It may be that I’m quite mad, as this weekend finds me jumping in a car with only 20 km on the clock since abandoning it for Africa 2 years ago. The tank contains petrol at two-year-old prices and is nearly full. The screeching from the left rear wheel has be sorted by levering the bent, rusted metal away from the brake disc. The garage must have used it as a jacking point to compress the shocks while replacing the spring. Do I wash off the moss and spiderwebs that are holding her together? Nah, I think not, it will not look out of place parked next to that Maclaren.
Back to Portsmouth again, this time for crew allocation. I shall leave early tomorrow morning in case something untoward happens. With luck a minor Clipper invasion force will be headed South in case I am in need of rescue and hopefully will answer any distress calls I make.
When meeting the skipper, I’d like to nail down the correct clothing requirements and number of changes I will need. The sleeping bag and the possibility of a dry suit, in addition to which make of sea boots and seaman’s knife to get? I’m interested in the percentage turnout, and am intrigued as to how many of my crew we meet. What will be on the agenda? Roles? Tactics, further study and/or training. Will all the boats be named? Will the ports be known? When do we start? I’m am definitely expecting an electrically charged atmosphere and hope to meet all if not most of my fellow crewmates from Levels 1 and 2.
My brother is making the trek to join me as crew supporter and I do hope he gets to crawl around my new home or sister yacht. I’m guessing that Qingdao and Unicef will be the one’s on display at Gunwharf Quays for the weekend.
Mangled Neuron 