PINBALL WIZARD
Nigel North
Sat 21 Jan 2012 22:00
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Saturday 21 Jan 2011: The last
two days have been VERY frustrating, with a lot of time wasted on the computer
trying to sort out problems caused by downloading software that came with the
Satphone - and then having to remove it as it was causing chaos. One
particular programme was making the processor run at 100% permanently,
effectively crippling it..and me. Removing it then messed up a driver and
so on. All nearly back to normal now, but unable to log on to the wifi
here which is most annoying just before we depart - when comms with friends and
family are most important and needed. Sigh.. So once again the Vodaphone
dongle has been brought out to make the connections - at a price!
Otherwise good work has been done, with a
reorganised forepeak storage area, extra water stowed away all over the place, a
spotlessy clean heads thanks to Alfie (he volunteered!) and a
newly painted spare windvane for the Windpilot self steering - another
Alfie masterpiece. The dinghy has been deflated and
stowed midships giving more room up forward, and the new heavy weather jib
prepared in its bag on deck for some twin headsail downwind sailing, the
idea being that the genoa is poled out one side and the jib the other giving a
stable pair of sails to drive the boat along in the Tradewinds.
So, this coming week should see us heading SSW in
the general direction of the Cape Verde Islands - some 800 miles away. The
weather here in Las Palmas is still most pleasant, but just a tad chilly on the
legs at night - for those of us still in shorts. The sea temperature has slowly
dropped from 23 deg on arrival back in mid November to just under 20
now giving similar air temperatures. Heaven...!
Attached pics: 1. Silly hats. 2.
Patric - the Belgian next door on his homemade plywood yacht Bulle, who has had
to completely remove his fuel tank and have access holes cut into it so he could
clean out the nasty microbes living there. 3. Susie, the Brit
ex tattooist who's lived here on and off for four years. She and her man
Jim leave for Morocco every six months to avoid paying the import duties
required for stays over 6 months.
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