Izola 2019

Monday

Getting up at 4.55 was OK. The train into Cardiff was the single carrage Coryton service, surprising number of passengers. Megabus driver seemed quite brusque - he was going to load the luguage, and unload it. The good news is that I think he was early and instead of a wait in Bristol I got oto the Exeter bus and was at the airport well before 9am. Check in didn't open for a coupleof hours.

Flight to Cologne was good. Flew over city on way in and saw the

Cathedral. Train into city was 3E. Little bit of difficulty finding hotel. It waqs clean and had plenty of powerpoints. 

Wandered around - Cathedral and Rhine are both very impressive. A nice compact City, I liked it but resisted the temptation to indulge in a beer and returned to a packet of Cashew Nuts. Having eaten the Asda Wraps on arrival.

Tuesday

Nice breakfast - rolls were still warm. Wandered across the river to the second station and got the train to Munich. The first one was older and had better views, as we followed the Rhine valley Second train was an ICE and had a much more restricted view. Started worrying about hotel as I approached Munich Nothing on Expedia - must have booked it with a different service.

Wandered around Munich. Wasn't as nice as Cologne I thought. More modern. The town hall clock

gave a nice performance. Market would have been nice if I had wanted to spend. Returned to hotel and worried about my return journey which had no documentation. Got into Halifax account and found payments but no way to contact BD. Spent £100 on a new ticket. Didn't finish processing  photos and Keith phoned thinking the meeting was tonight - he thought it was the day before his Birthday. He insists on getting the messages but then doesn't read them.

Wednesday

Woke up at 6am and ordered a couple of watches on e-bay. Wouldn't have got back to sleep with the need to get up at 7am. Wandered over to the station and got on the Salzburg train.

How come I only have trouble with German trains? The Munich-Salzburg train was 20mins late getting into Salzburgh. However, I have made the Railjet, and the views are spectacular as we follow a narrow valley through the mountains.

Connection was to an corridor train - old seats are much more comfortable. The views were not as good as I remember them. I must remember not to tempt fate - someone jumped under the train, apparently. This delayed us around an hour and meant I was worried about making the connection to the Kober train. However, they held it for us and even told us the platform number. It was a modern commuter train and the views were excellent - panoramas over miles and miles - the sort of things we rarely get in the UK. Don't understand why the last bit was by coach as there was clearly a train line into Kober.

Picked up OK, shown the venue and hotel. Didn't feel hungry at all despite not eating all day. Need to investigate fasting.

Thursday

Breakfasted and up. Wandered around the town. Got some contact adhesive and hope I have managed to fix my shoe. Had a drink. Came back to hotel and fell asleep and listened to BBC Sounds. Wandered back to club about 8pm and asked. Got taken to the other club and met Michael. Others had eaten so I continued with my fasting experement.

Friday
Turns out that Michael retired as a judge last year, so we were not properly constituted. Sailing was good, bit of a wait for the wind but when it came it was OK. I ended up chairing the hearing, except for when I was disqualifying someone for hitting the finish mark.

Saturday
Once again a wait for the wind. They started without us. Wind swung to the left, O flag for 420's. Once again ended up disqualifying someone for hitting the finish mark. They went back but didn't gybe and having told him we would I felt I had to protest.

Sunday
Even longer wait for the wind and a couple of General Recalls. 420's got two races in but then the wind began to swing and the race officer gave up. We had a couple of protests. Dinner was fish bbq Swordfish, prawns, salmon and octipus - the first time I have had octipus that wasn't rubber.

Monday
Spent the morning doing photos etc. Wandered around the town for a couple of hours had a siesta, listened to BBC.sounds.went and had a beer. Prepared to leave.

Tuesday
Rain during the night. Think I had an early night. Got out, no Taxi at 5am. Phoned them - they had forgotten! At least I didn't have to pay - hope they sort it out. Stood waiting for a bus, then noticed people going to the station and a train waiting so, surprise, surprise it was a train to Lubjiana with a corridor and not crowded. The hills were extremely pretty with the mist clinging to the trees and the valleys. Train to Stuttgard/Frankfurt was 20 mins late, connection might be interesting. We will be in Germany by then. Weather appears to have cleared up. We didn't stop at Munich. Saw the Danube and Ulm Cathedral looked interesting.
   It made up the time and despite the walk across the bridge I was in the hotel by 9pm. Top floor had been updated and it looked out over the station. A bit noisy but nice.

Wednesday
Lovely breakfast, croissants included - I will have to get some more honey and butter. Checked out and on the tra code on the german ticket did not work. Security wanted me to leave my multitool behind it just took a lot of queuing. Then there was no internet (well extremely slow and flakey)in the waiting hall. Got on board and mis-read the sign sowas in the wrong carriage. Decided to watch a film but it was over 10 mins longer than the journey. At least it re-started where it had left off when the connection broke. Then coming out we all had to be funnelled through customs - next time I must get a plane!
Tube to Paddington. Couldn't resist a McDonalds, only problem was the Coffee cost as I unloaded UK Vouchers for the trip. Supposed to meet Phil in Cardiff, train currently 4mins late as we approach Reading.

Vesuvius was Closed 2018

Sunday Dec 9 2018
The weather was quite kind for the walk through Porthkerry to the airport, even if I was a bit early. It was even kind for the first flight to Amsterdam as there wasn't too many clouds and I saw the Severn Bridges, thought I recognised the Cotswold Water Park and saw the bridge at Ipswitch. However, two more flights Amsterdam to Rome and then Rome to Naples got be a bit. Especially as the Naples flight was delayed by over an hour.

Bus into Naples cost 5 Euro (not the 3Euros the internet led me to expect), and Google said it was only just under 2 miles. I wouldn't have liked to walk it though as most of the roads were motorways. Found the Hotel Ideal and it's old but nice. They also lent me a UK Conversion plug which is nice of them as I forgot to pack mine and the cheapest I could find was 17 Euro.

Monday Dec 10
Did battle with the coffee machine and eventually found out how to get enough coffee out of it. Basically get a white coffee and add hot water and cold milk. Good buffet which has kept me going all day. Particularly pleased since last night cost 7Euro at the station and I was hassled by a beggar. Cheaper venues are available.

Also pleased that I got a 7 day local transport ticket for 16 Euros which is what theinternet said. Just need to check out tomorrow that it is good to Salerno.

Today was Naples. Started down at the harbour, decided not to go into Castel Nuevo, instead walked past the Opera House and through Piaza del Plebiscito (views of Baescillica Real Pontifica) and I suspect a palace to the seaside. Then retraced my steps to find to find the Funicular. I was half way up the hill when I did.

Rode that to the top and found Castel Saint Elmo. Great Castle and wonderful views. Lots of photos to be composited. Other Funicular down to Montesanto. Nice cheap area - it's the Italians who are a nation of shopkeepers these days. Rode Line 2 in the  wrong direction for a while, Station architecture got me off and heading for Museo. Credit card again got me into the Museo Archeologica Nazionale di Napoli (12E).

There was a temporary exhibition on the Art and Archeology on the Metro which was good but hard to find the context as there was only one map and some of the stations are under construction.

Lots of stuff from Pompei and Herculaneum. Much artwork talking about changing fashion in the preferred Roman Myths and how they were displayed - homan Myths. Didn't think much of the pornography.

Coming back to hotel got off train at Dante to look at the artwork. I'm very artistic. How 225 photos to process!And I was going to watch the late Sunday game (American Football) That was great Chicago won with reminders of the team of 85. Have I really been watching it for that long?

Tuesday Dec 11
Badly let down by Google today. Plan was to go up Vesuvius. Cheched 7 day ticket validity and discovered it wasn't good for that distance so went and bought a 3 day ARTECard at 32E very expensive. Got on a late TrenItalia train and got off 3 stops later at Erculonium only there was no sign of the No5 bus. Much walking later it was change plans and visit the ruins.

Lickily the card covered the cost of getting in so maybe things weren't that bad, but the ruins were pretty depressing. There was a nice exhibit of a boat and if that really was the coastline then it puts a new perspective on geography.

Circumvesuvius on to Pompei - bigger and more depressing. Pink Ffloyd exhibit was the best bit. Trained out to Sorrento because I could but much of that was in tunnels - there are lots of those and they are deep!

Not getting vey far with photos - Going for the Monday night game now. And fell asleep.

Wednesday 12th
Officially confirmed that Vesuvius is closed at least until next week. Given that I have done the ruins (originally scheduled for a day each) this is a bit of a blow.  Seems there was a landslide which has blocked the approach road. Difficult to close a volcano!

Decided to explore Line 6 and the Funicular at the west of town only to discover it isn't open, even though it is shown on maps. Walked to the Funicular but the top was boring. Decided to go to the Esher Exhibition but Google failed to clearly indicate the correct bus stop so I had a walk along the promenade to get there. It was good - although the chronology was difficult to follow. Wandered around for a bit more and as it was getting dark thought the best way home was via the 2 Funiculars with a pizza at Montesanto.

Got photos backed up but have failed to update the website or look at the files.

Thursday 13th
It was raining today! The trains were late but I was determined to use the last day of my ArteCard, so I made my way to Bagnoli and the Museum of the Sea. Only to find the place occupied by students - it was supposedly in a nautical school - students said it was shut anyway.

Next objective was the Souterran Tour, at least underground I would be dry. Tried to make it by 12 but took the wrong Funicular. At least it gave me a chance to look at the Arcade and have a Chocolat shake at McDonalds.  When I did get there I couldn't find it - just a very swish cafe. So off to Castle Neuvo. Which was OK. The Arte Card got me in for free.

Back to Line 1 of the Metro, checked out the University Station - interesting. Quick stop at hotel and on to the National Train Museum. Of course, this is not "artistic" so it cost me 5E and I had to wait until it opened at 4pm. They had a Christmas Market - she same sort of cheap wooden shacks as in Cardiff. Somewhat depressing in the rain, with hardly anybody about. The trains were interesting. 2hrs there.

Back at Hotel processing photos and listening to Radio 4.

Friday 14th
Thought I would check out the train departure but I was too late - but it is there on the timetable at 9.50 so an early breakfast tomorrow. Took the Circumvesuvio to the end of the line - the port. Finally worked out that as a 1m guage line it would be completely separate from the standard guage stuff. Discovered the local fish market and market - very fishy!!

Today was the day for checking out the Metro Art. Only I left the water behind - it was proving difficult anyway, as the Art Stations were not clearly identified on the brochure. Short while on the internet while in the room and videos and brochures identified so I was wasting my time. Carried on anyway as I also booked on a talk at 1800.

Getting tired and hungry by 1715 so treated myself to 2 cheesburgers and a chocolate shake before rushing back to Dante for the talk. All in italian so left, to finish Museo and Garibaldi. Back to finish by 1930 local time. Dead Ringers on the radio.

Saturday 15th
Day on a train.
Departure was 9.50 only it was coming from Rome and was 20 mins late. OK and started going through Phillips files only I couldn't figure how to rename or delete them Chrome problems.

The route was alongside the sea for much of the time and as good as Exeter to Plymouth only a lot lot longer.

Got put on a ferry for a 30 min crosssing to Sicily where the train split with my section going to Syracusa and the other to Palermo. Then it got dark and the views vanished but I found the power point so played music on the phone and did solitaire.

Hotel was further from the station than expected but only 5 mins.

Sunday 16th
Syracuse. Wandered around the island.

Monday 17th
Morning wander around the shore side of Syracuse and then on to Pozzallo on a Railbus.

Tuesday 18th
Waiting all day for the ferry was interesting, considered taking a ride on the train but instead practised sitting in the sun exercising patience.
Ferry left at 9.30 and I was met in Valetta and taken to the event hotel. EurMed Regatta and then back to uk.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/4CXubH8oTRBwRMkdA

The Greek Week I Foiled 18/07/2018

Monday 9/07/2018
Got out in the aero (without foils) but that got pretty boring, so they suggestes the RS100 which caught me out on the gybes.I was not anticipating the power of the sail after the gybe and allowing the wing to bury, which caused spin out. With that sorted the asymetric was quite fun but hard to put up and down as the halyard required several pulls. Got out with the foils in the afternoon

Tuesday
Took Beer out on a cat Hobie 15 in the morning, she was very timid, wouldn't take the helm.
Afternoon in the Aero with a 5m sail (I think) got it up a couple of times and there were some pictures to prove it.

Wednesday
Went out in the 49er and disgraced myself by losing balanse while helming and capsizing,
Got out with the 9m rig and larger foils, had to wait most of the morning for the wind to fill in. Had some sustained runs and a mega crash which almost cost my hat. Was crashing out at the end of runs, decided it was holes in the wind or changes in direction. Looked at going windsurfin 141Euro needed 100 is deposit. wind not looking as good as promised.
Tried to get out in Aero but someone else was first, so took RS100 wind was really bad, big holes and changes in direction plus not that strong, decided it was not worth getting out in the Aero.d

Thursday
Racing an Aero with the foils attached is interesting, as is starting in a mixed fleet where they just barge. It was quite a wait for the wind but then I think I have cracked it. The secret is to be ahead of the curve and trim before it is needed, something like rudderless sailing. Quite happy with that. Wind built to 30 kts. Tried again with the 5m Aero rig but could not keep it flat so quickly came in.
Went windsurfing - turned out Club Vass had boards available. Blasted out a bit then struggled to waterstart so after that stayed in the shallows and practised starting. Think the rig was a bit small as I was only lifted in the gusts. The Club Manager took pity on me and offered me a free session tomorrow. Need a wetsuit, not enough movement in wet pants.

Friday
Race day took Aero without foils. Won first race with a port end start, as I thought wind was over there and line was biased. Second start drew gasps as I was on the line, wind had shifted and I had to beat to the boat. Then death rolled and the thig just kept going over. Believe I was second to finish but haven't seen results yet.
Got the foils on and went out. There were some 40kt gusts I think with big holes so came in and let others play. Went out in RS 200. Found photographer and did some foiling shots towards the beach.
Booked a Taxi share to airport and went to Harry's birthday dinner.

Saturday
Calm in the morning, well actually quite a good onshore by 10am. Dirk needed a crew for a cat, Hobie 16 so I went out with him and crewed. Helming was boring. The wind did its usual, crossshore filling in near the sewage works with shifts to down the valley and holes where the old wind remained. Two boats could be in 180 degree different wind and only 100yards apart. The holes were so distinct. Came ashore about 12.30.
Afternoon turned into the blaster I expected. Others had the Aero's out (and fairly quickly went down to 5m) but I decided to get my kit dry ready for the flight. Matt was dead keen to get the SB3 out and I agreed to crew, but it got cancelled, somewhat to my relief. Went and had a burger in town.

Sunday
At airport and considering how I get my baggage down to 15kg. Paid the extra 15 euro for this leg. No luggage booked for the second leg but got the cost back.
Afternoon spent at the Amsterdam Maritime Museum.