The 9 week adventure

[hazel]

4 weeks to go [and counting] until we leave for a 9 week adventure - yacht race, holiday & recon for a future holiday.

Yacht Race from Wales to Scotland
Scotland - Belguim - Paris
Istanbul & down to Ayvalik
Lesvos - Athens
Venice
Slovenia - Sarajevo - Dubrovnik - Split

transport: Qantas, BA, Swiss, Aegean, Adria, Croatia, B&H Airlines, ferries, bus, train & campervan
cheers

 

[Paddy55]

Hazel

Pick me! Pick me! Pick me!

(An envious) Paddy

 

[samh004]

I can’t wait for the photos and experiences to follow.

 

[Alanslegal]

4 weeks will be around the corner in no time enjoy the trip!

 

[hazel]

The first part of the trip report - MEL - LHR, Cowes & London

Between me, Mr & 2 offspring Hazels we had 112kg of luggage [we are going yacht racing so had lots of boat stuff] nice not to have to pay excess. Mr H's carry-on was a seriously large 12v torch which intrigued security.
Loved the A380 - we had row 80 - Mr Hazel loved 80A [thanks Serfty]. The duty free in MEL had 3 boxes of Cadbury Favourites for $20 - I purchased them & gave a box to one of the FAs in our area on the plane. I never knew such a small token gift could generate such benefits: we received F/J ?Class headsets, pre take off very good champagne, the express immigration card for when we return to Aus, more very good champagne & various food treats from J & F. Chocolates or not they were great FAs. The AVOD is excellent - watched 'Up in the Air' [what was with that woman??] among other things.
Arrived SIN only had 30 mins which I spent looking for the smoking area.
FAs from SIN were not great - even Mr H commented & he doesn't complain about anything.
Arrived LHR - spent ages waiting to get off - they had airbridge problems & could only connect 2 not 3. A very long walk to customs/immigration child Hazel asked if we had arrived at Gatwick & were walking to LHR. Arrivals at LHR make some third world airports look positively sophisticated. Waited almost 1 hour for baggage to appear.
More to come.....

 

[hazel]

Re: The 9 week adventure - the trip report


The first part of our trip, and the reason for going overseas, was for a yacht race in the UK. It’s an unusual race sailed with only 3 sailing crew and 2 marathon runners. The race starts in Barmouth Wales and finishes in Fort William, Scotland. It stops at Caernafon and Whitehaven along the way and the runners run up Mt Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis at the finish. Mr H was the skipper and our son was one of the sailing crew.
The first stop was Cowes on the Isle of Wight to collect our yacht we had chartered for the race. I love Cowes, a town that devotes itself to sailing gets my vote. We spent 2 days getting the boat ready for the delivery trip and the race as well as stocking up on lots of sailing clothes – the cc got a workout at the Musto and Slam discount stores.
I farewelled my family, including our teenage daughter who joined them on the 4 day delivery trip to Barmouth. With family on the high seas I made for London and shopping.
The race started in Barmouth on the Saturday afternoon. Barmouth is a beautiful Welsh seaside town – although boating activities must be planned around the tide.


Low tide - Barmouth Harbour
I had the job of driving from Wales to Scotland and meeting up with them when they stopped for the mountain runs. We finished the race in Fort William late Wednesday afternoon and ended up third – not a bad result for a first time effort

After the race we spent a couple of days looking around Fort William – about 20 hours of daylight at that time of the year and we somehow managed to do most of our Ben Nevis walk in the dark.
Had a great train trip from FW to Edinburgh via Glasgow. 2 nights in Edinburgh - a really lovely city but packed with tourists. We picked up the rental car for the drive to Hull and board the overnight ferry for Zebrugge and the start of Europe.

 

[Flashback]

I look forward to reading more. Certainly an interesting way to travel.