Donald King

VANESSA (HER INDOORS WHO MUST BE OBEYED) as a present booked me a one days sailing experience on the solent.

I drove to Southampton and met the crew and my sailing companions for the day - we really looked a mottley crew but somehow hoped that all these strangers would be able to sail the yacht.

After a short walk we met the yacht. Bluebird is a Whitbread 60 foot racing yacht who at one time, a few years ago held the reecord of most miles sailed in 24 hour sailing. She looked absolutely fantastic. We motoered out of the harbour and then hoisted sail. This means operating the coffee grinder - this is a torture mechanism that has to be used to be beleived - but we took turns (some of us less than others - guilty m'lord) and all the sails were up and with engine off we were sailing.

Bluebird on shore looked great, but out in the sea she was sex on the sea, as she gracefully tore through the waves and the rushing sea passing the hull, it sounded like an ochestra was accompanying us. I do not have the words to find how to describe the experience. She was like a ballet dancer gliding gracefully around the sea but with the power of a F1 racing car. At times were were sailing at an angle of 30 degrees (my estimation - so not accurate) and this was exhilirating beyon words - all of us were mesmerised at her ability

I know we only got a taster of what Ocean sailing is all about, but we have new respect for the people who sail around the world as a crew or on their own.

Our Skipper Jono and the crew of Dan and Helen were very special people - they made us very welcome, boosted our confidence and guided us to sail the yacht correctly so we could get the best out of the day. Thanks to all of them for their help and support.

I have put some pics on my site at:

http://www.donking.spaces.live.com/

and details of bluebox sailing can be found at:

http://www.blueboxsailing.com/

Thanks to Vanessa for booking me a great treat. If you have a day to spare and wonder what to do - book this experience, you will not be disapointed.

Take care and stay safe

Some time since I last wrote on my blog – will try and improve in the future!!!

Sponsorship money continues to come in. Mike Goodman who works for McCambridge Group as a Project Director very kindly donated £20. I have known Mike for many years and as well as being a great engineer he is the type of man you would wish to work with.

Danny my stepson, who had the accident that started this sponsored cycle off for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance has donated £100. This is an extremely large donation and along with all the other money will make a big difference. Thanks Danny it is really appreciated.

Spent most of this bank holiday working and playing catch up – not much fun but when you are self-employed the client always comes first.

Vanessa was competing at the Berkeley horse show and was very disappointed that Shannon was not placed. They both looked very good and I thought they did well. I know I am biased but when Vanessa and some of the other competitors were going round the judge was not even looking at them. As a non technical observer I would say that she had already made up her mind who was going to be placed almost as soon as the horses entered the ring, she seemed to spend time looking at them but not the others. It is such a shame that the same standard was not uniformly applied.

Berkeley castle is a great backcloth for these events – so impressive, plenty of room to park and many tents etc for people who are not 100% horsey.

Take care and stay safe.

Today we have seen a great day at the olympics with many medals for Team GB.  Some of the performances were mind boggling and it augers well for the London olympics in 2012.  Not sure how we can follow what we have seen for the opening ceremony but the thought of 10000 Morris dancers is too much to contemplate!!

Disapointed that one of the commentators said to the 100m gold medalist that his fans in England .......  When will they realise that Scotland is part of the UK and that some of team GB are Scottish and Welsh - check out the medalists.  Still I guess it is what we have come to expect from the very much London orientated BBC.

Looking forward to seeing Paula later tonight in the Marathon but I do hope she is at her best - not sure after her injury and shortage of training - mind you she will certainly be trying her best.

Not been doing much cycling recently but hope to get back into the swing of things fairly soon.

Take care and stay safe

When on holiday Michelle told us to visit Roussillon which has been inhabited since Neolithic time, then later by the Romans who also left their traces. Samuel Beckett lived there during the Second World War.This was certainly worth the 1.5 hour drive and if you are ever going to visit somewhere in France this should be near the top of your list.  Spectacular views of the surrounding countryside make this a very special day.

In Roussillon, the most memorable feature is not Roussillon itself, but the ochre mines below the village.

The range of colours in the white-orange-red rocks is extraordinary, and the curiously shaped rock formations add further to the spectacle. It creates to my mind a landscape that you might think was from another world or the moon.

Roussillon is yet another super-attractive Provencal village. The colour in the mines is mirrored in the colours of the house in Roussillon itself, above the mines - the extraordinary colour of the houses in the village, tinted by the ochre that was once mined here, really does make Roussillon different to the other villages in the region.  It is a spectacular sight walking around the village and being confronted by a range of colours, all different, around each corner.

I would imagine that to see Roussillon when the first sunshine of the day strikes the village, to see the glowing colours of the houses at their most stunning.

Roussillon has many beautiful houses, constructed mostly about 300 years ago, and also has its fair share of tourism related gift shops and galleries etc, like all the 'most beautiful villages of France.  Also like many touristy type areas it is very, very expensive.  I can’t help but feel that if they reduced the prices they would sell considerably more.  The day we visited very few people were buying.It is a lovely little village to explore - shady squares, amazing architectural details, faded shutters, cats sleeping on windowsills - everything you hope for from a Provencal village. Take care and stay safe. Pictures at: http://www.donking.spaces.live.com/

Just a quick overview of the cycle - good and bad points.

GOOD POINTS - weather in the UK, bike worked well most of the time and thankfully no punctures.  French people were very good, helpful,polite, supportive and a pleasure to speak to.  Wine was exceptional - suppose I should not have been drinking and cycling (medicinal purposes only).

Sleeping bag was warm, tent OK - food good.  Route for France was excellent.

BAD POINTS - weather in France thunder, lighting, hurricane winds and wet, wet wet.  Sat Nav stopped working, GPS stopped working, Phone stopped working.  I got lost in France and added to my journey in miles and therefore time.  Did not have paper map for UK so had to take main road to Brighton.

British people in cars and on boats, noisy, loud, discourteous, rude and dangerous driving.

After the cycle thought would never cycle again.  Vanessa bought me a mountain bike when in France and now I am thinking - what next!!!

Thanks to all who sponsored me for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.  David Williams from Bridge Insurance, Manchester has kindly sponsored me today - thank you.

Take care and stay safe