Day 1...
I'm on the train on the way to Gatwick! Woke up at 4 this mornin to get packed! Bit nightmarish but I managed to fit everything in a 75l rucksack and a smaller rucksack.
It's going to take all day to get to Vigo because I have a 4 hour layover in Madrid. Not a bad thing it just means a chance to eat spanish food :D
Apart from that just a couple of important points...
07717146158 is my new number while I'm away ( has better battery life)
TEXT me dont ring me because then it costs us both a fortune
Anyway I'm going to sleep on the train i'll update this tomorrow in VIGO!
Ciao for now!
Thursday, 30 April 2009
30.04.09 - Tomorrow It Begins!
24 hours and counting...
Well the day is nigh! It's my last day at Delphi... and the distribution of cakes and cookies has already begun. In 24 hours time my flight will be taking off from London Gatwick and I will be on my way to Madrid! 4 hours and another plane flight later... I will be onboard Jolie Brise in Vigo!
I can't believe how quickly it has come around. It seems only days ago that I booked my spot on Kaliakra, only for her to drop out. Then sorting it all out... and paying for it all!
Last night we (4 of the housemates and some guys from work) went to our local for leaving beverages. It was a lovely night! Even Pip and Claire from Swindon came up to say goodbye!
I'll be sad to leave Delphi, I really like everyone in my department and I've learnt more than I think I can appreciate right now in the 8 months I have been working in Project Management. The chemistry in the house hasnt been as great as it used to be recently, so I'm glad to be having a break. But I'll miss all of them, as they're a new chapter... sailing is just going to be opening another one before the whole new book of University life.
I don't know when I'll next be updating this... perhaps from Madrid during our 4 hour layover... or maybe on Saturday when I'm Vigo. Who knows? That's the fun of a blog!
Ciao for now!
Well the day is nigh! It's my last day at Delphi... and the distribution of cakes and cookies has already begun. In 24 hours time my flight will be taking off from London Gatwick and I will be on my way to Madrid! 4 hours and another plane flight later... I will be onboard Jolie Brise in Vigo!
I can't believe how quickly it has come around. It seems only days ago that I booked my spot on Kaliakra, only for her to drop out. Then sorting it all out... and paying for it all!
Last night we (4 of the housemates and some guys from work) went to our local for leaving beverages. It was a lovely night! Even Pip and Claire from Swindon came up to say goodbye!
I'll be sad to leave Delphi, I really like everyone in my department and I've learnt more than I think I can appreciate right now in the 8 months I have been working in Project Management. The chemistry in the house hasnt been as great as it used to be recently, so I'm glad to be having a break. But I'll miss all of them, as they're a new chapter... sailing is just going to be opening another one before the whole new book of University life.
I don't know when I'll next be updating this... perhaps from Madrid during our 4 hour layover... or maybe on Saturday when I'm Vigo. Who knows? That's the fun of a blog!
Ciao for now!
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
28.04.09 - The Final Days
3 days left and counting...
Well it's Tuesday now, so two days remain! I finish at Delphi Thursday afternoon!
Currently in a bit of a panic regarding travel insurance... no one seems to be interested in covering anyone in international waters or more than 12 miles from the coast. I'll let you know how that pans out.
Next is the packing situation! I did a trial pack over the weekend; following an epic shop in Chichester. Good news? My rucksack is underweight... However at only 75l it doesn't quite fit 2 months worth of belongings. Plan two?
Well as of a couple of weeks back, my Mom and our next door neighbour Caroline are accompanying me out to Spain. (Bonus being?) Company AND loads of extra luggage space, albeit a weight saving I still need a big enough bad to hold the stuff once we are off the plane - only a minor issue.
Got good news from Sue Stone (Dauntsey's School) that the first mate will be flying out on our flight, Friday morning! Savings on taxi fare :) and a chance to meet her.
Other than that it is now an epic count down at work. Cookies have become a necessity for Thursday and pub night out on Wednesday! Ben is cooking stroganoff for the family which I am very much looking forwards to.
I think Friday will be here before I know it!
Now for the all important links:
To TRACK the ships: http://www.tallshipsraces.com/mapping/
To TEXT me: 07717 146 158 or 07920110906
To EMAIL me: jocelynsmith90@gmail.com
Please FACEBOOK me :)
I'll be writing a diary and then finding Internet cafes and typing it up while in port.
I'll probably write again on Thursday night!
Ciao for now!
Well it's Tuesday now, so two days remain! I finish at Delphi Thursday afternoon!
Currently in a bit of a panic regarding travel insurance... no one seems to be interested in covering anyone in international waters or more than 12 miles from the coast. I'll let you know how that pans out.
Next is the packing situation! I did a trial pack over the weekend; following an epic shop in Chichester. Good news? My rucksack is underweight... However at only 75l it doesn't quite fit 2 months worth of belongings. Plan two?
Well as of a couple of weeks back, my Mom and our next door neighbour Caroline are accompanying me out to Spain. (Bonus being?) Company AND loads of extra luggage space, albeit a weight saving I still need a big enough bad to hold the stuff once we are off the plane - only a minor issue.
Got good news from Sue Stone (Dauntsey's School) that the first mate will be flying out on our flight, Friday morning! Savings on taxi fare :) and a chance to meet her.
Other than that it is now an epic count down at work. Cookies have become a necessity for Thursday and pub night out on Wednesday! Ben is cooking stroganoff for the family which I am very much looking forwards to.
I think Friday will be here before I know it!
Now for the all important links:
To TRACK the ships: http://www.tallshipsraces.com/mapping/
To TEXT me: 07717 146 158 or 07920110906
To EMAIL me: jocelynsmith90@gmail.com
Please FACEBOOK me :)
I'll be writing a diary and then finding Internet cafes and typing it up while in port.
I'll probably write again on Thursday night!
Ciao for now!
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
15.04.09 - Panic Stations
15 days left and counting...
Flights are booked! As of Friday I can now get to Spain and back from Charleston!
I finish at Delphi on Thursday the 30th of April. Then after rushing back to Rowlands and putting the finishing touches on my packing I leave Gatwick on the 1st of May at 10:40. Shame I have a 4 hour lay over in Madrid, but I suppose it is a chance for me to brush up on my Spanish. I'll eventually get to Vigo at 18:50, so hopefully be on Jolie Brise by 19:30!
On the way back, I'll leave Europa on the 27th of June and fly up to Philladelphia, it would give me a chance to see Michal Jane, have a proper shower and sleep in a real bed for the first time in 2 months! I'll leave on the night flight back to England on the Sunday evening (the 28th) and land in Heathrow at 06:20... Early.... I know!
To make it worse it is going to be a mad dash to clear the airport, and get back to Stroud. A speedy shower, and quick change later and I will be back at Delphi for the 13:00 departmental meeting....
So overall a manic 2 weeks awaits. I've had my final invoices through for the actual sailing part...
Tecla is paid for in full (all €2633 of it), I have put a £200 deposit on Jolie Brise with the outstanding £500 due asap. Today I thankfully got the invoice from Europa (€1295), which I have to pay asap.
However, just to make things even BETTER... I got a Trojan Virus on my work computer resulting in me having to cancel my online banking just incase it got hacked! Brilliant really, as I now have to re-apply which will take heaven knows how long.
But underlying all this is the sheer excitement of knowing that in 15 days time I'll be onboard Jolie Brise ready to embark on the journey of a lifetime!
Ciao for now!
Flights are booked! As of Friday I can now get to Spain and back from Charleston!
I finish at Delphi on Thursday the 30th of April. Then after rushing back to Rowlands and putting the finishing touches on my packing I leave Gatwick on the 1st of May at 10:40. Shame I have a 4 hour lay over in Madrid, but I suppose it is a chance for me to brush up on my Spanish. I'll eventually get to Vigo at 18:50, so hopefully be on Jolie Brise by 19:30!
On the way back, I'll leave Europa on the 27th of June and fly up to Philladelphia, it would give me a chance to see Michal Jane, have a proper shower and sleep in a real bed for the first time in 2 months! I'll leave on the night flight back to England on the Sunday evening (the 28th) and land in Heathrow at 06:20... Early.... I know!
To make it worse it is going to be a mad dash to clear the airport, and get back to Stroud. A speedy shower, and quick change later and I will be back at Delphi for the 13:00 departmental meeting....
So overall a manic 2 weeks awaits. I've had my final invoices through for the actual sailing part...
Tecla is paid for in full (all €2633 of it), I have put a £200 deposit on Jolie Brise with the outstanding £500 due asap. Today I thankfully got the invoice from Europa (€1295), which I have to pay asap.
However, just to make things even BETTER... I got a Trojan Virus on my work computer resulting in me having to cancel my online banking just incase it got hacked! Brilliant really, as I now have to re-apply which will take heaven knows how long.
But underlying all this is the sheer excitement of knowing that in 15 days time I'll be onboard Jolie Brise ready to embark on the journey of a lifetime!
Ciao for now!
Sunday, 5 April 2009
05.04.09 - The Countdown Begins
25 days left and counting...
Last Monday (30.03.09) I had the terrible news that SVT Kaliakra had dropped out of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge. For the past week, I have spent most of my time on the phone or sending emails, desperately trying to find a place on another ship.
Brilliant news came on Thursday, that there were places free on Jolie Brise, Tecla and Barque Europa. However the cost had skyrocketed! A few phonecalls later and I had managed to get discounts on several of the legs and applied for a bursary from the John Myatt Trust.
So here's the new line-up:
Tecla 27.5m Gaff Ketch: Leg 2 - Tenerife, Islas de Canarias to Hamilton, Bermuda
Next stage is finding the money for the crazy increase in cost!
Then I have to put together an extensive packing list; I never realised packing for 2 months at sea was quite such a challenge! 1 x DofE rucksack 2 x backpack + kit for 2 months = an absolute mission!
I hope to update this blog from each port... I'll be keeping a diary on board, so if I can't upload new posts I'll complete the story upon my return.
I'll post nearer the time to let you know whether the panic has set in!
Ciao for now!
Last Monday (30.03.09) I had the terrible news that SVT Kaliakra had dropped out of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge. For the past week, I have spent most of my time on the phone or sending emails, desperately trying to find a place on another ship.
Brilliant news came on Thursday, that there were places free on Jolie Brise, Tecla and Barque Europa. However the cost had skyrocketed! A few phonecalls later and I had managed to get discounts on several of the legs and applied for a bursary from the John Myatt Trust.
So here's the new line-up:
Tecla 27.5m Gaff Ketch: Leg 2 - Tenerife, Islas de Canarias to Hamilton, Bermuda Europa 44.5m 3 Masted Barque: Leg 3 - Hamilton, Bermuda to Charleston, South Carolina
Next stage is finding the money for the crazy increase in cost!
Then I have to put together an extensive packing list; I never realised packing for 2 months at sea was quite such a challenge! 1 x DofE rucksack 2 x backpack + kit for 2 months = an absolute mission!
I hope to update this blog from each port... I'll be keeping a diary on board, so if I can't upload new posts I'll complete the story upon my return.
I'll post nearer the time to let you know whether the panic has set in!
Ciao for now!
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