Log two - off to Cherbourg My training weekend seems months ago now, and all the lessons learnt are about to be put to the test. Let's hope I can remember my knots!
 | | The calm before (and after) the storm |
Originally, I was to fly down to Cherbourg and pick up the James Cook there and sail back to Newcastle, but the opportunity came up to join the boat in London and sail to Cherbourg, adding another week to my time afloat. I jumped at the chance - but I suppose it means longer hours working in the garden mucking out the pigs and hens for Mum when I get back! Last Friday (8 July), Mum, Dad and I drove to London in the blazing heat, and just a day after the tragic terrorist bomb blasts - we wondered if it was going to be safe, but I thought that the chances of them doing something else again was as good as nil, so we all went on. A leisurely start The James Cook was moored in St Katherine's Dock just a shout from Tower Bridge - we hope to be having a bridge opening specially for us before we go. I reckon it'll just add to the madness of the traffic jams - what a thought! We arrived a little after lunch time, after getting caught in a huge traffic jam ourselves, and found that St Katherine's Dock was a beautiful oasis in the middle of The City.
 | | Never known to say no to tucker |
There were a lot of visiting yachts there, and we saw a huge Thames Barge come through the lock just as we were arriving. I had stuffed all my kit into one sailing kit bag, and luckily remembered the sleeping bag too. When we arrived, some of the crew of the Newcastle - London leg were leaving, and we found that they had all been caught in a storm on their way into the Thames Estuary. Before they came south though, The James Cook had been caught for a day in Whitby's inner harbour, as the swing bridge had broken down. This meant that it left later than planned, and had to race ahead of a following storm. Choppy waters Unfortunately, the storm caught them up and the boat was damaged while they tried to make their way into the Estuary. So when we arrived on the quayside, the sails and some of the pulpit rails were being taken away for repair - but this was not going to happen until at least Monday.
 | | St Katherine's Dock - home to many ships |
But - wow, how they've looked after us! If you have to "break down" what a place to do it! We have been to the Maritime Museum in Greenwich, The London Eye, Tate Modern, The London Aquarium and we had a whole load of fun - good time to make friends and crew-mates, and of course brush up on those knots. There is a total crew of 13 on board, made up from the permanent crew of Ali Travis (Skipper), Caroline Saunders, Colin Teago, Jimmy Van Zwanenberg, Peter McGrath and Brigid Stoney (Watch Leaders) and us - the motley crew - Daniel Bentley, Michael Crozier, Stephanie Booth, Jill McPhee, Hannah Reynolds, Emma Hopps and of course me. I'm writing this on Tuesday (12 July) and as yet, we are still waiting for the repairs to be returned. Here we go... But if we run to time, we should be ready to sail on the tide at 6pm tonight. I'm not too sure what the weather is going to be like for us, but the 大象传媒 weather site talks of light winds of force 3 or 4 and fair conditions - will we make it in time for Cherbourg? We are due there on Thursday (14 July) and we'll be joining the mass of Tall Ships ready to enjoy the celebrations for a few days. Now, if there's time when I'm off watch down below, I'll have to brush up on my French! See you all soon... remember to come on down to the Quayside in Newcastle to see us all come in... | 
