The reason for this blog is at end. I've created a new blog for my trip up north and back to the British Isles.
I wanted to call it Vahalla but apparently it was already taken. So I called it northernsail, or the full address: www.northernsail.blogspot.com
To view, click this link
See you there!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Still here
I'm thinking about changing the name of this blog into "Stuck in PEI".
The days slide by in a haze of old friends, outings and alcohol as I continue to wait for the arrival of pilot guides for Newfoundland, Greenland, Iceland and Norway.
Sailing the northern latitudes is only wise in the summertime. By the end of August one should be at least back in the 50's. With the fireworks of July 1 / Canada Day over I feel my Valhalla Voyage is already behind schedule.
If I'm not in open waters by this time next week I might have to cut Greenland out of the equation this time round. Save it for my transit of the North West passage perhaps. See how it goes.
The final spudzooka scene in the Adventures of Ara' Deg video had to go through a few takes before getting it right and I pasted them together below for your viewing pleasure.
The PEI Liberation Front has caused a bit of a stir locally and my comrade Mac has been taking orders for our t-shirts.
The days slide by in a haze of old friends, outings and alcohol as I continue to wait for the arrival of pilot guides for Newfoundland, Greenland, Iceland and Norway.
Sailing the northern latitudes is only wise in the summertime. By the end of August one should be at least back in the 50's. With the fireworks of July 1 / Canada Day over I feel my Valhalla Voyage is already behind schedule.
If I'm not in open waters by this time next week I might have to cut Greenland out of the equation this time round. Save it for my transit of the North West passage perhaps. See how it goes.
The final spudzooka scene in the Adventures of Ara' Deg video had to go through a few takes before getting it right and I pasted them together below for your viewing pleasure.
The PEI Liberation Front has caused a bit of a stir locally and my comrade Mac has been taking orders for our t-shirts.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
At last - the video
Below is the video, a collection of clips from Wales, around the North Atlantic, to PEI. Enjoy!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
PEI - not bust!
After a slow sail north from Bermuda (apart from a 24 hour 35+ knot gale) I arrived in Canso Harbour, Nova Scotia 8 June, Saturday night. Canso Harbour is a small but very friendly community and at the local pub everyone insisted on buying me beer and 'join the gang'. The tradition of enthusiastically welcoming strangers of these communities is a great pleasure to experience - stemming from the Irish and Scottish cultural roots. It's what sets the Maritimes apart from the rest of Canada.
After a 24 hr sail through fog from Port Hawksbury, Cape Breton, I arrived in Charlottetown, PEI, last night. And so the raison d'etre of this blog is have been realised and come to an end. I have a list of repairs to do here and am contemplating a sail to the vast uninhabited expanses of Labrador, Greenland and Iceland for July and August. Perhaps I'll create another blog for that trip. Perhaps not.
But before I sign off this blog I'll post a short video I'm working on - a series of clips of my trip from Wales around the N Atlantic to here. Currently it keeps coming out upside down for some reason and I really can't expect people to stand on their heads to watch it so .. I'm still working on it.
I 'ghosted' for days through the Triangle. Ghosting means inching forward on light whispers of a breeze. One ghosts about the same speed as an infant crawls before learning to walk upright. It's amazing how far an infant can crawl left on its own for days - miles and miles. So for the sake of this blog I jotted down some notes while ghosting to pass the time and give you, dear reader, a flavour of life in the doldrums. I reproduce them below:
May 30 11:40 am
The virtually non-existent northerly has subtly shifted to a virtually non-existent southerly. I'm elated. It's quite extraordinary how the hardly perceptible direction of air can raise ones spirits. The air gods have smiled on me - without even the need of a sacrifice.
May 30 2:33 pm
"No please, don't throw me overboard" screams the the discarded piece of string I found hiding in the corner of the cockpit.
"But you're useless and messy with no right to be traveling with me", I counter.
"No, no, pleeease ... I've come a long way with you, practically part of this boat, some consideration please", it continues.
"No luck", I rely and toss it overboard.
May 31 1:15 pm
One of the most exciting events when ghosting along is spotting floating treasure up ahead. Well it could be floating treasure. All you know for sure is it's something, floating, ahead. Out come the binoculars to scrutinize it first. Then, if possible we inch towards it. Who knows what it could be. Something of great value or usefulness perhaps. Or maybe a severed head like one sees in horror movies. Either way it's a must see.
This afternoon I spotted a long whitish object up ahead. It could be ... a scroll containing valuable information (buried treasure map?) . Or perhaps it's a container fallen of a cruise ship containing cash, or jewels, or both. I creep towards it. Very excited as we approach. It's a discarded florescent light bulb. But you never know. The big find could be just over the horizon.
June 1 2:42 pm
It's been three days now that we've been drifting through the centre of the Triangle. Oddly enough, not a single boat, freighter, or even airplane has come into view the whole time. I am completely and utterly alone out here. So I start to think ... perhaps the Aliens have been snatching boats before they come into view. That would logically explain the many recorded "disappearances" of boats in the Triangle over the years. It would also explain why I have seen nothing for days. However "they" are leaving me alone. I'm relieved. But I can't help feeling a little hurt and insulted also. Am I not worthy of "their" attention?!!
After a 24 hr sail through fog from Port Hawksbury, Cape Breton, I arrived in Charlottetown, PEI, last night. And so the raison d'etre of this blog is have been realised and come to an end. I have a list of repairs to do here and am contemplating a sail to the vast uninhabited expanses of Labrador, Greenland and Iceland for July and August. Perhaps I'll create another blog for that trip. Perhaps not.
But before I sign off this blog I'll post a short video I'm working on - a series of clips of my trip from Wales around the N Atlantic to here. Currently it keeps coming out upside down for some reason and I really can't expect people to stand on their heads to watch it so .. I'm still working on it.
I 'ghosted' for days through the Triangle. Ghosting means inching forward on light whispers of a breeze. One ghosts about the same speed as an infant crawls before learning to walk upright. It's amazing how far an infant can crawl left on its own for days - miles and miles. So for the sake of this blog I jotted down some notes while ghosting to pass the time and give you, dear reader, a flavour of life in the doldrums. I reproduce them below:
May 30 11:40 am
The virtually non-existent northerly has subtly shifted to a virtually non-existent southerly. I'm elated. It's quite extraordinary how the hardly perceptible direction of air can raise ones spirits. The air gods have smiled on me - without even the need of a sacrifice.
May 30 2:33 pm
"No please, don't throw me overboard" screams the the discarded piece of string I found hiding in the corner of the cockpit.
"But you're useless and messy with no right to be traveling with me", I counter.
"No, no, pleeease ... I've come a long way with you, practically part of this boat, some consideration please", it continues.
"No luck", I rely and toss it overboard.
May 31 1:15 pm
One of the most exciting events when ghosting along is spotting floating treasure up ahead. Well it could be floating treasure. All you know for sure is it's something, floating, ahead. Out come the binoculars to scrutinize it first. Then, if possible we inch towards it. Who knows what it could be. Something of great value or usefulness perhaps. Or maybe a severed head like one sees in horror movies. Either way it's a must see.
This afternoon I spotted a long whitish object up ahead. It could be ... a scroll containing valuable information (buried treasure map?) . Or perhaps it's a container fallen of a cruise ship containing cash, or jewels, or both. I creep towards it. Very excited as we approach. It's a discarded florescent light bulb. But you never know. The big find could be just over the horizon.
June 1 2:42 pm
It's been three days now that we've been drifting through the centre of the Triangle. Oddly enough, not a single boat, freighter, or even airplane has come into view the whole time. I am completely and utterly alone out here. So I start to think ... perhaps the Aliens have been snatching boats before they come into view. That would logically explain the many recorded "disappearances" of boats in the Triangle over the years. It would also explain why I have seen nothing for days. However "they" are leaving me alone. I'm relieved. But I can't help feeling a little hurt and insulted also. Am I not worthy of "their" attention?!!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Cape Breton bound
It's time to go so I'll be off first thing tomorrow morning. The weather forecast seems reasonable and my three week visa is expiring so to the Great White North I go.
I estimate my journey to Port Hawksbury will take me 9 - 10 days. Charlottetown could be reached from there within 24 hours providing contrary winds arn't blowing. But I'll probably stay at least a day/night in Port Hawksbury for a breather.
It won't be my first time there as I stopped there on my maiden voyage fron Maine in June 2006. I know a place where I can get a great Ceasar salid and internet connection.
So I'll blog again from there!
chow for now
Simon
I estimate my journey to Port Hawksbury will take me 9 - 10 days. Charlottetown could be reached from there within 24 hours providing contrary winds arn't blowing. But I'll probably stay at least a day/night in Port Hawksbury for a breather.
It won't be my first time there as I stopped there on my maiden voyage fron Maine in June 2006. I know a place where I can get a great Ceasar salid and internet connection.
So I'll blog again from there!
chow for now
Simon
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