some things are just not meant to be.......

Well. We won't be going to the caribbean this year!
After a few days hanging around waiting for some wind down at the bottom of the island it's now gone southwesterly (and forecast to increase to 30 knots in a few days time!)
That, coupled with the fact that Mike just doesn't have a 'good feeling' about it means we will be staying in the Canaries for a while yet.
The cat was also unimpressed. Mike said one night she let out the wierdest, loud, long cry he has ever heard.....that spooked him!
So anyways, he's back on Pontoon R - subject to gentle ribbing from the other occupants - and the cat is happy again.
Unfortunately, Mike has now done something serious to his back. Wasn't exerting himself particularly, just twisted it wrong whilst leaning over the stern to adjust some ropes.
He could hardly get his words out between the 'oohs' and 'aaahs' and 'aaarghs' whilst on the phone to me this morning :(
Luckily we have got strong painkillers in our medical kit. Just as well it didn't happen whilst crossing the atlantic alone eh?

No he's not......

After a night of bobbing around with 1 knot of wind and no more forecast in the near future Mike has decided to anchor off Puerto Mogan at the south of the island. He said it was like being at anchor last night just drifting on a flat calm sea - 11 miles all night!

Hopefully things will pick up in a day or two......

He's gone!!

witness....

 My lovely friend Sarah went to take the departure photos - and he'd gone!!!

Oh well.....

He's phoned me about six times today whilst he's still got a mobile signal.
There's not much wind so it's slow going.
The cat's a bit unsettled.

Meanwhile, back home - the boiler is fixed and I've had my long awaited bath.

the other cats

note scarf and big jumper!

Hurry up Mike the tan's fading already!!

So, here I am at home. The bloody boiler is broken so there's no hot water or heating :(
The repairman isn't coming til tomorrow.....
And its pouring down with rain.
At least the cats are pleased to see me!

Mike is all ready to depart but unfortunately the wind in the Canaries has gone south at 20 knots today so he decided to delay his departure til the morning.

He has his satphone with him for the trip so he can update me daily (at great expense) but did you know that you can also send SMS messages to satphones via email - free of charge! Yep you can.
So, anyone who wants to offer words of encouragement to Mike along the way please go to www.iridium.com and click on the 'send satellite message' tab (top right). This opens a form in which you can enter up to 160 characters of text and send it off to his phone - at no charge!! (and no limit to the number of messages you can send)
The satphone number is 8816 31589462 (you need to put this in to send the text message)

!!!!!

Au revoir Las Palmas

I'm off to the airport in a couple of hours.

Feeling a bit 'delicate' this morning.....

I is tired.....

And the cat wasn't even at the party!!

the usual suspects

Mike is STILL shopping. Maybe he's planning on taking a few crew after all......just waiting til I've gone so he can smuggle them aboard :)

last minute maintenance - checking the bilge pumps

wrecked.....