SD II TA

[Jim Avery]

Bon Voyage to Ho-Hum and Blondie and the rest of the SD II gang.😎🍸🍸

[JES4845]

Thanks Jim.  We are among those on the pre-TA voyage from Barcelona to Malaga.  Excellent so far - chilly mornings and evenings but warm sunny days.  Now in Gibraltar (Saturday) leaves for Malaga later tonight then the TA starts later tomorrow, our first.  But Ho-Hum and. Blondie are here along with others plus crew to show us the TA way.  We are hoping for smooth seas but ready for what presents itself along the way!

[JES4845]

Left Malaga last night around 6 PM.  Making “technical stop” in Gibraltar this morning (Mon Oct 28) for a hull cleaning while we are anchored (no tenders to shore).  Then we set off for Funchal around 1 PM.  Seems to be 54 or 56 passengers, depending on who is doing the counting.  This is our first TA, but many clearly know each other from many TAs past.  There is also a large number of fellow first timers based on the show of hands at Taylor’s briefing.  Funchal is to be nearly 80 and sunny on Wednesday - looking forward to it!

[wripro]

Jes4845,

 

Do yourself a favor and visit the market in Funchal where you can get a lovely bouquet of flowers for less than $20 which you can bring back to enjoy in your suite for the rest of your crossing. 

[JES4845]

Wripro, thanks for the kind suggestion - my better half loves flowers so we shall do so.

 

Tue Oct 29 first full morning at sea in the Atlantic after departing Gibraltar mid-morning yesterday.  Amazing sunrise with few clouds while doing the 16 laps around deck 6 with Taylor.  Now mostly sunny, warm, pretty calm seas with only a slight swell, no white caps or anything like that.  A bit bumpier at times last night but all in all not bad LOL.  Can already see why folks love the TAs if the conditions are like they are today!  So far, it is blue ocean all around without another vessel in sight.  Peaceful and inspiring.