Land, Ho!

Actually, Land Ho! Ho!, because after three days of nothing but Atlantic Ocean, we can now see both Africa (Morocco) and Europe (Spain). And after two days of force 8 gales with winds of 30 to 40 knots and waves from 10 to 20 feet high, neither of which have helped Linda's sense of being a blue-water sailor, we are now sailing in bright sunlight into the Straits of Gibralter. On our port side is Gibralter, and our starboard side is Tangiers. And if you have read any of the Patrick OBrien novels or have seen MASTER AND COMMANDER you will recognize these waters as those that Jack Aubrey sailed his brig in while plundering commercial shipping on behalf of the British Empire. I have been trying to read that book here as we are in those waters, but frankly can't stomach the killing and plundering that went on in the name of patriotism so I have quit reading and intend to be satified with what I can actually see. We are allowed the run of the bridge here on the ship, and can use the binoculars and look at the radar screens all we want.

Speaking of the British Empire, we left Southampton three days ago with two more passengers, a British couple who are taking their other car to their other home in Cyprus. It seems that the Mediterranean Islands are full of British expatriots who are selling out their suddenly expensive real estate in cold and rainy England, and moving to the warmer climates and cheaper lifestyles of the Med. In fact, probably a hundred or so of the automobiles headed for Limassol Cyprus are used cars owned by British expats who don't want to drive down and then have to ferry them from Greece. By the way, this couple also owns a Citroen C3, the car I found in Honduras that gets 76 mpg with its four cylinder diesel engine, and they love it, especially for its higher seats that makes getting in and out less of a contortionist's trick. Funny how the American car companies have convinced our congressmen that more than 33mpg just can't be done.

The meals on board continue to be excellent, but the cook is getting a little worried about his dwindling supplies. We are still about 5 days behind our published schedule, and we are not getting into Salerno where he takes on food supplies for three more days. Who knows what we will be eating for dinner on Wednesday.

The ship is steaming steadily across the smooth waters of the straits at 18 knots now, but in the gales of the past few days we were slowed down to 13 knots just to keep the bow from being buried in the seas that we were headed into. Even at that speed there would be a loud bang everytime we hit one head on, and then the ship would shudder and slow a little at it struggled up through the front of the swell. Its a funny feeling that I remember from my Navy days, there is no escape from the wind and the seas, you can't stop at the next motel and call it a day. All you can do is hang on and hope for the best. Its not a comforting feeling to know that you have no control over anything at all, but its probably a good thing to get used to since much of life is that way as well. You take what you get and from that you make the successes or failures that mark your life.

We are looking forward to seeing a little of Italy, and then some of Greece before heading for Izmir Turkey. But being so far behind we don't expect too much land time, maybe a morning in Salerno and a few hours in Greece, But its fun walking onshore and exploring at least the harbors, and a little bit of the nearest town.

Time to head back up on the bridge for the passage past the Rock of Gibraltar,

Lynn & Linda