Julian was due to arrive this evening at 2100 but he’s just texted me to say his train from King’s Cross has been cancelled.  What a way to run our national rail infrastructure!  He’s now due an hour later.   However, that does give me time to add another blog post before we set off early tomorrow morning.  I’ve been busy preparing for our 4 day passage directly to Bergen: topping up on provisions; making sure we’re just over our duty-free allowances for Norway (which are not great so I’ve allowed for the occasional dram en route to bring us within the allowance by the time we arrive); preparing Rosinis; and, of course, catching up on sleep very successfully.  In a fit of enthusiasm I also went for a run this morning around the old Headland part of Hartlepool and learned some local history: how the locals lynched a monkey dressed as a French sailor, ship-wrecked in the Napoleonic Wars, and how the Heugh gun batteries there were allegedly the only mainland UK direct participants in WW1 when they fired against a German naval raid in 1914.

 

Fortunately Storm Hector has now blown through.  We had over 40 knots of wind inside the marina yesterday morning (see first photo which doesn’t do justice to the waves in the dock or the flying spray) but we came through unscathed and the forecast is looking great for the next few days: good winds and from good directions, so hopefully we’ll have a fast and comfortable passage.  However, I’m taking no chances and have the staysail hanked on just in case North and South Utsire (shipping forecast areas, for those who don’t know) live up to their reputation for some pretty sporting weather as we approach the Norwegian coast.  The second photo shows Rosinis ready to leave.  Just need a crew now!