Going down the trousers . . .

[Nick]

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Still feeling very grim as this cold approaches the end of its tenth day, but balancing on a delicate cocktail of Sudafed, Lemsip, ibuprofen, Strepsils, Tunes, Soothers, expectorant cough med, salt water gargle, fisherman's friends and Victory V I am going to teeter off down the T&T for the bells. Don't think it will be a long night this year but I've not spent one in bed yet.

Thinking back to La Gomera two years ago . . . here's our blog entry for Jan 1 2007:

Mon 1st January 2007 - San Sebastian . . . Happy New Year

A beautiful warm blue sky start to the year. Kathy and I both went swimming off the beach, then went out for a modest meal at the Chinese restaurant later.

On Wednesday we start our cruise of the Canaries with a run up to La Palma. Tomorrow we will get the boat ready for sea - not much to do really when you have already stored and prepared for an ocean crossing.

Maybe we should do some more of that warm Winter cruising stuff before we fade completely . . . maybe take FW down to Lagos the end of next season ready for the Med in 2010. Anyone else fancy it?

Happy New Year to one and all when it comes, hope to meet loads of you in the coming year, at the CC or elsewhere. New Year's Res is to definitely use the spinnaker this year!

[Clyde_Wanderer]

Interesting Nick, as I wasent very far from La Gomera over the new year, well Tenerife, could see Gomera from there, reckoned it to be aprox 40-50nm from Las Americas.
We were at the Civic square in Las Christianas for the bells with 18degC.
It is my first time abroad for the bells, and what a difference the warmer weather makes.
Visited Port Colon with its small marina of very few sailing boats, but lots of motor boats, and the biggest sailing Cat I have ever seen.
I can see the attractions of living and sailing abroad, where warm weather can be had most of the time.
Incidently did you not try a drop of the Crator in hot water with pure lemon juice and honey? it works wonders.

[Nick]

Incidently did you not try a drop of the Crator in hot water with pure lemon juice and honey? it works wonders.

I did, but eventually had to resort to NHS24 and a trip into Oban for antibiotics from the on-duty GP at the hospital. I may now live, but it is still a bit of a struggle . . .

San Sebastian is in fact only 25nm or less from the harbour at Los Christianos . . . you can get a fast ferry over in 40 mins.


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[Clyde_Wanderer]

Incidently did you not try a drop of the Crator in hot water with pure lemon juice and honey? it works wonders.

I did, but eventually had to resort to NHS24 and a trip into Oban for antibiotics from the on-duty GP at the hospital. I may now live, but it is still a bit of a struggle . . .

La Gomera is in fact only 25nm or less from the harbour at Los Christianos . . . you can get a fast ferry over in 40 mins.

Yes thats right, the ferry is "Ramas" dont know if that is the opperators name.
Dident realise it was as close.
Hope your flu clears up soon.

[Nick]

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Here's a pic of the Fred Olsen trimaran ferry that runs to San Sebastian, the Benchijigua Express



Used to be quite alarming sticking your nose round the harbour wall to (inevitably) find her bearing down on you, but she could turn on a sixpence and creates very little wake even at 40 knots.

[aquaplane]

I had a few hols on Teneriffe and managed a trip to La Gomera by hydrofoil on one of them.

It was like being in a car wash, we couldn't see anything for the spray. It got bad enough for the driver to slow down and go "displacement" for a while. The ex-motherinlaw (think Regi Perin and hippo) refused to get back on the Hydrofoil so we came back on the ferry.

[Clyde_Wanderer]

This is the one I saw which goes over and back from Las Christianos.
Is that mount Teide that can be seen in your first pic?
I have seen that fast Cat or what ever it is, while there.

[Macwester28]

"Maybe we should do some more of that warm Winter cruising stuff before we fade completely . . . maybe take FW down to Lagos the end of next season ready for the Med in 2010. Anyone else fancy it?"

Yes definitely

Will be in or around Gulf du Moribhan until end of August then heading to Bordeaux, to either do the canal du midi, or around the outside to the med for 2010.

Would certainly consider Lagos if in company.

Cheers Mike

[Wildbird]

We're heading that way too! Not sure where we're going to overwinter yet, but late spring in Brittany and then hop at some stage to north spain/portugal...

Could this be the year that lots of people who who have talked about going off cruising actually do it- as jobs go/life/uk not so appealing at the moment?

ETD (estimated time of departure): May 4th....

[Macwester28]

Then make sure you call in at Treguier, for a while, i shall still be refitting to go in mid may. But then there is always the curse of Brittany where life slows to a pace that without a deadline nought gets done apart from rest and recouperation

Then meandering round to Gulf du Moribahn, Quiberon, Port du Creusty, in time to leave the boat to return to the Avalon Fields of mud at Glastonbury Festival. Late june.

Then the rest of the good weather along the French Atlantic coast, will decide whether or not to go through the canal du midi, if my ageing parents still want to do the trip... a la Rick Stein.

Battered old dark Blue Macwester 28, with battered youngish anglais on board. Or call up Moonfish.

Nearer the time could exchange mobile numbers: French and UK

Regards Mike