAAAG0Q/nSOiKW-8jzQ/s1600/Making+Way+15+at+18-21-03.jpg" with "https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ypbze2lNuFo/U8_2Ntz0_II/AAAAAAAAG0Q/nSOiKW-8jzQ/s1600/Making+Way+15+at+18-21-03.jpg" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-ypbze2lNuFo%2FU8_2Ntz0_II%2FAAAAAAAAG0Q%2FnSOiKW-8jzQ%2Fs1600%2FMaking%2BWay%2B15%2Bat%2B18-21-03.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ypbze2lNuFo/U8_2Ntz0_II/AAAAAAAAG0Q/nSOiKW-8jzQ/s1600/Making+Way+15+at+18-21-03.jpg" -->Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-30455433619141413192014-06-30T12:00:00.000+01:002014-06-30T12:02:12.327+01:00It's Been a While.......<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-itt5gt-OfuY/U7E938GIhEI/AAAAAAAAGmQ/hUNa0F70eUc/s1600/1240420_688064791237292_2065963503_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-itt5gt-OfuY/U7E938GIhEI/AAAAAAAAGmQ/hUNa0F70eUc/s1600/1240420_688064791237292_2065963503_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Barcelona Marathon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It has been a while since I have put a post on here. The reason for that isn't because we haven't been doing anything...... more like the opposite! Here is a taster of what's been going on.... </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9HYrc2uV23Y/U7E94JjgFiI/AAAAAAAAGmU/FD-MQ9LUNco/s1600/1377312_850309614996939_3845053300624636145_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9HYrc2uV23Y/U7E94JjgFiI/AAAAAAAAGmU/FD-MQ9LUNco/s1600/1377312_850309614996939_3845053300624636145_n.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Only the depth varies...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6AiT8Z2qEA/U7E95MxfviI/AAAAAAAAGmk/C1IpzxD6R9s/s1600/1982171_10201701652279897_825688310_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6AiT8Z2qEA/U7E95MxfviI/AAAAAAAAGmk/C1IpzxD6R9s/s1600/1982171_10201701652279897_825688310_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TXJJU54Xc1A/U7E931PPNzI/AAAAAAAAGmM/elCTp8iYuiE/s1600/10314478_10201987687390596_1256750542485832465_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TXJJU54Xc1A/U7E931PPNzI/AAAAAAAAGmM/elCTp8iYuiE/s1600/10314478_10201987687390596_1256750542485832465_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My day job......</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-38vjbzooAe8/U7E96hXHRqI/AAAAAAAAGms/GJBlbABxpeg/s1600/Malta+22+at+14-53-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-38vjbzooAe8/U7E96hXHRqI/AAAAAAAAGms/GJBlbABxpeg/s1600/Malta+22+at+14-53-04.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Malta</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-88P4axVr-AY/U7E99oJZCGI/AAAAAAAAGnM/rZia5AzG4HM/s1600/Snowdonia+2014+07+at+13-31-57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-88P4axVr-AY/U7E99oJZCGI/AAAAAAAAGnM/rZia5AzG4HM/s1600/Snowdonia+2014+07+at+13-31-57.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Snowdon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 18px;">“One final paragraph of advice: do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am - a reluctant enthusiast....a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much; I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound men and women with their hearts in a safe deposit box, and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this; You will outlive the bastards.” </span></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 18px;">― </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/37218.Edward_Abbey" style="line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">Edward Abbey</a></i></span></span>Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-49641844854144930562014-02-14T12:11:00.000+00:002014-02-14T12:11:50.593+00:00Indian Cooking in Suffolk<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5T1L8ouBsk4/Uv4F1ddxiQI/AAAAAAAADjA/5leR0ccZwr4/s1600/Indian+Cooking+303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5T1L8ouBsk4/Uv4F1ddxiQI/AAAAAAAADjA/5leR0ccZwr4/s1600/Indian+Cooking+303.jpg" height="237" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Badu<br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Following on from our trip to India last year, we visited the Suffolk Food Hall earlier in the month to take part in a day of Indian cooking with Badu Thobhani. I've been cooking curries for many years, but it was great to be shown how to properly use all the different spices and herbs to get the best flavours, textures and colours.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k5HreNcZaV4/Uv4F3UOkLwI/AAAAAAAADjM/lkzkuq8X-8I/s1600/Indian+Cooking+302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k5HreNcZaV4/Uv4F3UOkLwI/AAAAAAAADjM/lkzkuq8X-8I/s1600/Indian+Cooking+302.jpg" height="311" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Traditional Indian Spice Box</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jbD7hZr9vSo/Uv4F3nOY7DI/AAAAAAAADjQ/2MhncjKKHA0/s1600/Indian+Cooking+305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jbD7hZr9vSo/Uv4F3nOY7DI/AAAAAAAADjQ/2MhncjKKHA0/s1600/Indian+Cooking+305.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UHDYbJZ6dko/Uv4F3nbIryI/AAAAAAAADjY/djHRBjWb4dc/s1600/Indian+Cooking+304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UHDYbJZ6dko/Uv4F3nbIryI/AAAAAAAADjY/djHRBjWb4dc/s1600/Indian+Cooking+304.jpg" height="235" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Cooking doesn't get tougher than this!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Badu is a knowledgable and friendly teacher and we produced a number of different dishes, including lamb kebabs, chicken curry, a fish stew, samosas, raita and naans along with a sweet dish, shikhand - delicious! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We cooked so much we were able to bring lots of food home and and we have been putting our new found skills to good use.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jKnzMTVXpeY/Uv4F6DqRxUI/AAAAAAAADjo/jzlrBjMJghE/s1600/Indian+Cooking+306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jKnzMTVXpeY/Uv4F6DqRxUI/AAAAAAAADjo/jzlrBjMJghE/s1600/Indian+Cooking+306.jpg" height="311" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chicken Curry</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6M-G85-pm94/Uv4F50t6WeI/AAAAAAAADjk/JIixZW4r9do/s1600/Indian+Cooking+307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6M-G85-pm94/Uv4F50t6WeI/AAAAAAAADjk/JIixZW4r9do/s1600/Indian+Cooking+307.jpg" height="341" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fish Stew</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<h1 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #685c9c; font-family: Helvetica, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 36px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></h1>
Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-22639036470793088182014-01-21T21:31:00.000+00:002014-01-24T17:39:03.271+00:00The Spine v The Knee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fLuF2HPGT-Q/Ut6dg58ZS2I/AAAAAAAADb8/RrQid-zG2uk/s1600/Pennine+Way+30+at+11-35-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fLuF2HPGT-Q/Ut6dg58ZS2I/AAAAAAAADb8/RrQid-zG2uk/s1600/Pennine+Way+30+at+11-35-28.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is now a few days after the end of The Spine Race, the swelling in my legs and feet has started to go down and I can move more easily again. All my kit has been cleaned, dried and packed away, so the only thing left to do is reflect on one of the hardest weeks of my life......</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dz9MzwJ7sQ4/Ut6eU0hEh_I/AAAAAAAADck/HubqYtG0tH8/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dz9MzwJ7sQ4/Ut6eU0hEh_I/AAAAAAAADck/HubqYtG0tH8/s1600/photo.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ready to go.....</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Those of you that know me will realise just how much preparation and training that I had put in to this event, prior to lining up on the start line of The Spine Race. What I lacked before last week was experience of such events - but that has now changed.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This blog entry is not about breaking the event down leg-by-leg, step-by-step, or listing the equipment and clothing I chose to take with me. This is more to do with the experience that I have gained from the event, briefly looking at some the highs and lows; both mentally and physically - it is not really for those that took part in the event alongside me, or indeed those that plan to do so in the future: it for my friends and family who watched from the comfort of their homes and offices and want further insight into what that moving dot on their PC screens was actually going through.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There was a real buzz of anticipation lining up on that Saturday morning with over 70 other athletes prepared to take on the 268 mile race along the entire Pennine Way and 40 more taking on the shorter Challenge event. The promised clear skies were filled with hail, which was quickly replaced by snow. Waterproof clothing was donned and doffed as each individual tried to anticipate the changes in the weather, keeping themselves dry but not overheating.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The ‘off’ was just 21 minutes later than anticipated, which is pretty good when you consider the logistics of getting over 100 athletes to a remote spot like Edale, checking that all of the kit and clothing that they will be carrying was to the required standard, ensuring all medical and administrative paperwork was correctly filled out and then fitting every competitor with a GPS tracker. Even at this stage it was easy to spot a wide range of equipment standards (and costs) and athletic preparedness amongst those lined up.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With 268 miles ahead of me it was pointless to go out too fast or hard. I believed I had the mileage in my legs, but I had to ensure I kept myself in good enough condition throughout the week to average over 38 miles every 24 hour period. Some of the athletes went out much faster than myself and these seemed to be a mixture of those taking part in the shorter, 108 mile event and the seasoned, experience ultra-athletes whose world I was briefly visiting for this particular race.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At this stage of the race there were the maximum number of athletes on the route, so there was always some one to chat to, someone to judge your pace against and someone to follow to save having to check the map too often. I had already walked this 45 mile leg during my training, so I had a reasonable idea what was ahead and the navigation was not too challenging.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Check Point 1 arrived around midnight and after a hot meal, a change into dry socks after re-taping my feet and replenishment of the used food, water and batteries into my backpack I was back out into the darkness and on the route within about 3 hours, facing the longest leg of the race of over 60 miles.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OxbsDGhPfKM/Ut6ePSr1m0I/AAAAAAAADcc/avIkJqjvOt4/s1600/skc3a6rmbillede-2014-01-16-kl-08-59-28.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OxbsDGhPfKM/Ut6ePSr1m0I/AAAAAAAADcc/avIkJqjvOt4/s1600/skc3a6rmbillede-2014-01-16-kl-08-59-28.png" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I know that many of my ex-military colleagues reading this will want to say that they would never use a GPS out on the hills, preferring to stay true to map and compass. Until this event I had been much the same. However, The Spine Race is all about making progress, getting closer to the finish line with every step, as quickly and as efficiently as possible. At night, with the freezing rain falling and you are striding out along a rock-strewn path which has turned into a frozen toboggan-run, a quick check on the GPS screen that you are still on the correct path, heading in the correct direction, is much quicker than using map and compass - particularly if you need to use reading glasses to look at the map. The marsh and bog lands that we had to cross sap your energy and forces your body to head off in unpredicted, random directions - but a quick confidence check of the backlit screen of a GPS will help minimise the effects of this and keep you on route. By day and in good visibility, map and compass are still my preferred method, but as my cognitive function became impaired due to fatigue it was important to back this up with regular checks on the GPS. There were times when I became completely disorientated and occasions when I went off route (those of you following my tracker online know when that was), it was important to be able to use both traditional and modern navigation techniques for this event. </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WqMeTPB4mCs/Ut6eYm6fi5I/AAAAAAAADcs/FmIYtfOGwI4/s1600/img_09831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WqMeTPB4mCs/Ut6eYm6fi5I/AAAAAAAADcs/FmIYtfOGwI4/s1600/img_09831.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Can you spot me asleep in the middle of CP2?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At one point along the route I didn’t believe either my map or GPS. There in the dark, right in front of me, was a large, double wrought-iron gate set in a high stone wall, obviously the boundary leading to some country manor or possibly a church. Both the map and GPS said go through the gate, but I decided that they were wrong and I tried following the wall in both directions, several times. I must have wasted 30 minutes trying to work out where I should be going before noticing the wooden sign on the gate; “Pennine Way” and an arrow pointing up the path the other side. That’s what being tired can do to your thought processes.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The more tired you become, the more your sense of balance and reaction time is degraded. This isn’t helped by the ever-changing terrain. Rock slabs laid as a path quickly turn to sheets of ice in the winter storms and the icy waters in the marshes quickly find their way into footwear as you sink up to your knees as you try to cross them, leaving you with wet feet for the duration of that particular stage of the race. At one point I slipped and fell, I pushed off the ground with my hand to get upright again, however my hand sunk into the water, filling my Gortex mitt with water and rendering it next to useless. </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qTFTKZneHpo/Ut6dyxnP-gI/AAAAAAAADcU/NcKH85MiS04/s1600/steve+paul+14+at+11-15-13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qTFTKZneHpo/Ut6dyxnP-gI/AAAAAAAADcU/NcKH85MiS04/s1600/steve+paul+14+at+11-15-13.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ankle and foot support.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was the fourth stage of the race where I ran into problems. Like everyone else I was sore and fatigued, but I was able to deal with this. Despite having lost the feeling in many of my toes, I was blister free which gave me an advantage over many of the other competitors although I now had strapping on both of my feet to help with my ligament problems, some which I had brought with me to the race, some that I had acquired along the route. My upper back began to really ache, an old ailment, due to a hypo-mobile vertebrae joint sandwiched between 2 hyper-mobile joints. Over several hours the ache got worse, turning to pain, but there was no stopping or resting as I was now part of a group, crossing a series of snow covered hill tops, in 30+ mph winds. As we made our way over the last 8 miles or so to Check Point 4, something gave in my left knee and quad area. My leg became difficult to bend and when I did bend it, I received shooting pains up my leg. </span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To say I collapsed into CP4 would be an understatement; to say there were not tears rolling down my face would be a lie - I was in agony! The support staff were brilliant and caring and got me out of my wet waterproofs and shoes, drugged, fed and watered me. I found myself an empty bed and literally crawled into it, not knowing if I would be able to go on to the next check point.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I awoke after 7-8 hours of solid unconsciousness and all the pain was gone! I can only assume that this was because my body had given it’s first chance to fully relax during that period of rest and the muscles could now unknot and begin to repair themselves. I knew I could push on further, so I prepped myself and my kit and headed out towards Check Point 5.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All along the route you met people. Great people. If it was another athlete the first thing you generally asked was “How you doing?” and the second thing was “Have you done The Spine before?” Just about everyone you meet is encouraging and positive, if they are not, then they are probably struggling and need you to be positive and encouraging for them. I passed some people, some passed me, some I would walk and chat with for a few minutes and others I spent a whole day with, feeding off each other, helping each other and passing the time as progress was made further and further North.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 13px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fH5fRHLCQws/Ut997PlGGfI/AAAAAAAADdI/4vdF2CzxzzM/s1600/60+-+Black+Hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fH5fRHLCQws/Ut997PlGGfI/AAAAAAAADdI/4vdF2CzxzzM/s1600/60+-+Black+Hill.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Passing Black Hill - (Photo kindly provided by Ray Green Photography)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have to make a special mention here to Neil. He was not a competitor, just a friend of a friend on Facebook who found out about the Spine passing close to his farm. Neil came to give me and others encouragement on several occasions along the route. We had never met before, but he is ex-RAF like myself and I am pleased to now call him a friend. Thank you for your support Neil.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The small tupperware box on my right shoulder meant that I was never alone. This box contained the tracking device that moved the dot on your screens and allowed my map reading ability to be scrutinised at any given time, night or day. Anita at one point sent me a text to say that I had strayed off route, unfortunalty my phone was switched off at the time to conserve battery life for emergencies and my navigation error had to run its own course - luckily this was not too long, or too far.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of the things I did not think I would struggle with during the race was nutrition. I carried a good variety of food with me and plenty of spare stuff in my drop-bag to replenish from, but I really struggled to take on food whilst on the move - it was almost as if my digestive system closed down after the first day. The food provided at the check points was great and once I had stopped moving it was easier to get the calories down, but this often sat heavy in my stomach over the next leg and nausea seemed to be a constant companion throughout the week.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I love being on the hills and mountains and I can still remember my first ever summit: Skiddaw in the Lake District at the age of 4. Since then, wherever I travel to in the World, if there is a hill or mountain I want to see the view from the summit, enjoy the freedom of being at the top of that particular part of the World. But I have to admit, The Spine Race really tested that love. During daylight hours things were fine. But once it was dark (15 hours at a time) and head-torches were switched on, the fun and enjoyment had gone. Plodding along in your own arc of light, the immediate world only stretching as far as the beam of light coming from the top of your head could reach, to me, is not an enjoyable experience. When the moon was out and shining bright, some of the enjoyment came back but this was not the case very often. </span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Despite this monotony I pressed on, the thought of completing Britain’s most brutal race spurring me ever closer to the end. As I headed out onto the 5th stage I felt invigorated and fresh, ready to tackle the remaining 80 or so miles. After a couple of miles I had paired up with Javed, an experienced and strong ultra-runner and we were able to share and compare navigation, keeping each other motivated along the way. </span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After a while my quad and knee problem returned. The pain was intense and I had great difficulty bending my leg: I urged Javed to push on without me, but he encouraged me to take pain killers and anti-inflammatories and push on. He also gave my thigh a massage: well he drove both his thumbs into the knotted muscle above my knee, bringing tears to my eyes with the pain that he caused. Compared to that pain walking was now slightly easier, but I had to modify my walking technique, being unable to lead with my left leg going up a hill or support my weight on the knee joint coming down hill. Over the remaining hours of that 5th stage the pain did gradually ease, but as it eased, my mobility reduced along with the speed with which we covered the ground.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Although exhausted having walked for over 24 hours non-stop, I was relatively pain free on arrival at CP5 but I knew I was going to need a good rest and I would need to get my pace back up above 2 mph if I was going to complete the race - but time was running out. Having refuelled I went for a shower and it was at this point I knew I had a problem. I had expected swelling in my feet during the week and had prepared for this by bringing a larger pair of trainers, but when I looked at my legs I now realised why I couldn’t bend my left knee - it had swollen to nearly twice it’s normal size.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Onpj57pe9WY/Ut6dllBCk-I/AAAAAAAADcE/AxIdVd9ih78/s1600/steve+paul+17+at+01-07-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Onpj57pe9WY/Ut6dllBCk-I/AAAAAAAADcE/AxIdVd9ih78/s1600/steve+paul+17+at+01-07-31.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">On the left a swollen knee, on the right a double swollen knee!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My thought process went along the lines:</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“If I continue I would need to go faster than I had on the previous leg in order to meet the time limitation. With my knee in this state and the terrain getting worse, this is unlikely. If I was with others this might help me along, but I would slow them down and they might miss completing the race themselves, I don't want that responsibility. If I go on my own, I would just get slower and slower and would be likely to finish long after the cut-off, making my knee worse in the process and I may even need pulling off the hill.”</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Right or wrong, I decided enough was enough and called it a day. No regrets, I had given it my best shot. Only 30 athletes went on to </span>finish<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> within the time.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had completed over 226 miles in under 6 days, competing with and against some the the World’s finest athletes that I have had the privilege to meet - I am proud of that and thank everyone involved with the Spine (organisers, volunteers, athletes and supporters) for letting me be part of the event. I’m not an ultra-marathoner, I’m just someone who likes a challenge and having a go.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the positive side, I have managed to raise around £2000 for East Anglian’s Children’s Hospices and would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this total. My fundraising page will remain open for a few more weeks, so if you have a few pounds to spare please consider adding to that total.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xNt9Kqzd9V8/Ut6hc-VXWBI/AAAAAAAADc4/AeYDcuT-SPA/s1600/logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xNt9Kqzd9V8/Ut6hc-VXWBI/AAAAAAAADc4/AeYDcuT-SPA/s1600/logo.gif" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/stevepaul" target="_blank">Steve's Fundraising Page</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the meantime, does anyone have any ideas for my next fundraising challenge?</span></span>Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-2223036704895045842014-01-08T10:15:00.000+00:002014-01-24T17:39:55.287+00:00Challenge 3 - Back to the Hills<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ok, so this is it. Challenge number 3.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2dj4P1P9y8/Us0iu6b3Q1I/AAAAAAAADbE/ZJCk1TTXOk8/s1600/1+275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2dj4P1P9y8/Us0iu6b3Q1I/AAAAAAAADbE/ZJCk1TTXOk8/s1600/1+275.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Spine Race.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DobyVm0secQ/Us0iuvjcopI/AAAAAAAADbA/nqmvA2kXuWo/s1600/1+276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DobyVm0secQ/Us0iuvjcopI/AAAAAAAADbA/nqmvA2kXuWo/s1600/1+276.jpg" height="640" width="356" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Spine Race will start on Saturday and is the longest, coldest and most demanding mountain marathon in Britain. 268 miles of rain, snow, cold and savage winds and 15 hours of darkness at night making the navigation even more challenging. Competitors will have 7 days to complete the race (that's averaging 38.3 miles each day) which runs the entire length of the Pennine Way, South to North, from Edale to Kirk Yetholm, passing through the Peak District, the Cheviots, the Yorkshire Dales, the Northumberland National Park and finishing on the Scottish Boarders. (<a href="http://thespinerace.com/"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">thespinerace.com</span></a>) </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">I would like to say that I am as fully prepared as I possibly could be for this challenge, but having read the blogs and FB entries of some of the other competitors, both of this years race and the previous 2 Spine Races, I am sure I could have done more.</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">After my solo circumnavigation of the UK last year I found my capacity for running had greatly reduced which resulted in my DNF of the SVP100, 10 days after completing my voyage. So I had to bring my mileage back up and </span>later<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> I went back to finish the SVP on my own and added some extra miles for good measure. I have also converted myself back to the British Grid system instead of Lat & Long, swapped my charts for maps and have r</span>e-familiarised<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> myself with a handheld GPS (mandatory kit for The Spine) after using my yacht’s chart plotter for 4 months. </span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As far as equipment and clothing is concerned, I have a mixture of some brand new kit, Ebay bargains and also some old issue kit from my military life. I must admit it is somewhat a novelty to be able to choose what I wear and use, instead of having to manage with what I am given - I hope I have made the right choices. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Statistically, less than 30% of those that line up on the start line of the Spine Race reach the finish, so I’m entering this race with the ambitions of being in that 30% and within the 7-day time limit; in other words, surviving. As previous competitors have written, this race is all about self-management and I’m hoping my experience of living out of the pack on my back will stand me in good stead.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the past I have lived in a snow-hole at -40 degrees inside the Arctic Circle, survived in the Mojave Desert at +40 for 6-days on a single days rations, stayed awake long enough to the point of experiencing hallucinations and patrolled the humid jungles of Belize for a week at a time, chasing drug-runners. But something tells me this is going to be one of the more demanding weeks I’ve encountered and I am going to have to draw on all of my past experience and knowledge just to get through it.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I said at the start, this is challenge number 3 and, as before, I continue to raise money for the East Anglian’s Children’s Hospices. My target is £2680, that’s £10 for each mile of the Spine Race - so if you can spare a few pounds, please do follow this link and help me reach my target:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; line-height: 12px;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/stevepau" target="_blank">Steve's Fundraising Page</a></span></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you are interested in tracking my progress throughout this event, the organisers are fitting all competitors with a GPS tracker which will give our positions and update the leaderboard here:</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://spine.opentracking.co.uk/" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Race Tracking</a></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I doubt I will be posting anything online during the race, but I will hopefully be able to check FB and emails on my mobile occasionally, so any words of encouragement and motivation will be very much welcomed and appreciated. When you are inside your warm, dry homes next week, spare a thought for the 80 competitors heading north up the Pennine Way, just for the fun of it!</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-spSh06zXIG0/Us0dER5FgnI/AAAAAAAADac/t51-Bfl7RFM/s1600/book+16+at+10-27-34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-spSh06zXIG0/Us0dER5FgnI/AAAAAAAADac/t51-Bfl7RFM/s1600/book+16+at+10-27-34.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My next blog entry will be a post race report.</span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-92217624983556383952013-12-01T11:13:00.000+00:002014-01-24T17:58:40.823+00:00You have read the blog; now buy the book:<div style="text-align: left; width: 450px;">
<object class="myWidget" data="http://www.blurb.co.uk/assets/embed.swf" height="300" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450">
<param name='allowFullScreen' value='true' />
<param name='wmode' value='transparent' />
<param name='allowScriptAccess' value='always' />
<param name='movie' value='http://www.blurb.co.uk/assets/embed.swf' />
<param name='FlashVars' value='book_id=4828801&locale=en_GB' />
<a href='http://www.blurb.co.uk/books/4828801' target='_new'>
<img src='http://assets2.blurb.com/images/uploads/catalog/79/1722279/5206835-8b7590d4190f2f1a64d9f3a6698fc619.jpg' />
</a>
</object>
<br />
<div style="display: block;">
<a href="http://blur.by/1eLABRn" style="margin: 12px 3px;" target="_blank">Circumnavigation UK 2013 by Steve Paul</a>
|
<a href="http://www.blurb.co.uk/landing_pages/bookshow" style="margin: 12px 3px;" target="_blank">Make Your Own Book</a>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Update: Also now in the iTunes bookstore:</span><br />
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/circumnavigation-uk-2013/id787825806?mt=11" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></a>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: yellow; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/circumnavigation-uk-2013/id787825806?mt=11" target="_blank">iTunes</a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-86685200187924682192013-11-20T14:46:00.000+00:002013-11-23T16:13:26.418+00:00Two Months On........<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Two months after my DNF at the Stour Valley Path 100km race (SVP100), I went back to put things right and finish the task I had started. An early train to Newmarket ensured I hit the trail at sunrise, determined to complete the 62 miles. This time I was on my own and carrying my 8Kg rucksack; this containing the kit that I have been refining ready for The Spine Race in January. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The SVP100 had been my second of three challenges that I have set myself to help raise funds and awareness of East Anglia's Children's Hospices and I wanted to complete the route (and the challenge) so as to not short change those that have been generous enough to sponsor me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am very happy to say I completed the 100km in around 15 hours - not a great time, but I was carrying the extra weight, there were less daylight hours and I did not have the benefit of the support at the check points along the route, available during the race. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As well as wanting to finish what I had started back in September, yesterday also formed part of my current training regime, working towards the 268 mile Spine Race, my third challenge, which is in January. So once I had completed the 62 miles, I turned north and walked to Ipswich..........giving me a total distance of around 75 miles in one go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I still have some way to go before reaching my fund raising target, so if you can spare a few pounds please click below:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/stevepaul" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9qjWHK9eCyY/UozJjjO7o1I/AAAAAAAADZg/hcttXZDGX5U/s1600/logo.gif" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/stevepaul" target="_blank">Thank you</a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-30900615545972552502013-09-21T15:38:00.001+01:002014-01-24T17:58:07.386+00:00The Stour Valley Path 100km a week on.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wc5n_m6QJvM/Uj2tWkoYXSI/AAAAAAAADYA/Xj3lQGxrXN4/s1600/svp+14+at+08-18-33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wc5n_m6QJvM/Uj2tWkoYXSI/AAAAAAAADYA/Xj3lQGxrXN4/s320/svp+14+at+08-18-33.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think I may well have been putting off typing up this particular blog post.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--UePlg1suoo/Uj2tMXeigwI/AAAAAAAADXw/RRvhtqdb3hI/s1600/svp+14+at+08-45-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--UePlg1suoo/Uj2tMXeigwI/AAAAAAAADXw/RRvhtqdb3hI/s320/svp+14+at+08-45-20.jpg" height="320" width="201" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This time last week I was slogging my way along the 62 miles of the Stour Valley, but I only made it as far as mile 42.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--SM-_nuTgYM/Uj2thPo4sCI/AAAAAAAADYw/HHSkLfxvG0E/s1600/svp+14+at+09-07-53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--SM-_nuTgYM/Uj2thPo4sCI/AAAAAAAADYw/HHSkLfxvG0E/s400/svp+14+at+09-07-53.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The start in Newmarket</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was disappointed to say the least, not to have completed the whole course, but I was falling behind the cut-off times and the checkpoints were closing ahead of me. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MG7n6Arpfyc/Uj2taT9GXrI/AAAAAAAADYQ/N9iWF-_PgSY/s1600/svp+14+at+13-19-35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MG7n6Arpfyc/Uj2taT9GXrI/AAAAAAAADYQ/N9iWF-_PgSY/s320/svp+14+at+13-19-35.jpg" height="297" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">CP 2</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XKIXKOzYEzs/Uj2tfZO9pCI/AAAAAAAADYo/oihRlw3EbiM/s1600/svp+14+at+13-20-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XKIXKOzYEzs/Uj2tfZO9pCI/AAAAAAAADYo/oihRlw3EbiM/s320/svp+14+at+13-20-20.jpg" height="320" width="304" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Deep down I think I could have pushed on further and maybe even have finished.....but the organisers would have all gone home by that time! So I stopped at the 4th of 6 checkpoints. There were 97 people entered, 10 failed to start and 31 did not finish - of those DNFs I had gone the 2nd furthest.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W0W2a6XjR9g/Uj2tc-vNDpI/AAAAAAAADYY/n0ZWUs4fVl8/s1600/svp+14+at+16-05-51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W0W2a6XjR9g/Uj2tc-vNDpI/AAAAAAAADYY/n0ZWUs4fVl8/s320/svp+14+at+16-05-51.jpg" height="269" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Coming into CP3</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is now 7 days later and I have had a chance to think about why things didn't go as planned and also to look ahead to my next challenge, learning from the SVP experience. My legs have recovered quickly and I feel ready to start training again; this time I will not be trying to fit it in around the demanding challenge of sailing around the UK and I can now concentrate my efforts on preparation for The Spine Race, a far tougher race!</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SjqzGTlOpEE/Uj2teRk5-SI/AAAAAAAADYg/oybOSHeQjTI/s1600/svp+14+at+18-50-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SjqzGTlOpEE/Uj2teRk5-SI/AAAAAAAADYg/oybOSHeQjTI/s320/svp+14+at+18-50-15.jpg" height="320" width="183" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">CP4 and my finish!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-42163073019809342132013-09-09T09:52:00.000+01:002014-01-24T17:59:13.027+00:00Stour Valley Path 100km Ultra Race<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In 5 days time I will be running 100km (62 miles) in 13 hours as part of the Stour Valley Path 100 Ultra Race, raising money for EACH. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have never covered this distance in one go and I have done very little training for this event due to my sailing challenge that I have just completed.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I would welcome any support that you can give me, either financial through my charity website:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: yellow; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/stevepaul" target="_blank">(http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/stevepaul)</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">or by cheering me along the route or moral support through your comments on FB and Twitter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The race (<a href="http://www.svp100.co.uk/">http://www.svp100.co.uk</a>) starts in Newmarket 14 September at 09.14am and finishes in Cattawade in Essex - full details can be found by following the link.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5rO2Hnqmct4/Ui2LtnkXz0I/AAAAAAAADXM/veATIBImBSo/s1600/logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5rO2Hnqmct4/Ui2LtnkXz0I/AAAAAAAADXM/veATIBImBSo/s320/logo.gif" height="320" width="224" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YL67KGJl664/Ui2LwDoLIDI/AAAAAAAADXU/41Ur9mpYU3I/s1600/svplogonew.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YL67KGJl664/Ui2LwDoLIDI/AAAAAAAADXU/41Ur9mpYU3I/s320/svplogonew.png" height="217" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I will blog a race report next week.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-669539402700701892013-09-06T14:13:00.001+01:002013-09-06T14:13:19.502+01:00Just a thought ...........<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 15px;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“The clock of life is wound but once,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: white; letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And no man has the power</span></div>
</span><span style="color: white; letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">To tell just when the hands will stop</span></div>
</span><span style="color: white; letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">At late or early hour.</span></div>
</span><span style="color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="color: white; letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">To lose one's wealth is sad indeed,</span></div>
</span><span style="color: white; letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">To lose one's health is more,</span></div>
</span><span style="color: white; letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">To lose one's soul is such a loss</span></div>
</span><span style="color: white; letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">That no man can restore.</span></div>
</span><span style="color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="color: white; letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The present only is our own,</span></div>
</span><span style="color: white; letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">So live, love, toil with a will,</span></div>
</span><span style="color: white; letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Place no faith in "Tomorrow”,</span></div>
</span><span style="color: white; letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">For the Clock may then be still.”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
</span><span style="color: white; letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">- Robert H Smith</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VubKAuqcm2M/UinTJwgztsI/AAAAAAAADW8/jpmVdCw_pYs/s1600/IMG_2905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VubKAuqcm2M/UinTJwgztsI/AAAAAAAADW8/jpmVdCw_pYs/s400/IMG_2905.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
</span></span><br />
Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-21849009741997426242013-09-04T13:52:00.000+01:002014-01-24T17:42:18.815+00:00The last day: Lowestoft to Ipswich<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7-sco0Izzhc/Uick1geTjeI/AAAAAAAADT8/j1i4XlQU_pk/s1600/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+11-41-55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F9PSDHvKdZw/Uick1mq3MdI/AAAAAAAADT0/mg4-A7UDmUw/s1600/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+09-20-42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F9PSDHvKdZw/Uick1mq3MdI/AAAAAAAADT0/mg4-A7UDmUw/s200/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+09-20-42.jpg" width="200" /></a><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7-sco0Izzhc/Uick1geTjeI/AAAAAAAADT8/j1i4XlQU_pk/s200/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+11-41-55.jpg" width="200" /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7-sco0Izzhc/Uick1geTjeI/AAAAAAAADT8/j1i4XlQU_pk/s1600/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+11-41-55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8woNeItUm1E/Uick3g3WCHI/AAAAAAAADUU/xWtDYieGyTE/s1600/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+13-52-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8woNeItUm1E/Uick3g3WCHI/AAAAAAAADUU/xWtDYieGyTE/s200/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+13-52-10.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XcX2KoQ1dvs/Uick2EpuwtI/AAAAAAAADUE/BZMxvUTXVY8/s1600/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+13-36-35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XcX2KoQ1dvs/Uick2EpuwtI/AAAAAAAADUE/BZMxvUTXVY8/s200/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+13-36-35.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Despite being tired from the previous passage, I was keen to push on and get home. Although I live in Ipswich I have never actually sailed northward from there, so this part of the route was still new to me, but I had seen many of the landmarks before from dry land!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vAbFyzvVWP4/Uick1UD33XI/AAAAAAAADTw/tI1r3K2hAW8/s1600/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+12-49-44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vAbFyzvVWP4/Uick1UD33XI/AAAAAAAADTw/tI1r3K2hAW8/s640/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+12-49-44.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cgFhfA8HUkY/Uick3UYmQdI/AAAAAAAADUQ/4_Bf8Qk22-k/s1600/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+14-42-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cgFhfA8HUkY/Uick3UYmQdI/AAAAAAAADUQ/4_Bf8Qk22-k/s640/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+14-42-01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lyMcULjczSE/Uick3qeUzaI/AAAAAAAADUc/EXNJucGNFfk/s1600/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+15-02-37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lyMcULjczSE/Uick3qeUzaI/AAAAAAAADUc/EXNJucGNFfk/s320/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+15-02-37.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lighthouse of the day.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was great to see the cranes of the Felixstowe docks appear on the horizon; once past them it was just a case of motoring up the River Orwell.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y1re8RRI2dw/Uick5LRQlWI/AAAAAAAADUo/2SwFdY-Ti28/s1600/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+16-09-45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y1re8RRI2dw/Uick5LRQlWI/AAAAAAAADUo/2SwFdY-Ti28/s640/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+16-09-45.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2pSLBq2Bkhs/Uick6oXLGxI/AAAAAAAADVQ/jCu7pGOW_4o/s1600/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+17-30-52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2pSLBq2Bkhs/Uick6oXLGxI/AAAAAAAADVQ/jCu7pGOW_4o/s640/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+17-30-52.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qv_4hPvkX7k/Uick7kut7-I/AAAAAAAADVY/IxUFShbUDtk/s1600/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+17-44-57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qv_4hPvkX7k/Uick7kut7-I/AAAAAAAADVY/IxUFShbUDtk/s400/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+17-44-57.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HVE_Hz8OJbc/Uick5rVx-KI/AAAAAAAADU4/zYv7SdYBq_w/s1600/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+16-49-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HVE_Hz8OJbc/Uick5rVx-KI/AAAAAAAADU4/zYv7SdYBq_w/s320/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+16-49-15.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One happy yachtsmen with home in sight.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qC4-ANLR8EM/Uick7xEG9lI/AAAAAAAADVc/pIB2wYv3Pb8/s1600/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+17-56-58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qC4-ANLR8EM/Uick7xEG9lI/AAAAAAAADVc/pIB2wYv3Pb8/s640/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+17-56-58.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Harwich swamped by a floating hotel.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8H3IdKUYTp4/Uick8sBLzpI/AAAAAAAADVo/JXByi0jfhec/s1600/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+17-59-52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8H3IdKUYTp4/Uick8sBLzpI/AAAAAAAADVo/JXByi0jfhec/s400/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+17-59-52.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uowsd3Pkmlo/Uick9CuJkDI/AAAAAAAADVw/4r2QypWaNtQ/s1600/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+18-02-40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uowsd3Pkmlo/Uick9CuJkDI/AAAAAAAADVw/4r2QypWaNtQ/s640/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+18-02-40.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A little too close for my liking!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5T_KqdP2c1Y/Uick9wsnp0I/AAAAAAAADV0/L2rQVLsygbY/s1600/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+18-16-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5T_KqdP2c1Y/Uick9wsnp0I/AAAAAAAADV0/L2rQVLsygbY/s400/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+18-16-32.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lightship of the day.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HY-f4T_Puyw/Uick-JInM6I/AAAAAAAADV8/yXXq3ybny4I/s1600/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+18-29-50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HY-f4T_Puyw/Uick-JInM6I/AAAAAAAADV8/yXXq3ybny4I/s640/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+18-29-50.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Worlds largest Meccano set (Felixstowe docks)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BdOSPA4LMIQ/Uick-iV49UI/AAAAAAAADWE/zNk5tY9JJYw/s1600/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+18-32-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BdOSPA4LMIQ/Uick-iV49UI/AAAAAAAADWE/zNk5tY9JJYw/s400/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+18-32-10.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Why didn't I carry one of those?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6lE1nujjYVY/Uick-wwuJpI/AAAAAAAADWQ/TJD4_aYKVEk/s1600/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+19-24-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6lE1nujjYVY/Uick-wwuJpI/AAAAAAAADWQ/TJD4_aYKVEk/s640/Lowestoft+-+Ipswich+02+at+19-24-25.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Orwell Bridge and the lights of home in the background.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hope that anyone dropping in on my blog over this past 3 months have enjoyed it - it's coming up to 20,000 hits so someone must like it. So far I have raised over £1300 for EACH and I am half way to my target with 5 months and 2 challenges yet to go. Please do consider sparing a few pounds to this very worthy cause, it will be very much appreciated. Thank you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4mbcCT6T9OI/Uicpyj6Pd_I/AAAAAAAADWg/yoYJ_xgGleE/s1600/logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4mbcCT6T9OI/Uicpyj6Pd_I/AAAAAAAADWg/yoYJ_xgGleE/s1600/logo.gif" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/stevepaul" target="_blank">CLICK TO DONATE HERE</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I plan to keep the blog going for the foreseeable future, so you will be able to track any future </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: -webkit-auto;">challenges on here and on my Facebook page.</span></div>
Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-57800340300666698222013-09-02T08:44:00.000+01:002014-01-24T17:42:18.885+00:00Final Day.......<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ok, this is it! After over 2200 nautical miles and 3 months, it is the final leg of my single-handed, UK circumnavigation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I thought it best to put todays blog entry on now and will update it later in the week.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I left on 28 May earlier this year I had never, ever, previously sailed single handed..............the best way to learn is to do and I’ve done it!</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Did you know that less people circumnavigate the UK than cross the Atlantic each year?</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are quite a few “thank you’s” to hand out:</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anita: for putting up with my crazy ideas and supporting me in them.......sorry, but there are more to come.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Everyone who has sponsored me and given money to EACH. If you haven't yet sponsored me, please, please do:</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="color: #e32400; font-family: Arial; font-size: 21px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>uk.virginmoneygiving.com/stevepaul</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The RNLI, Coastguard and all the Harbour Masters - what a stirling job you all do.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All the media people that have printed or posted things about my fund raising efforts.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The fundraising staff at EACH.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All my fellow yachtsmen out there; always friendly, always willing to lend a hand and offer advice.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All of you for reading and supporting this blog, for all the positive feedback and comments.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And finally thank you to “Brown Eyes” - no matter what happened, I always felt safe on her - she is a great yacht. And that is why I am putting her up for sale. Everywhere we have been together on this journey we have seen other fantastic yachts, now rotting away in their berths, forgotten and uncared for. Wasted.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Brown Eyes needs to be sailed and I have so many other challenges and travels that I want to do, not involving sailing. I’m afraid that she may well end up like those others and I would not want that to happen. So if anyone knows of somebody looking for a great yacht, that can cross oceans in comfort, please put them in touch with me. Reasonable offers considered.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As for me; well short term I need to get ready for a 100km race in 12 days time and then the 268 mile Spine Race......it’s a tough challenge and I need to be hill fit.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Long term: well I intend to live to be 100 years old........plenty more challenges to fit in between now and then......so stay tuned...........................</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qieWGIMDZec/UiQ_jLGukMI/AAAAAAAADTc/xQ-Xu_k-HAU/s1600/Steve+Paul+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qieWGIMDZec/UiQ_jLGukMI/AAAAAAAADTc/xQ-Xu_k-HAU/s640/Steve+Paul+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-19095545105215057362013-09-02T08:10:00.000+01:002014-01-24T17:59:44.267+00:00Filey to Lowestoft<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IgJhvrWUjhc/UiQ01mm-ltI/AAAAAAAADSM/4zxEwkjd3HE/s1600/Steve+Paul+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IgJhvrWUjhc/UiQ01mm-ltI/AAAAAAAADSM/4zxEwkjd3HE/s640/Steve+Paul+14.jpg" height="214" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Filey the next morning.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With a leg of 150 miles to cover, I was up early and away with the sun rise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The wind was favourable, but there was a large sea swell once I was out of the protection of the bay</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NLsVpMk7j84/UiQ07IxmNpI/AAAAAAAADS0/BqC2MBDopIA/s1600/Steve+Paul+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NLsVpMk7j84/UiQ07IxmNpI/AAAAAAAADS0/BqC2MBDopIA/s400/Steve+Paul+7.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Crossing the Wash in darkness was quite a challenge with so many wind turbines, platforms and other vessels to pick out and identify in the darkness.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Me48NilB2Q/UiQ084tcorI/AAAAAAAADTE/LDGGls26LeE/s1600/Steve+Paul+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Me48NilB2Q/UiQ084tcorI/AAAAAAAADTE/LDGGls26LeE/s640/Steve+Paul+8.jpg" height="369" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The night seemed to go on forever and I was pleased to see the first rays of light on the horizon; it had been a long night.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I still had some way to go before reaching Lowestoft. When I did finally pull into the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club, I had been sailing for 36 hours. After a hot meal and a pint, I slept very well!</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sSR9YvQyBzY/UiQ0wCYuu2I/AAAAAAAADR0/MKH0dqO4A1Y/s1600/Steve+Paul+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sSR9YvQyBzY/UiQ0wCYuu2I/AAAAAAAADR0/MKH0dqO4A1Y/s400/Steve+Paul+10.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lighthouse of the day.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0EVKZUmpuq4/UiQ05GOAF_I/AAAAAAAADSc/GeXRSp1JgRY/s1600/Steve+Paul+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0EVKZUmpuq4/UiQ05GOAF_I/AAAAAAAADSc/GeXRSp1JgRY/s400/Steve+Paul+4.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xJ2bwRWbBoI/UiQ059G1yvI/AAAAAAAADSs/naAvl5CbQA8/s1600/Steve+Paul+5.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xJ2bwRWbBoI/UiQ059G1yvI/AAAAAAAADSs/naAvl5CbQA8/s320/Steve+Paul+5.jpg" height="260" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lighthouse of the second day.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RiYHtM0aX7M/UiQ05VoCJHI/AAAAAAAADSg/iVEVMnPezAU/s1600/Steve+Paul+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RiYHtM0aX7M/UiQ05VoCJHI/AAAAAAAADSg/iVEVMnPezAU/s400/Steve+Paul+3.jpg" height="295" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lowestoft Lighthouse</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cqYuB52b680/UiQ01qrpbZI/AAAAAAAADSQ/pQLkpaUu4kA/s1600/Steve+Paul+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cqYuB52b680/UiQ01qrpbZI/AAAAAAAADSQ/pQLkpaUu4kA/s320/Steve+Paul+2.jpg" height="320" width="243" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0rMcP442qZg/UiQ09zfLHsI/AAAAAAAADTM/8Tg68_1SvaQ/s1600/Steve+Paul+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0rMcP442qZg/UiQ09zfLHsI/AAAAAAAADTM/8Tg68_1SvaQ/s320/Steve+Paul+9.jpg" height="320" width="247" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-96kfjdrTVgM/UiQ0uUkIlfI/AAAAAAAADRs/KF7N4XUxjbU/s1600/Steve+Paul+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-96kfjdrTVgM/UiQ0uUkIlfI/AAAAAAAADRs/KF7N4XUxjbU/s640/Steve+Paul+11.jpg" height="494" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0qEdW69YIe8/UiQ0xc0-5VI/AAAAAAAADSE/Fl_FkVtYILE/s1600/Steve+Paul+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0qEdW69YIe8/UiQ0xc0-5VI/AAAAAAAADSE/Fl_FkVtYILE/s320/Steve+Paul+12.jpg" height="320" width="319" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4NQWfDe2txA/UiQ0trbdN1I/AAAAAAAADRk/ZNXwzM_UgiI/s1600/Steve+Paul+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4NQWfDe2txA/UiQ0trbdN1I/AAAAAAAADRk/ZNXwzM_UgiI/s400/Steve+Paul+1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Entry into Lowestoft harbour - a welcome sight.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B4XEqPgwkgY/UiQ0wxB93eI/AAAAAAAADR8/96rZwPd8MVE/s1600/Steve+Paul+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B4XEqPgwkgY/UiQ0wxB93eI/AAAAAAAADR8/96rZwPd8MVE/s640/Steve+Paul+13.jpg" height="410" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-1291648107181192322013-09-02T07:39:00.000+01:002014-01-24T18:01:25.490+00:00Sunderland to Filey Bay...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1G6Zbi1gyXU/UiOEAA4YGOI/AAAAAAAADRM/X8OMz8oxFCM/s1600/Steve+Paul+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1G6Zbi1gyXU/UiOEAA4YGOI/AAAAAAAADRM/X8OMz8oxFCM/s400/Steve+Paul+9.jpg" height="201" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My next marina stop was going to be Lowestoft, some 200 nautical miles away, and I had planned to do this in two legs, anchoring off in the mouth of the Humber river.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2LBI40z0r40/UiODw08w7_I/AAAAAAAADQM/EqaGmvJyKzs/s1600/Steve+Paul+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2LBI40z0r40/UiODw08w7_I/AAAAAAAADQM/EqaGmvJyKzs/s320/Steve+Paul+1.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gJvQ9opQwiE/UiODxhBUtLI/AAAAAAAADQU/Cm2YkTvJbT0/s1600/Steve+Paul+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gJvQ9opQwiE/UiODxhBUtLI/AAAAAAAADQU/Cm2YkTvJbT0/s400/Steve+Paul+2.jpg" height="247" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lighthouse of the day.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The highlight of the day, and of my whole trip, was a whale sighting. As usual, I was staring out into the horizon and my mind was further away, when a whale surfaced 10ft to the side of Brown Eyes, blowing out of it's air hole. To say the least, it made me jump!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The whale swan across my bow and appeared a couple more times off to the port side, allowing me to grab a couple of photos, and then he was gone.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4mtHjv0K_pE/UiOD38kscoI/AAAAAAAADQk/Ii6a8vla5MI/s1600/Steve+Paul+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4mtHjv0K_pE/UiOD38kscoI/AAAAAAAADQk/Ii6a8vla5MI/s400/Steve+Paul+3.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gay6Kmj-u9g/UiOD56IsFYI/AAAAAAAADQs/sqcXsrgkK-Q/s1600/Steve+Paul+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gay6Kmj-u9g/UiOD56IsFYI/AAAAAAAADQs/sqcXsrgkK-Q/s400/Steve+Paul+4.jpg" height="262" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wB4ypFIOGuU/UiOD7T6iq8I/AAAAAAAADQ4/g0v77fpjPOQ/s1600/Steve+Paul+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wB4ypFIOGuU/UiOD7T6iq8I/AAAAAAAADQ4/g0v77fpjPOQ/s400/Steve+Paul+5.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once I have identified what kind of whale it was, I will update this blog entry. (The Sea Watch Foundation have now confirmed the sighting as a Minke Whale and my photos can be seen on their recent sightings webpage)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LQWrMJ26XM4/UiOD7FP0anI/AAAAAAAADQ0/iXrCpm4HLG0/s1600/Steve+Paul+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LQWrMJ26XM4/UiOD7FP0anI/AAAAAAAADQ0/iXrCpm4HLG0/s400/Steve+Paul+6.jpg" height="206" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F0JSspZ6tH0/UiOEBI6hlHI/AAAAAAAADRU/jmRZDXM0xUE/s1600/Steve+Paul+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F0JSspZ6tH0/UiOEBI6hlHI/AAAAAAAADRU/jmRZDXM0xUE/s400/Steve+Paul+7.jpg" height="261" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Progress was not as fast as I had hoped and in the end I decided to take the option of an alternative anchorage and stopped at Filey Bay.....so a long leg next!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eZR_uiqpAis/UiOD_XM7GkI/AAAAAAAADRE/YfzqlS1P6mM/s1600/Steve+Paul+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eZR_uiqpAis/UiOD_XM7GkI/AAAAAAAADRE/YfzqlS1P6mM/s640/Steve+Paul+8.jpg" height="170" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tGWkVVHGgLE/UiOD2PoZRcI/AAAAAAAADQc/9hcTmq_4ObE/s1600/Steve+Paul+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tGWkVVHGgLE/UiOD2PoZRcI/AAAAAAAADQc/9hcTmq_4ObE/s320/Steve+Paul+10.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-33971134198280216882013-08-29T21:05:00.000+01:002014-01-24T18:02:40.065+00:00Holy Island to Sunderland.....<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BNvUtWiKTQ4/Uh-juF5R8WI/AAAAAAAADNw/AcOWLLo2U30/s1600/Steve+Paul+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BNvUtWiKTQ4/Uh-juF5R8WI/AAAAAAAADNw/AcOWLLo2U30/s320/Steve+Paul+1.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Todays Route</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TuaRyoGAQA4/Uh-jye8Q5MI/AAAAAAAADOQ/eeHuc6rt6iw/s1600/Steve+Paul+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TuaRyoGAQA4/Uh-jye8Q5MI/AAAAAAAADOQ/eeHuc6rt6iw/s640/Steve+Paul+16.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sunrise at Holy Island</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another early start to catch the tide to hop the 50 miles south to Sunderland. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MaezetUMSCk/Uh-jybKX6hI/AAAAAAAADOU/FQIz2jgAdW0/s1600/Steve+Paul+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MaezetUMSCk/Uh-jybKX6hI/AAAAAAAADOU/FQIz2jgAdW0/s400/Steve+Paul+17.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The seals were there to see me off...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8XQ51yfOKq4/Uh-jyY_WqpI/AAAAAAAADOc/udtKEgi8PT8/s1600/Steve+Paul+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8XQ51yfOKq4/Uh-jyY_WqpI/AAAAAAAADOc/udtKEgi8PT8/s400/Steve+Paul+15.jpg" height="242" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As was the Loch Ness monster</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LaLM6lBiAX0/Uh-j0g3IzgI/AAAAAAAADO0/L1Roefk1rnQ/s1600/Steve+Paul+19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LaLM6lBiAX0/Uh-j0g3IzgI/AAAAAAAADO0/L1Roefk1rnQ/s640/Steve+Paul+19.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xXvrPabR9CI/Uh-j02-tOlI/AAAAAAAADOs/UGp7jAGXgxU/s1600/Steve+Paul+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xXvrPabR9CI/Uh-j02-tOlI/AAAAAAAADOs/UGp7jAGXgxU/s320/Steve+Paul+18.jpg" height="320" width="287" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had a great days sailing today, hardly having to use the engine. Visability was good and there was plenty to see along the way.........</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IYAIxHprXG8/Uh-jwBZIgdI/AAAAAAAADOE/gYVpuSyJRvA/s1600/Steve+Paul+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IYAIxHprXG8/Uh-jwBZIgdI/AAAAAAAADOE/gYVpuSyJRvA/s640/Steve+Paul+14.jpg" height="260" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBoiUCpDPYE/Uh-jrwCkCSI/AAAAAAAADNg/wA1aJj7en_M/s1600/Steve+Paul+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBoiUCpDPYE/Uh-jrwCkCSI/AAAAAAAADNg/wA1aJj7en_M/s640/Steve+Paul+10.jpg" height="226" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GCF6B7zv0WQ/Uh-j4rYU_bI/AAAAAAAADPc/ENYWhA3GPqU/s1600/Steve+Paul+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GCF6B7zv0WQ/Uh-j4rYU_bI/AAAAAAAADPc/ENYWhA3GPqU/s400/Steve+Paul+5.jpg" height="193" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lighthouse of the day......</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TPaLhaUXtRA/Uh-jv_bD5jI/AAAAAAAADN8/PA-RbRo2GbU/s1600/Steve+Paul+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TPaLhaUXtRA/Uh-jv_bD5jI/AAAAAAAADN8/PA-RbRo2GbU/s400/Steve+Paul+13.jpg" height="237" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">or do you prefer this one?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hTfaJ9osbbs/Uh-j4tt9ZOI/AAAAAAAADPY/kG87u2-ce0A/s1600/Steve+Paul+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hTfaJ9osbbs/Uh-j4tt9ZOI/AAAAAAAADPY/kG87u2-ce0A/s400/Steve+Paul+7.jpg" height="187" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ty-jfILjC0M/Uh-j5w6Y4AI/AAAAAAAADPw/VyGdEE6c8K0/s1600/Steve+Paul+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ty-jfILjC0M/Uh-j5w6Y4AI/AAAAAAAADPw/VyGdEE6c8K0/s640/Steve+Paul+8.jpg" height="534" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-peKrVYSj_Ao/Uh-jtra_4GI/AAAAAAAADNo/qWGonMOVCxo/s1600/Steve+Paul+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-peKrVYSj_Ao/Uh-jtra_4GI/AAAAAAAADNo/qWGonMOVCxo/s400/Steve+Paul+11.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IBWe0lboIj8/Uh-jv14lV6I/AAAAAAAADN4/7bghVQ_6Q3w/s1600/Steve+Paul+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IBWe0lboIj8/Uh-jv14lV6I/AAAAAAAADN4/7bghVQ_6Q3w/s320/Steve+Paul+12.jpg" height="230" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Those England fans get everywhere! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many of the marinas on the East coast are some way up rivers, but the Sunderland Marina that I was heading for today is just inside the sea wall, so I was quickly alongside.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8S6KR0SiVOs/Uh-j44-NExI/AAAAAAAADPk/TbhAdjpJImA/s1600/Steve+Paul+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8S6KR0SiVOs/Uh-j44-NExI/AAAAAAAADPk/TbhAdjpJImA/s640/Steve+Paul+6.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The entrance into the River Wear</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W8z1W_VCJ4E/Uh-j3FCQosI/AAAAAAAADPI/h_H59OgA5c0/s1600/Steve+Paul+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W8z1W_VCJ4E/Uh-j3FCQosI/AAAAAAAADPI/h_H59OgA5c0/s320/Steve+Paul+3.jpg" height="320" width="295" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B3MiEfxUqfY/Uh-j2kyldpI/AAAAAAAADPA/mVJr7vvN-g0/s1600/Steve+Paul+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B3MiEfxUqfY/Uh-j2kyldpI/AAAAAAAADPA/mVJr7vvN-g0/s320/Steve+Paul+4.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cYPl7ST4R1A/Uh-j0oIR14I/AAAAAAAADOo/xAo05rHwl4M/s1600/Steve+Paul+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cYPl7ST4R1A/Uh-j0oIR14I/AAAAAAAADOo/xAo05rHwl4M/s320/Steve+Paul+2.jpg" height="320" width="227" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-45066688937816827972013-08-27T19:26:00.000+01:002014-01-24T18:03:10.438+00:00Peterhead to Holy Island.....<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zaDmKV6vqxI/UhzposSW1GI/AAAAAAAADLE/aS1Y3npHft8/s1600/Wick+to+Holy+Island+26+at+07-22-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zaDmKV6vqxI/UhzposSW1GI/AAAAAAAADLE/aS1Y3npHft8/s640/Wick+to+Holy+Island+26+at+07-22-04.jpg" height="313" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Departing Peterhead</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The title of this blog entry was meant to read "Peterhead to Isle of May", but things didn't quite work out to plan.</span></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8EmNBJ3lfF8/UhzpnnMz4zI/AAAAAAAADK8/PnzVKcPp2J4/s1600/Wick+to+Holy+Island+26+at+07-05-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8EmNBJ3lfF8/UhzpnnMz4zI/AAAAAAAADK8/PnzVKcPp2J4/s400/Wick+to+Holy+Island+26+at+07-05-15.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lighthouse of the day.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had departed Peterhead early and was determined to put some miles in and get away from this part of Scotland that seems prone to fog.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sTYlGol_zNg/Uhzpo9cnTtI/AAAAAAAADLI/jvQ3B581y1A/s1600/Wick+to+Holy+Island+26+at+07-23-54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sTYlGol_zNg/Uhzpo9cnTtI/AAAAAAAADLI/jvQ3B581y1A/s400/Wick+to+Holy+Island+26+at+07-23-54.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Note the fog building up....</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K-NNcYkpKEA/UhzpqiHbVLI/AAAAAAAADLg/MKg4gYvDoWg/s1600/Wick+to+Holy+Island+26+at+11-14-37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K-NNcYkpKEA/UhzpqiHbVLI/AAAAAAAADLg/MKg4gYvDoWg/s400/Wick+to+Holy+Island+26+at+11-14-37.jpg" height="236" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Behind you....</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then the fog arrived and that doesn't make good photos or relaxed sailing.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-piLM7DOAzjg/UhzpqtUp3QI/AAAAAAAADLY/0KCCn8MIrCI/s1600/Wick+to+Holy+Island+26+at+12-50-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-piLM7DOAzjg/UhzpqtUp3QI/AAAAAAAADLY/0KCCn8MIrCI/s640/Wick+to+Holy+Island+26+at+12-50-14.jpg" height="248" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It was busy out there.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The fog came and went throughout the day and night and each time I switched my radar on to ensure I had enough warning of anything else out there. Only once was I taken by surprise, as a fishing boat passed within 100m of me, going the other way.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B5kRFsR9kso/UhzptMyddCI/AAAAAAAADL4/oTzqxemyIxY/s1600/Wick+to+Holy+Island+26+at+17-35-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B5kRFsR9kso/UhzptMyddCI/AAAAAAAADL4/oTzqxemyIxY/s400/Wick+to+Holy+Island+26+at+17-35-21.jpg" height="272" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I arrived at the Isle of May at first light and went to the leeward shore to be sheltered from the wind, unfortunately the swell in the cove was far too large for comfort and I decided not to risk anchoring in such conditions, especially after my experience at Loch Eriboll.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MVBY7O8CZ7E/Uhzpsld99kI/AAAAAAAADLs/f3XIZfE0A78/s1600/Wick+to+Holy+Island+26+at+19-39-48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MVBY7O8CZ7E/Uhzpsld99kI/AAAAAAAADLs/f3XIZfE0A78/s400/Wick+to+Holy+Island+26+at+19-39-48.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Some old and tired bloke.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iosNAp9mGCE/Uhzps4nCChI/AAAAAAAADLw/RMuUiI9i2Y8/s1600/Wick+to+Holy+Island+27+at+04-52-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iosNAp9mGCE/Uhzps4nCChI/AAAAAAAADLw/RMuUiI9i2Y8/s640/Wick+to+Holy+Island+27+at+04-52-02.jpg" height="444" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The fishermen were out early</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I pushed on to Holy Island after consulting the charts and almanac, arriving there at midday. I had been sailing for 29 hours and had cover over 120 miles.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BhV0NDJ0XyY/UhzpuSaSmfI/AAAAAAAADME/hqOEnQ1rgTc/s1600/Wick+to+Holy+Island+27+at+05-16-48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BhV0NDJ0XyY/UhzpuSaSmfI/AAAAAAAADME/hqOEnQ1rgTc/s400/Wick+to+Holy+Island+27+at+05-16-48.jpg" height="271" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gannets</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fOpunSG0irc/UhzpuoD4oPI/AAAAAAAADMI/r4MmI1IIOyw/s1600/Wick+to+Holy+Island+27+at+05-32-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fOpunSG0irc/UhzpuoD4oPI/AAAAAAAADMI/r4MmI1IIOyw/s640/Wick+to+Holy+Island+27+at+05-32-12.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sunrise</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ezi4rze6UAs/Uhzpvsym3NI/AAAAAAAADMU/7qDzsiNtAQQ/s1600/Wick+to+Holy+Island+27+at+06-52-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ezi4rze6UAs/Uhzpvsym3NI/AAAAAAAADMU/7qDzsiNtAQQ/s400/Wick+to+Holy+Island+27+at+06-52-30.jpg" height="400" width="362" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--GdVdrwALCM/UhzpwLna5ZI/AAAAAAAADMk/kBk5S1BZoyQ/s1600/Wick+to+Holy+Island+27+at+09-46-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--GdVdrwALCM/UhzpwLna5ZI/AAAAAAAADMk/kBk5S1BZoyQ/s320/Wick+to+Holy+Island+27+at+09-46-05.jpg" height="262" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Note the fish</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Idl1dgaQy-s/Uhzpv73tyaI/AAAAAAAADMY/3OwHrZ7QQBU/s1600/Wick+to+Holy+Island+27+at+09-46-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Idl1dgaQy-s/Uhzpv73tyaI/AAAAAAAADMY/3OwHrZ7QQBU/s400/Wick+to+Holy+Island+27+at+09-46-07.jpg" height="400" width="176" /></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kqnL8hwbjw4/UhzpxszSIHI/AAAAAAAADMw/6lmOxOIi6N0/s1600/Wick+to+Holy+Island+27+at+11-33-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kqnL8hwbjw4/UhzpxszSIHI/AAAAAAAADMw/6lmOxOIi6N0/s320/Wick+to+Holy+Island+27+at+11-33-15.jpg" height="320" width="195" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It wasn't me!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p-9tvXxRpq0/UhzpzwqAnMI/AAAAAAAADM8/RX8-Wl2QNLc/s1600/Wick+to+Holy+Island+27+at+11-47-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p-9tvXxRpq0/UhzpzwqAnMI/AAAAAAAADM8/RX8-Wl2QNLc/s640/Wick+to+Holy+Island+27+at+11-47-01.jpg" height="444" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The welcoming committee at Holy Island</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YMRFnO2BjWI/Uhztw_HqLOI/AAAAAAAADNQ/wAz15ey06w4/s1600/Wick+to+Holy+Island+27+at+12-45-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YMRFnO2BjWI/Uhztw_HqLOI/AAAAAAAADNQ/wAz15ey06w4/s640/Wick+to+Holy+Island+27+at+12-45-07.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My view from Brown Eyes</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-12036180621067372502013-08-25T22:17:00.002+01:002014-01-24T18:03:33.356+00:00Fogged in at Peterhead....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VAqKGa6qM7Y/Uhpx89x6eXI/AAAAAAAADKY/7DwTC0mJuEA/s1600/Peterhead+25+at+14-29-39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VAqKGa6qM7Y/Uhpx89x6eXI/AAAAAAAADKY/7DwTC0mJuEA/s320/Peterhead+25+at+14-29-39.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There was thick fog sitting over Peterhead this morning, which meant my plans to press on were scuppered.......</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rXuJTQpXNbI/Uhpx5EK76wI/AAAAAAAADKA/uDIkxbuUOc4/s1600/Peterhead+24+at+12-25-58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rXuJTQpXNbI/Uhpx5EK76wI/AAAAAAAADKA/uDIkxbuUOc4/s400/Peterhead+24+at+12-25-58.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So here are a few shots from around the bay:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4tVgwa3zkGI/UhpxyNpYkRI/AAAAAAAADJ4/z2GSuy0vh_M/s1600/Peterhead+24+at+12-36-33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4tVgwa3zkGI/UhpxyNpYkRI/AAAAAAAADJ4/z2GSuy0vh_M/s640/Peterhead+24+at+12-36-33.jpg" height="392" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Can you spot Brown Eyes?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LP8P69iYE4c/Uhpx9k9wYOI/AAAAAAAADKg/-EeQXetF4dk/s1600/Peterhead+25+at+15-09-47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LP8P69iYE4c/Uhpx9k9wYOI/AAAAAAAADKg/-EeQXetF4dk/s640/Peterhead+25+at+15-09-47.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My next yacht!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--EWXZd_wjGM/UhpyjA-v_KI/AAAAAAAADKw/SMk8ALxc5Zw/s1600/Peterhead+25+at+13-28-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--EWXZd_wjGM/UhpyjA-v_KI/AAAAAAAADKw/SMk8ALxc5Zw/s320/Peterhead+25+at+13-28-11.jpg" height="320" width="289" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0ATI9Jcmw0/Uhpx71zR7_I/AAAAAAAADKI/sAZPz_IdC58/s1600/Peterhead+25+at+14-26-34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0ATI9Jcmw0/Uhpx71zR7_I/AAAAAAAADKI/sAZPz_IdC58/s320/Peterhead+25+at+14-26-34.jpg" height="320" width="266" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UIiUXWyFrRg/Uhpx8f7mNtI/AAAAAAAADKU/CTvQLIQEHrU/s1600/Peterhead+25+at+14-26-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UIiUXWyFrRg/Uhpx8f7mNtI/AAAAAAAADKU/CTvQLIQEHrU/s400/Peterhead+25+at+14-26-31.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mGJrt2z_U8I/Uhpx-jdt_3I/AAAAAAAADKo/jidqx3HnZ7A/s1600/Peterhead+25+at+15-10-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mGJrt2z_U8I/Uhpx-jdt_3I/AAAAAAAADKo/jidqx3HnZ7A/s400/Peterhead+25+at+15-10-07.jpg" height="230" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Cwxtr5QqJs/UhpxyD_xygI/AAAAAAAADJ0/OLx4kOMZpV8/s1600/Peterhead+24+at+12-32-35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Cwxtr5QqJs/UhpxyD_xygI/AAAAAAAADJ0/OLx4kOMZpV8/s640/Peterhead+24+at+12-32-35.jpg" height="306" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-75859600224213463962013-08-24T12:19:00.003+01:002014-01-24T18:04:14.723+00:00Wick to Peterhead.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Udq4ktM5Qo4/UhiQHPouzPI/AAAAAAAADG4/8aG8QF8W56s/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+21+at+13-36-42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Udq4ktM5Qo4/UhiQHPouzPI/AAAAAAAADG4/8aG8QF8W56s/s640/Wick+-+Peterhead+21+at+13-36-42.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZabjwdyrKRo/UhiQGqnQFNI/AAAAAAAADGs/jWoEe3ayI6I/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+21+at+09-42-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZabjwdyrKRo/UhiQGqnQFNI/AAAAAAAADGs/jWoEe3ayI6I/s320/Wick+-+Peterhead+21+at+09-42-08.jpg" height="320" width="166" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-StvcHZYy3TY/UhiQGzRtJoI/AAAAAAAADGw/1vhBVxLejZk/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+21+at+13-35-52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-StvcHZYy3TY/UhiQGzRtJoI/AAAAAAAADGw/1vhBVxLejZk/s320/Wick+-+Peterhead+21+at+13-35-52.jpg" height="202" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A day off in Wick gave me a chance to stretch my legs and feel the ground under my feet after 6 days without having got off of Brown Eyes.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgWZxbXXb2o/UhiQIj9PyWI/AAAAAAAADHE/t0fiwONWoaI/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+21+at+13-42-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgWZxbXXb2o/UhiQIj9PyWI/AAAAAAAADHE/t0fiwONWoaI/s640/Wick+-+Peterhead+21+at+13-42-23.jpg" height="256" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whilst the Old Pulteney distillery visitors centre was open there were no guided tours that day, but I enjoyed looking around the centre and taking in the distinctive smell of malted barley that hung in the air.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fVDMc4lXQp4/UhiQJu9yHMI/AAAAAAAADHQ/h9EyZW98ZmY/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+21+at+13-50-44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fVDMc4lXQp4/UhiQJu9yHMI/AAAAAAAADHQ/h9EyZW98ZmY/s640/Wick+-+Peterhead+21+at+13-50-44.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lL5xCHlwBNI/UhiQJUeIieI/AAAAAAAADHM/BqI1Sxdf21Q/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+21+at+13-51-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lL5xCHlwBNI/UhiQJUeIieI/AAAAAAAADHM/BqI1Sxdf21Q/s320/Wick+-+Peterhead+21+at+13-51-19.jpg" height="309" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Crossing the Moray Firth was my next objective and this involved my first overnight passage of the trip so far. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AQDTU9_uAJQ/UhiQK8M5kPI/AAAAAAAADHc/dNsb31da7kA/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+22+at+08-39-53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AQDTU9_uAJQ/UhiQK8M5kPI/AAAAAAAADHc/dNsb31da7kA/s320/Wick+-+Peterhead+22+at+08-39-53.jpg" height="283" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pOFON3poKkw/UhiQLE73CFI/AAAAAAAADHg/jV6P7pX3bOQ/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+22+at+09-16-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pOFON3poKkw/UhiQLE73CFI/AAAAAAAADHg/jV6P7pX3bOQ/s400/Wick+-+Peterhead+22+at+09-16-16.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looking back into Wick Harbour.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vm4wVt8rRUE/UhiQLQ0tcvI/AAAAAAAADHs/rA9Dae3nDNM/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+22+at+09-16-50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vm4wVt8rRUE/UhiQLQ0tcvI/AAAAAAAADHs/rA9Dae3nDNM/s320/Wick+-+Peterhead+22+at+09-16-50.jpg" height="320" width="194" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Old Lighthouse of the day.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dY80ohuKHes/UhiQM80F_FI/AAAAAAAADH4/rmL8UnMlmLs/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+22+at+09-18-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dY80ohuKHes/UhiQM80F_FI/AAAAAAAADH4/rmL8UnMlmLs/s640/Wick+-+Peterhead+22+at+09-18-14.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Out through the harbour walls.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RoMeZVOQ3mU/UhiQO4P5K5I/AAAAAAAADIE/V78zItMfrdE/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+22+at+09-19-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RoMeZVOQ3mU/UhiQO4P5K5I/AAAAAAAADIE/V78zItMfrdE/s320/Wick+-+Peterhead+22+at+09-19-18.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I managed some good sailing before the wind dropped in the afternoon and I encountered some thick 'pea-souper' fog. I switched my radar on, also for the first time on this trip, to give myself some 'eyes' and kept a careful lookout for anything that might loom out of the fog at the last minute.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nUa68YyryTo/UhiQPeUcnbI/AAAAAAAADIM/Cy465nB91N8/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+22+at+20-15-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nUa68YyryTo/UhiQPeUcnbI/AAAAAAAADIM/Cy465nB91N8/s640/Wick+-+Peterhead+22+at+20-15-05.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sunset and there was still a long way to go.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I got closer to Peterhead the scenery had definitely changed in comparison to the mountainous terrain that I had been looking at for the last couple of weeks.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LRUENqy2mcY/UhiQPsWiLcI/AAAAAAAADIQ/f0CUDd-5pqo/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+23+at+07-59-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LRUENqy2mcY/UhiQPsWiLcI/AAAAAAAADIQ/f0CUDd-5pqo/s320/Wick+-+Peterhead+23+at+07-59-29.jpg" height="320" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lighthouse of the next day.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5sboNhHGgX0/UhiQP-SY4GI/AAAAAAAADIY/pIq2fsC89rM/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+23+at+08-45-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5sboNhHGgX0/UhiQP-SY4GI/AAAAAAAADIY/pIq2fsC89rM/s640/Wick+-+Peterhead+23+at+08-45-07.jpg" height="174" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Iron-Bru well and processing plant.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rRwDodvhtHc/UhiQQAFKfNI/AAAAAAAADIg/aVMpKAZbn5M/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+23+at+09-14-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rRwDodvhtHc/UhiQQAFKfNI/AAAAAAAADIg/aVMpKAZbn5M/s400/Wick+-+Peterhead+23+at+09-14-15.jpg" height="191" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z77EeZrF_8g/UhiQQrJIU1I/AAAAAAAADIo/RpkuhqgeLQk/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+23+at+09-26-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z77EeZrF_8g/UhiQQrJIU1I/AAAAAAAADIo/RpkuhqgeLQk/s640/Wick+-+Peterhead+23+at+09-26-16.jpg" height="260" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Peterhead.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W9IUpi0BxHs/UhiQRB0QxfI/AAAAAAAADIw/70t7NDneTxk/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+23+at+09-41-27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W9IUpi0BxHs/UhiQRB0QxfI/AAAAAAAADIw/70t7NDneTxk/s400/Wick+-+Peterhead+23+at+09-41-27.jpg" height="172" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Heading into Peterhead Harbour.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eGV6SrDipDQ/UhiQRPjPKlI/AAAAAAAADI4/xJva6FOcXUI/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+23+at+09-41-43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eGV6SrDipDQ/UhiQRPjPKlI/AAAAAAAADI4/xJva6FOcXUI/s640/Wick+-+Peterhead+23+at+09-41-43.jpg" height="270" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AiB3URO0yzo/UhiQSXY-qWI/AAAAAAAADJE/VYnUPsPl18c/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+23+at+09-44-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AiB3URO0yzo/UhiQSXY-qWI/AAAAAAAADJE/VYnUPsPl18c/s320/Wick+-+Peterhead+23+at+09-44-32.jpg" height="320" width="280" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NnpxBSsqG3U/UhiQSiTTCyI/AAAAAAAADJQ/r_8jRGgvjRE/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+23+at+09-44-42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NnpxBSsqG3U/UhiQSiTTCyI/AAAAAAAADJQ/r_8jRGgvjRE/s320/Wick+-+Peterhead+23+at+09-44-42.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cNjVgpaTSKU/UhiQScs8idI/AAAAAAAADJI/c0_7NFrM0-s/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+23+at+09-46-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cNjVgpaTSKU/UhiQScs8idI/AAAAAAAADJI/c0_7NFrM0-s/s640/Wick+-+Peterhead+23+at+09-46-10.jpg" height="241" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After a long day and night at sea I needed some sleep.....</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d-9NsbTJ4qM/UhiQTBopwNI/AAAAAAAADJY/xemV33Pc6Qw/s1600/Wick+-+Peterhead+23+at+10-02-42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d-9NsbTJ4qM/UhiQTBopwNI/AAAAAAAADJY/xemV33Pc6Qw/s320/Wick+-+Peterhead+23+at+10-02-42.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-23264464459363787542013-08-21T17:00:00.000+01:002014-01-24T18:05:10.503+00:00The North Coast.....<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DwSbo6xLxFk/UhR-zL9__tI/AAAAAAAADDc/xIqDwTVEDA0/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+07-52-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DwSbo6xLxFk/UhR-zL9__tI/AAAAAAAADDc/xIqDwTVEDA0/s400/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+07-52-21.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Leaving Loch Eriboll</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had planned to sail the north coast of Scotland in 2 legs, anchoring 15 miles short of John O’Groats and then setting off again at the required tide-time. Rounding John O’Groats involves a passage through Pentland Firth, the piece of water between mainland UK and the Orkney Islands. The almanac says <i>“This potentially dangerous channel should only be attempted with moderate winds, good visibility, no swell and a fair neap tide.” </i>(I was 2 days before spring tide!)</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pt0pv1E44Qs/UhR-zAcWklI/AAAAAAAADDU/TLphQV7hYyg/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+07-56-47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pt0pv1E44Qs/UhR-zAcWklI/AAAAAAAADDU/TLphQV7hYyg/s640/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+07-56-47.jpg" height="286" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X6UcdUMKtlg/UhR-0ossyJI/AAAAAAAADD0/yF1p-PhCWh4/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+08-20-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X6UcdUMKtlg/UhR-0ossyJI/AAAAAAAADD0/yF1p-PhCWh4/s400/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+08-20-16.jpg" height="400" width="316" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For almost an hour I was escorted.........</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Nu4ubrV540/UhR-2BWikXI/AAAAAAAADEE/uSvjT_Z1Lgw/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+10-21-57+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Nu4ubrV540/UhR-2BWikXI/AAAAAAAADEE/uSvjT_Z1Lgw/s640/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+10-21-57+(1).jpg" height="510" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dL98bNv0oNg/UhR-2zaAzPI/AAAAAAAADEQ/24dVi1uiQgc/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+10-21-57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dL98bNv0oNg/UhR-2zaAzPI/AAAAAAAADEQ/24dVi1uiQgc/s640/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+10-21-57.jpg" height="598" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SRq9cj3JTa4/UhR-2q1K63I/AAAAAAAADEM/gagy-02gEjg/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+10-28-56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SRq9cj3JTa4/UhR-2q1K63I/AAAAAAAADEM/gagy-02gEjg/s640/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+10-28-56.jpg" height="384" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kovxEm0Ovr8/UhR-3gC3BTI/AAAAAAAADEc/gUM-UHInJlU/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+10-32-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kovxEm0Ovr8/UhR-3gC3BTI/AAAAAAAADEc/gUM-UHInJlU/s640/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+10-32-04.jpg" height="370" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rtj1y0VHz_Q/UhR-5HyHkkI/AAAAAAAADEo/b_6WnwOG6vA/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+10-44-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rtj1y0VHz_Q/UhR-5HyHkkI/AAAAAAAADEo/b_6WnwOG6vA/s320/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+10-44-17.jpg" height="276" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hk4EceA2jhE/UhR-4yisREI/AAAAAAAADEk/9_NKI5gtIWc/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+10-45-34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hk4EceA2jhE/UhR-4yisREI/AAAAAAAADEk/9_NKI5gtIWc/s200/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+10-45-34.jpg" height="190" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_oARbX1XxZU/UhR-56RX9LI/AAAAAAAADE4/IktIusdSw9U/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+10-47-49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_oARbX1XxZU/UhR-56RX9LI/AAAAAAAADE4/IktIusdSw9U/s320/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+10-47-49.jpg" height="320" width="287" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;">As it turned out, I was approaching my planned anchorage early afternoon and realised that the tide was about to turn and this meant conditions were just right to get around the headland and start heading south - so I went for it!</span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A description on this blog and a few photographs do little to show just how big the swell was; at times I lost sight of the high cliffs as I was so low down between the waves. There were areas of water in the Firth that looked like the waves were crashing on rocks, despite being in deep water, it was that turbulent! I had carefully studied the passage notes detailing the route to follow and the timings to arrive at each turn and I’m pleased to say they were spot on! As we rounded the most northerly point of the UK mainland the water changed to a millpond, the wind dropped and the world was a calmer place.</span></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ykbVogU4dwk/UhR-55yrgUI/AAAAAAAADE0/1Nv5aCH8OI4/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+12-28-52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ykbVogU4dwk/UhR-55yrgUI/AAAAAAAADE0/1Nv5aCH8OI4/s640/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+12-28-52.jpg" height="177" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uCZaaQTo9Yw/UhR-6a_3EdI/AAAAAAAADE8/VxzD9s6xfhs/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+15-28-55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uCZaaQTo9Yw/UhR-6a_3EdI/AAAAAAAADE8/VxzD9s6xfhs/s400/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+15-28-55.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ql_bmTGvz1U/UhR-7YqFmlI/AAAAAAAADFQ/4stDBDMs-s8/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+18-02-45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ql_bmTGvz1U/UhR-7YqFmlI/AAAAAAAADFQ/4stDBDMs-s8/s400/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+18-02-45.jpg" height="171" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EKZOCDcr7Ck/UhR-8yYLivI/AAAAAAAADF4/-18wGsaU0Z0/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+19-04-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EKZOCDcr7Ck/UhR-8yYLivI/AAAAAAAADF4/-18wGsaU0Z0/s320/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+19-04-17.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gcjNva-Rax4/UhR-7N0ipRI/AAAAAAAADFM/n2XJyl2AU0s/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+16-30-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gcjNva-Rax4/UhR-7N0ipRI/AAAAAAAADFM/n2XJyl2AU0s/s640/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+16-30-30.jpg" height="400" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The most northerly point of the UK mainland with an obvious lighthouse of the day.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ZLbfUmj1X4/UhR-7KVQyBI/AAAAAAAADFY/uCMl23g59Qk/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+16-44-38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ZLbfUmj1X4/UhR-7KVQyBI/AAAAAAAADFY/uCMl23g59Qk/s640/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+16-44-38.jpg" height="298" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looking back along the north coast of Scotland.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We rode the tide down to Wick and pulled into the harbour just before 10pm - a hard day’s sailing and I stepped onto land for the first time in 6 days!</span></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is all south from here and just the most Easterly point of the UK mainland to sail round now, with all the other points of the compass ticked off.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RwXvL-z6Daw/UhR-73AqnaI/AAAAAAAADFg/Pg4DgV-EanM/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+18-16-51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RwXvL-z6Daw/UhR-73AqnaI/AAAAAAAADFg/Pg4DgV-EanM/s640/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+18-16-51.jpg" height="352" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Heading South...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--m4bXDskoh8/UhR-83JIetI/AAAAAAAADFw/tJwmYMc77oM/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+19-03-27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--m4bXDskoh8/UhR-83JIetI/AAAAAAAADFw/tJwmYMc77oM/s400/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+19-03-27.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uGUI1dNDtkU/UhR-9v7fcpI/AAAAAAAADGI/MW1Xq_6CIWE/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+19-50-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uGUI1dNDtkU/UhR-9v7fcpI/AAAAAAAADGI/MW1Xq_6CIWE/s400/Eriboll+-+Wick+20+at+19-50-16.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Noss Head Lighthouse just north of Wick.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cBgLzICeZrQ/UhR--VxBd7I/AAAAAAAADGY/qPK9jJ9xnz4/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+21+at+08-03-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cBgLzICeZrQ/UhR--VxBd7I/AAAAAAAADGY/qPK9jJ9xnz4/s400/Eriboll+-+Wick+21+at+08-03-08.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ghwR4-VWojg/UhR-90XSSHI/AAAAAAAADGQ/DbnmgKjX6YA/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+21+at+05-47-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ghwR4-VWojg/UhR-90XSSHI/AAAAAAAADGQ/DbnmgKjX6YA/s640/Eriboll+-+Wick+21+at+05-47-28.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Brown Eyes in Wick Harbour</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-75632830116087291452013-08-21T14:30:00.000+01:002014-01-24T18:05:49.204+00:00Cape Wrath......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-izhOCfkuNNI/UhR8lHSCLDI/AAAAAAAADCY/T-0SeiJPr7A/s1600/Cape+Wrath+18+at+19-40-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-izhOCfkuNNI/UhR8lHSCLDI/AAAAAAAADCY/T-0SeiJPr7A/s400/Cape+Wrath+18+at+19-40-32.jpg" height="400" width="258" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-171YoEWeGgo/UhR8jY9puTI/AAAAAAAADB4/wzJ8_aga7Fs/s1600/Cape+Wrath+18+at+19-40-44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-171YoEWeGgo/UhR8jY9puTI/AAAAAAAADB4/wzJ8_aga7Fs/s320/Cape+Wrath+18+at+19-40-44.jpg" height="285" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cape Wrath, the most northwesterly point of the UK mainland, lived up to its name.</span></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Brown Eyes was pounded all over the place as we approached, rounded and passed the most rugged of coastlines, but she kept going as I stood at the helm trying to keep her on course and grab the occasional photo.</span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mu58z2S5ZCc/UhR8i_LTbWI/AAAAAAAADBw/PAExW4vbyLQ/s1600/Cape+Wrath+19+at+08-05-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mu58z2S5ZCc/UhR8i_LTbWI/AAAAAAAADBw/PAExW4vbyLQ/s400/Cape+Wrath+19+at+08-05-08.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Leaving Loch Inchard</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Adn4_71Rja4/UhR8kBAu6pI/AAAAAAAADCA/fcK0SYeUts4/s1600/Cape+Wrath+19+at+09-09-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Adn4_71Rja4/UhR8kBAu6pI/AAAAAAAADCA/fcK0SYeUts4/s400/Cape+Wrath+19+at+09-09-12.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uEFXljv8nkQ/UhR8kP3Yy9I/AAAAAAAADCE/xUnJYzRR92M/s1600/Cape+Wrath+19+at+09-18-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uEFXljv8nkQ/UhR8kP3Yy9I/AAAAAAAADCE/xUnJYzRR92M/s640/Cape+Wrath+19+at+09-18-22.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dq4rZ8QcYwA/UhR8k3noBYI/AAAAAAAADCQ/1Rk3ZKl4Pb8/s1600/Cape+Wrath+19+at+09-19-35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dq4rZ8QcYwA/UhR8k3noBYI/AAAAAAAADCQ/1Rk3ZKl4Pb8/s400/Cape+Wrath+19+at+09-19-35.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W3CwziJGCX8/UhR8l_Cn4JI/AAAAAAAADCo/JX0QdR0_C3w/s1600/Cape+Wrath+19+at+09-21-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W3CwziJGCX8/UhR8l_Cn4JI/AAAAAAAADCo/JX0QdR0_C3w/s640/Cape+Wrath+19+at+09-21-15.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Cape Wrath - Lighthouse of the day.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uyVBSd0t1b8/UhR8mLmF06I/AAAAAAAADCs/gaC3PU5hso8/s1600/Cape+Wrath+19+at+09-26-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uyVBSd0t1b8/UhR8mLmF06I/AAAAAAAADCs/gaC3PU5hso8/s640/Cape+Wrath+19+at+09-26-13.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My first look along the rugged north coast of Scotland.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The wind was up at F7 and this seemed to increase as we entered Loch Eriboll, our chosen anchorage for the night. The wind was funneled along the valley and finding a suitable place to drop the anchor was difficult. In the end I had to reposition the anchor</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: line-through;"> 4</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> 5 times before I felt Brown Eyes was secure and it was safe to switch of the engine. A very, very tiring day.</span></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow the journey begins towards John O’Groats and then it’s all south from there!</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FKzgW6Jh8lw/UhR8mZqnEcI/AAAAAAAADCw/sM1nRYky6ug/s1600/Cape+Wrath+19+at+14-05-57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FKzgW6Jh8lw/UhR8mZqnEcI/AAAAAAAADCw/sM1nRYky6ug/s400/Cape+Wrath+19+at+14-05-57.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Entering Loch Eriboll, looking for an anchorage.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JJD17W16R7Y/UhR8nVUHrnI/AAAAAAAADDE/85vkL-6R6EU/s1600/Eriboll+-+Wick+19+at+18-18-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JJD17W16R7Y/UhR8nVUHrnI/AAAAAAAADDE/85vkL-6R6EU/s640/Eriboll+-+Wick+19+at+18-18-11.jpg" height="472" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The days route.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-62613251727418116132013-08-21T13:00:00.000+01:002014-01-24T18:06:47.763+00:00Gale Warnings......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sOcHwPd2plc/UhR7tH86YsI/AAAAAAAADBc/WDghNNl2UqU/s1600/Loch+Inchard+17+at+11-15-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sOcHwPd2plc/UhR7tH86YsI/AAAAAAAADBc/WDghNNl2UqU/s640/Loch+Inchard+17+at+11-15-12.jpg" height="398" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Luckily there was mobile phone coverage in the anchored and was able to get the shipping forecast for the area.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">There have been gale force warnings up to F9 issued for both Hebrides and Fair Isles (41-47Kts and wave height up to 10m possible), which was good enough reason to stay put. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even in the sheltered cove I felt the increased strength of wind and on Saturday afternoon the anchor came loose and Brown Eyes started to drag it back into the main channel and into the stronger current. This called for immediate action; I started the engine and put the engine into a slow forward drive whilst I could go forward and pull the anchor back up onto the foredeck. I had to dart back and forwards between the cockpit and the foredeck, keeping Brown Eyes on course and safe whilst also getting the anchor and chain back on board. Once this was done I could reposition Brown Eyes in the cove and drop the anchor again, this time with additional chain paid-out to give a stronger hold to the seabed. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1aBYn8z3VJk/UhR7tDCuaZI/AAAAAAAADBg/6X75BtZyEvw/s1600/Loch+Inchard+17+at+16-20-48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1aBYn8z3VJk/UhR7tDCuaZI/AAAAAAAADBg/6X75BtZyEvw/s400/Loch+Inchard+17+at+16-20-48.jpg" height="355" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The wind continued to push Brown Eyes around throughout the day and night and I had a restless night as I kept checking to ensure we stayed in the safety of the cove.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the morning the wind had slightly subsided and the forecast was down to F8 with very rough seas predicted; this meant another day in Loch Inchard.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The seals continued their normal daily routing of swimming around the cove and laying out on the rocks, probably keen to have their territory back to themselves.</span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qVD0flLq5oI/UhR7s-3jKPI/AAAAAAAADBY/QyDtSeBe_Mw/s1600/Loch+Inchard+18+at+11-23-45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qVD0flLq5oI/UhR7s-3jKPI/AAAAAAAADBY/QyDtSeBe_Mw/s640/Loch+Inchard+18+at+11-23-45.jpg" height="300" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-36576287938819817742013-08-21T11:30:00.000+01:002014-01-24T18:07:36.799+00:00Loch Gairloch to Loch Inchard.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UJgWTCZX6Lk/UhR5VtS-lmI/AAAAAAAAC_c/PUt3SrOOxgk/s1600/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+15+at+20-31-56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UJgWTCZX6Lk/UhR5VtS-lmI/AAAAAAAAC_c/PUt3SrOOxgk/s640/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+15+at+20-31-56.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A more civilised start this morning and I set sail with the aim to get as close to Cape Wrath as possible, bearing in mind that there are warnings of gales in the next day or so.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--6Y2DQMAgHc/UhR5WWvpDbI/AAAAAAAAC_k/U8o8q9b_IN0/s1600/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+08-31-59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--6Y2DQMAgHc/UhR5WWvpDbI/AAAAAAAAC_k/U8o8q9b_IN0/s640/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+08-31-59.jpg" height="257" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F8ci2bXb5ew/UhR5XZqxO0I/AAAAAAAAC_w/y3S9dkdOmtQ/s1600/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+09-49-36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F8ci2bXb5ew/UhR5XZqxO0I/AAAAAAAAC_w/y3S9dkdOmtQ/s400/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+09-49-36.jpg" height="276" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">The scenery became more rugged the further north I got.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O9sy2R-5Kzs/UhR5Xd0bIwI/AAAAAAAAC_s/1M6uLd2WDdc/s1600/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+13-19-38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O9sy2R-5Kzs/UhR5Xd0bIwI/AAAAAAAAC_s/1M6uLd2WDdc/s640/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+13-19-38.jpg" height="249" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2NWdE36owSY/UhR5Xe8O9iI/AAAAAAAAC_4/-EUJw80XwfQ/s1600/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+13-23-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2NWdE36owSY/UhR5Xe8O9iI/AAAAAAAAC_4/-EUJw80XwfQ/s400/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+13-23-19.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-naEAGe-MeWk/UhR5YNjGqVI/AAAAAAAADAE/gWAEg_y1nug/s1600/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+13-27-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-naEAGe-MeWk/UhR5YNjGqVI/AAAAAAAADAE/gWAEg_y1nug/s320/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+13-27-00.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aeRmmVfSpDw/UhR5Y6EWjWI/AAAAAAAADAM/axtWXQ2xoxM/s1600/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+13-32-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aeRmmVfSpDw/UhR5Y6EWjWI/AAAAAAAADAM/axtWXQ2xoxM/s200/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+13-32-13.jpg" height="140" width="200" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jQZPIbwJ3WI/UhR5ZRVrMNI/AAAAAAAADAY/uo30-tPmStw/s1600/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+14-12-34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jQZPIbwJ3WI/UhR5ZRVrMNI/AAAAAAAADAY/uo30-tPmStw/s400/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+14-12-34.jpg" height="372" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The fishing looks good here.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D1X88rLLWnk/UhR5ZIz3dzI/AAAAAAAADAQ/dqG0dNMnXIE/s1600/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+15-01-50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D1X88rLLWnk/UhR5ZIz3dzI/AAAAAAAADAQ/dqG0dNMnXIE/s640/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+15-01-50.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It will not be long until that one topples!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JNAi8XJPk5I/UhR5ZkDrQ2I/AAAAAAAADAw/VTSSQaiMBTQ/s1600/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+15-12-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JNAi8XJPk5I/UhR5ZkDrQ2I/AAAAAAAADAw/VTSSQaiMBTQ/s400/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+15-12-24.jpg" height="236" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-inivUbYdkyI/UhR5Z5kD3gI/AAAAAAAADAg/0A8il6GKCs8/s1600/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+15-25-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-inivUbYdkyI/UhR5Z5kD3gI/AAAAAAAADAg/0A8il6GKCs8/s640/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+15-25-22.jpg" height="312" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lighthouse of the day.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fhq8JKxnIqs/UhR5aRL4puI/AAAAAAAADAo/Wx5ZPjFvDn4/s1600/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+16-56-54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fhq8JKxnIqs/UhR5aRL4puI/AAAAAAAADAo/Wx5ZPjFvDn4/s400/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+16-56-54.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pg7XXRKQQXs/UhR5aqU65lI/AAAAAAAADA4/2LtQ2dr9qR4/s1600/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+18-13-44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pg7XXRKQQXs/UhR5aqU65lI/AAAAAAAADA4/2LtQ2dr9qR4/s640/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+18-13-44.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I pulled into Loch Inchard in the early evening and slowly entered the anchorage that I had found marked on the chart. There were several seals swimming around the cove and they even stayed around after I had dropped my anchor.</span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rwbAOro6S2Y/UhR5bCO0KCI/AAAAAAAADBA/dWHYMv5WdDM/s1600/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+18-49-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rwbAOro6S2Y/UhR5bCO0KCI/AAAAAAAADBA/dWHYMv5WdDM/s400/Loch+Gairloch+-+Loch+Inchard+16+at+18-49-06.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Heading into the loch.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The gales are due tomorrow, along with very rough seas in this area, so I may have to stay here a couple of days before venturing around Cape Wrath and along the northern shore of Scotland before turning south and the run back to home.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uys8S92mUSs/UhR5bith8jI/AAAAAAAADBI/jDCzoveNVt0/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+19-43-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uys8S92mUSs/UhR5bith8jI/AAAAAAAADBI/jDCzoveNVt0/s400/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+19-43-08.jpg" height="280" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Todays route.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336995736434632105.post-81193547309192744402013-08-21T09:21:00.000+01:002014-01-24T18:08:18.587+00:00Mallaig to Loch Gairlock, via Skye....<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-baTSrNrTztY/UhR1P8bCqZI/AAAAAAAAC8g/yJOj6RmLWiA/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+14+at+19-21-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-baTSrNrTztY/UhR1P8bCqZI/AAAAAAAAC8g/yJOj6RmLWiA/s400/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+14+at+19-21-12.jpg" height="178" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mallaig Harbour</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hA8e4NuiRtg/UhR1P4iv4uI/AAAAAAAAC8k/FQUDpTwzCss/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+06-37-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hA8e4NuiRtg/UhR1P4iv4uI/AAAAAAAAC8k/FQUDpTwzCss/s400/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+06-37-24.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A misty start to the day.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Getting up at 5am seems to be getting more difficult - it may be something to do with my age or this journey is starting to take its toll.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My training for my 100km race in mid-September (my second challenge) has definitely tapered early and I think the daily sailing is starting to have an effect on my legs, as I can feel the tendons and ligaments shortening!</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had originally planned to leave Brown Eyes at Fort William and to travel back to Suffolk by train for the race, but as you can see I am well past Fort William and the plan is now to try and reach Ipswich early in September or to get as close as possible. This is all dependent on the weather and as I get closer to Cape Wrath there are warning of gales on the horizon.....</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zGndB_iD1Dc/UhR1QKb1OJI/AAAAAAAAC8o/P-hm1kKWnoA/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+07-44-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zGndB_iD1Dc/UhR1QKb1OJI/AAAAAAAAC8o/P-hm1kKWnoA/s400/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+07-44-09.jpg" height="307" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Other early risers.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hCSiC4f57jY/UhR1Q9ZqRMI/AAAAAAAAC84/v5aGz6xz3oE/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+07-45-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hCSiC4f57jY/UhR1Q9ZqRMI/AAAAAAAAC84/v5aGz6xz3oE/s640/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+07-45-08.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2OmlEZMi6X4/UhR1RAQEjFI/AAAAAAAAC88/MZRZ4jpHTK8/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+08-11-40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2OmlEZMi6X4/UhR1RAQEjFI/AAAAAAAAC88/MZRZ4jpHTK8/s400/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+08-11-40.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Getting back to today, the aim was to get past the Skye road bridge and the early start was necessary to catch the north going tide that would take me to the bridge. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">It was one of those days when you feel like you are on the inside a cloud and everything was wet from the start. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">With no wind I had to motor for most of the morning, but as I reach the bridge the sun broke through and the clouds started to burn away.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I had made such good time, I decided to push on further north and a little closer to Cape Wrath.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On route, I paused to check with the Range Control that there were no live firings in the torpedo range and was given the “All clear” to continue as the firings were not due until later that day.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K6kM2JrICgU/UhR1RBc6ZtI/AAAAAAAAC9E/QqCyrObHrgk/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+08-17-53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K6kM2JrICgU/UhR1RBc6ZtI/AAAAAAAAC9E/QqCyrObHrgk/s640/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+08-17-53.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kIzs3rMH0VU/UhR1SIMIyWI/AAAAAAAAC9U/qM-zJwPdRvA/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+08-28-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kIzs3rMH0VU/UhR1SIMIyWI/AAAAAAAAC9U/qM-zJwPdRvA/s200/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+08-28-13.jpg" height="200" width="197" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ngNAD_M5EMw/UhR1TDA4iXI/AAAAAAAAC9g/zxKPPSMcoU4/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+08-31-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ngNAD_M5EMw/UhR1TDA4iXI/AAAAAAAAC9g/zxKPPSMcoU4/s320/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+08-31-07.jpg" height="229" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oV_1fXRDfsk/UhR1SGWTbZI/AAAAAAAAC9Q/zvQUtVJi-Js/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+08-29-40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oV_1fXRDfsk/UhR1SGWTbZI/AAAAAAAAC9Q/zvQUtVJi-Js/s640/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+08-29-40.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lhcqtoDuXWs/UhR1TegmbQI/AAAAAAAAC9o/wHBfieDKMd8/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+08-31-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lhcqtoDuXWs/UhR1TegmbQI/AAAAAAAAC9o/wHBfieDKMd8/s400/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+08-31-25.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H00F6C7RowY/UhR1TcX-dLI/AAAAAAAAC9k/-3WK_hiqszw/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+08-31-49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H00F6C7RowY/UhR1TcX-dLI/AAAAAAAAC9k/-3WK_hiqszw/s640/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+08-31-49.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lighthouse of the day.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ylHCW46iKQ/UhR1UD0J-YI/AAAAAAAAC90/G8A_-ViqD5g/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+08-33-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ylHCW46iKQ/UhR1UD0J-YI/AAAAAAAAC90/G8A_-ViqD5g/s320/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+08-33-22.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rF_7Fl0aiBk/UhR1UReuJYI/AAAAAAAAC-E/7bSkW9Wr3TQ/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+08-38-39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rF_7Fl0aiBk/UhR1UReuJYI/AAAAAAAAC-E/7bSkW9Wr3TQ/s320/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+08-38-39.jpg" height="320" width="244" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rvKqjODR4hE/UhR1Ub2KH_I/AAAAAAAAC98/ldNyFTJvYoE/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+08-56-51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rvKqjODR4hE/UhR1Ub2KH_I/AAAAAAAAC98/ldNyFTJvYoE/s320/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+08-56-51.jpg" height="320" width="290" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GIItT2i9GNA/UhR1U_6VbLI/AAAAAAAAC-M/vxJfIKMMcqk/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+09-29-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GIItT2i9GNA/UhR1U_6VbLI/AAAAAAAAC-M/vxJfIKMMcqk/s320/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+09-29-31.jpg" height="230" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fEodVP8akjc/UhR1VECKhdI/AAAAAAAAC-U/2vDVGTSAvUI/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+09-30-42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fEodVP8akjc/UhR1VECKhdI/AAAAAAAAC-U/2vDVGTSAvUI/s320/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+09-30-42.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Will it fit under........</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JxyuOqUe5vU/UhR1Vn0tDcI/AAAAAAAAC-8/pISY5fdyJmU/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+09-32-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JxyuOqUe5vU/UhR1Vn0tDcI/AAAAAAAAC-8/pISY5fdyJmU/s640/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+09-32-10.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looking back.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The wind faded away early in the afternoon so I pulled in to Loch Gairloch in the sunshine and found a deserted anchorage to spend the night in.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t1qUf7HEavI/UhR1V8aFOVI/AAAAAAAAC-c/85XOVmaeEMI/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+10-22-50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t1qUf7HEavI/UhR1V8aFOVI/AAAAAAAAC-c/85XOVmaeEMI/s640/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+10-22-50.jpg" height="340" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RZeDKAvDP3A/UhR1WGBU32I/AAAAAAAAC-k/EKQsz1pH5tQ/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+12-37-48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RZeDKAvDP3A/UhR1WGBU32I/AAAAAAAAC-k/EKQsz1pH5tQ/s640/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+12-37-48.jpg" height="226" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X02jDp_9qjo/UhR1W9A-cZI/AAAAAAAAC-0/nx5sG_7AlfU/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+14-37-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X02jDp_9qjo/UhR1W9A-cZI/AAAAAAAAC-0/nx5sG_7AlfU/s640/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+14-37-00.jpg" height="310" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Heading into Loch Gairlock</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e6ZZtB2CBO8/UhR1X1xLyjI/AAAAAAAAC_I/-MHtNk4zE6A/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+16-53-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e6ZZtB2CBO8/UhR1X1xLyjI/AAAAAAAAC_I/-MHtNk4zE6A/s640/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+16-53-10.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The view in my anchorage.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9bE7Wg55nho/UhR1YJsSpQI/AAAAAAAAC_Q/NvjF-ObOLTU/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+19-42-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9bE7Wg55nho/UhR1YJsSpQI/AAAAAAAAC_Q/NvjF-ObOLTU/s640/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+19-42-32.jpg" height="459" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The days route.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWwXRrOa8rc/UhR1WiYlGuI/AAAAAAAAC-s/vR6roPP1XlY/s1600/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+14-12-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWwXRrOa8rc/UhR1WiYlGuI/AAAAAAAAC-s/vR6roPP1XlY/s640/Mallaig+-+Loch+Gairloch+15+at+14-12-28.jpg" height="272" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Steve Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700896328017393084noreply@blogger.com0