bigbadblog

We are about mid way across the notorious Bay of Biscay now (46 Deg 19.36Min N, 06 Deg 42.03 West), and we are blessed with a calm sea and friendly winds of 15 knts with a good bit of Easterly so we are broad reaching on a heading of 192 degrees towards la Corunna. We expect to reach this northern Spanish port around mid day on Weds. Our exit from Camaret went smoothly (no hatches left open to douse any berths his time Philip Iceaxe!). We were soon under sail and looking at making the tide gate for the Raz de Sein but he wind encourage us to continue on our course to the West past the lighthouse and the final bouy marking the end of the Illes de Sein. We have been in close company with an Estonian boat named 'Tormalind' who are also sailing south to the Canaries. If you are following our track (see the top of the page on the blog site for the 'Where in the World is Tin Tin?), you may have noticed that we made an extremely accurate straight line over night... We were...

So, we set off at last on Friday evening having said good bye to John, Asley, and Steve of Seatech who have resolutely soldiered on in the face of one adversary after another from what should have been a simple engine swap. Full marks for perseverance and a professional job done. We motored out of go sport at 18:06 BST and headed to Newton creek on the Isle of Wight for a quiet anchorage, but found it pretty much full! An early rise next morning and we passed the Needles with the sun trying to burn through the mist surrounding them. Then on along the southern coast of England on a course to take us past the western edge of the traffic separation scheme so avoiding the requirement to cross at right angles to the ship traffic. This was all done in the night with the half moon illuminating us an closers ships and fishing vessels. We set up a 3 person watch programme of 4hrs on/4hrs off staggering Niall's watch so that he was never left alone (this being his 1st voyage). As the eve...

After two days of finishing off jobs own Thursday and Friday we managed to set sail at 6pm tonight. Actually I slept aboard on Thursday night along with Niall (a university friend of Kyle and Beccy's) who is having his first sailing experience in preparation for joining in the Atlantic crossing if he likes it. We have not gone very far tonight, stopping in a creek on the Isle of Wight just a little west of Cowes. Tomorrow we set off towards Brest hoping to arrive on Sunday morning in freshening winds. It may be that we decide to stay a while there until we can be sure of missing any gales as we cross the bay of Biscay. Today's jobs included; a). removing and refitting the Spinlock boom brake clutch on its side so that its movement is not restricted by the cockpit Bimini frame b). Fitting s new pulley to the foredeck directing the sheet that rolls the staysail in a better angle which should put less strain on the curler mechanism c). more stowing of rather large a...

As with most projects, the last things that need to be finished seem to be the ones that take the longest.  Currently this is tidying up the electronics associated with the engine installation. The new EVC connections have been established and we can now see engine data on the main navigation display, revs, temp, and pressure. What is proving difficult is to track down the source of the leaking current which means that something has a direct connection to the hull which shouldn't even the case! In a metal boat this is a significant hazard as over time this leakage causes the hull to lose material and get thinner... At the same time one display showing boat speed has decided to stop functioning, also not a good idea! We have now loaded all the charts and 300kg of edible stores, are very happy with the new freezer/fridge set up which gets the freezer down to -15C and the fridge to at least 0C.. Ice cream in the Pacific would seem to be more of a realistic proposition than a figme...

We didn't go to work on Tin Tin but stayed in Trotton doing other things. I helped Paul fit new headboards to beds then went out and worked on some art... Well what might pass for art in some people's eyes! I took the nicely planed and sanded scaffold plank, we will use as a passarelle, and inscribed TIN TIN in large letters by charring the surface of the wood. I also added the MMSI number, 235111559, which is her personal ID and can be used by other ships to make direct calls over the radio without broadcasting to all and sundry. It can also be entered in sites like MarineTraffic.com to search for Tin Tin's latest reported position using the AIS (Automatic Identification Signal) which is usually monitored up to 30-40 miles off shore, but won't report our position if we are further away than that from a receiving station. The very good news is that the engine has been running this afternoon and we will take her out for a sea trial on Saturday morning! All b...

Another eventful week of  extended deadlines and delays.... we thought that it might've been possible to set off with a grand party to wave us goodbye on Saturday.... sadly that will not be possible... But, looking on the POSITIVE side of it all, it has meant that we are now more prepared than we would otherwise have been.  We have;   refurbished the rear lazaret seals and latches so that they should be watertight and are now lockable.  supplemented the existing anchoring equipment by adding a new length of chain, 60m, together with 40m of anchor rope to create a new main anchor rode. This should allow us to anchor in depths of up to 30m. We removed the old 35m of chain from the forward chain locker, attached a new 45m anchor rope to make our secondary anchor rode, and relocated it to the starboard lazaret.  We have always commented on the slight list to Port due to the position of the generator and hope that putting the chain on the opposite s...

Well! In the end the new engine IS the show model from the Southampton boat show. It arrived at the yard on Tuesday and fitting should be complete for a relaunch of 'Tin Tin of St Mawes' on Thursday afternoon. Paul has completed the official vessel registration but found that he had to add 'of St Mawes' as the shorter name had already been taken. Last week, I spent several days helping prepare the boat and getting hold of various bits and pieces for the voyages ahead. These included; an extra fuel filter,  ocean rated Dan buoy,  2 litres of sun cream,  Tin Tin visiting cards,  4 x 20m mooring ropes,  new seals for the aft lazarettes,  fixing 5x 12v fans in cabins for the hotter climes,  removing all the dry food stocks left over from our earlier 'Tin Tin Around Britain' adventures,  removing the 35m of anchor chain ready for the 100m of replacement chain so that we have a chance of anchoring in some of the deeper anchorages we ...

Nervous excitement, apprehension, that feeling of 'Lets just get it started NOW!!' Last week I accompanied Paul and Anne to Saxon Wharf in Southampton for the relaunch of Tin Tin after a summer rest on land following our Tin Tin around Britain excitement in May and June. She was already in the slings when we arrived to inspect the new bimini and cover plate for the retractable bow thuster (which dropped off somewhere in the Western Isles!). The new bow thruster cover plate... BOLTED on! The new cover plate looks really well made and as if it certainly won't come off in a hurry. We searched for signs of where the original had been attached but found not a sign.. so we suspect that it was probably held on with ties and and hope... Views of the cockpit bimini  This was intended to be the 10 day the run up to the start of Tin Tin around the World  . Little did we know what would transpire over the next few hours.... After checking all seacocks were open ...

This is the book for you... if you are descended from Archibald or Jessie Orr Hill! My guess is that there are about 100 of us... so if you are (or if you are not!) you can preview and order a copy or two from the link below. Archibald and Jessie Orr Hill by Mark Stephens | Make Your Own Book This is a story about a family who are on the sidelines of (or perhaps are sidelined by ?) a successful business and their struggle to create a separate business life which involves adventure, tragedy and sadness and finally some success. 

As my friends on FB will know I have had a very relaxed year visiting Spain and France and doing a lot of sailing in Paul's new toy... TIN TIN. Here are two links to his blog... 1 and 2 This is my photographic record of the trip from Arzal-barrage up the coast of Brittany and across to Cornwall Last night in Arzal Arzal - Belle ile de Mer and meeting Uncle Nick and Aunty Helen Sunny, warm and relaxed.. despite the wheel still dropping off at inconvenient moments! Groix sunset, tallship, and meeting the 1st group of extra crew in Benodet Ile du Loc'h views with Tin Tin Flora from Ile St Nicholas  Ile de Penfret Ile St Nick summers evening Ushant to St Mawes is 35 leagues... sort of... but it IS due North! Arrived at destination to a St Mawes sunset.

Occasionally over the next four years I will record the actions of some of my ancestors during the First World War. 100 years ago today, on the 7th August 1814, a great great Uncle of mine, Charles Robert Stephens, enlisted with the Royal Engineers (Territorials) in Falmouth aged 42. He was comfortably employed in the Family rope making business and enlisted the second day after Great Britain declared war on Germany without telling his brother and business partner. This probably caused some tension between them because Charles was the company Engineer and in addition the family was prominent amongst the Cornish Quaker community. After building defensive positions around Falmouth his unit was attached to the Hampshires and Wiltshires and served in France building bridges and water supplies for trenches and hospitals. He was awarded the Military Cross in June 1917 having been twice mentioned in dispatches.

I have just found out how to post a links to books published via Blurb. Here is one I put together based around the memoires of my Scottish Grandmother. If you really would like a copy (or two?) you should be able to order through this link. Memories of Two Scottish Families by Transcribed and Edited by Mark Stephens | Make Your Own Book

scenes captured on my phone's camera today

Another gem from my genealogical work. Astonishingly my father was the fourth generation of eldest sons to die younger than their fathers. I am very happy to say that the next generation has at last stopped a 100 year decline in longevity! The last direct male ancestor on my father's side who lived longer than his father was;                           John Stephens IV who lived to 89 yrs (1786-1875). his son               John Stephens V lived 83 yrs (1819-1903) his son               John Gilbert Stephens lived 79 yrs (1862-1942) his son               John Sturge Stephens lived 63 yrs (1891-1954) his son.              John Christopher Stephens lived 47 yrs (1928-1975)

During the time away from my blogging I have progressively been sucked into the 'Who Do You Think You Are' fad and have been searching for an exciting history hidden away in my ancestral lines.  Try as I might, and I have tried, I have failed to spice up the family history with tales of murder, crime, infidelity (not much recorded anyway), heroics, fame, or any other form of notoriety!  But what of tragedy you may be asking? Until now I had come across one case, of a sad suicide, perhaps a story for another blog as it reportedly involves a passing acquaintance with the historian AJP Taylor, but that will need some more research before I write it up. However, I did come across a truly tragic story of the death of a 1st cousin twice removed. My great great aunt Gertrude Violet Todman was the youngest of seven children and was born in late 1879 in New Church Rd, Camberwell. Her parents were 40 and 38 when she was born but her father, who had worked as a die sinker, died soon afte...

I am cutting short my trip by a week so that I can attend my Aunt's funeral. I will write up the missing sections of the trip when I have settled back into UK life.

I have moved on round the Gaspé peninsular and down the coast to Prince Edward Island spending the night at a campsite by the water in Summerville. It was an interesting night as the winds got up and changed direction by 180 degrees due to the nearby hurricane which is now touching down in Newfoundland to the north of here. I am leaving PEI by ferry tonight and will look for somewhere to stay when I get to Pictou in Nova Scotia. I have a lot of driving to do if I am to see Halifax, then get the ferry from Digby to across the Bay of Fundy to St John tomorrow! I aim to drive the 980km from Saint John to Montreal late on Sunday so that I can catch a bus down to New York on Monday morning..... The map on the top IS up to date!

22nd. Drive to Yoho Nat Park, camping at Takakaaw Falls The next morning we jumped back in our overwhelmingly underpowered Dodge Caliber with a very strange automatic gearbox and headed for the group of National Parks that make up the Canadian Rockies. Our aim was to get to Yoho National park and get a place in the Takkakaw camp ground from where we could undertake a 'four boot' walk as described in the book called 'Dont waste your time in the Canadian Rockies'. Highway 1 didn't disappoint us with the scenery. We stopped in Golden for some coffee and perfect cinnamon buns and were entertained by the very un pc owner with tales of the two season, winter and construction, and the pros and cons of immigration! I spotted a Drascombe lugger on a trailer and chatted to it's owner. He was a very British expat, with an incredibly bulbous nose, and had found it for sale in California and brought it up to BC. We continued on to Revelstoke and then glacier National Parks...

  After leaving the BC Hydro campsite  we continued on the amazingly scenic Highway 99 for a short distance before heading south towards Lytton on Highway 12 as we crossed the river in Lillooet. Once again we were driving down a vast valley fringed with high mountains but this time the valley was covered in golden rolling fields of grazing punctuated with the occasional bright green irrigated oblong or circle. The soils looked very light and erodible and the river had cut a deep gouge through the loess leaving pale cliffs with relatively flat areas either side. This road gets closed in winter because of landslides and avalanches and there was a team clearing a small rock fall from one particularly unstable portion.  At Lytton the Fraser river is joined by the Thomson river and there are a proliferation of white water rafting companies offering the thrill of a lifetime...  We turned north on Highway 1 and after about 15 mins drive stopped at a small resort, at White Canyon, which also...

Dear all, I realise that I am not keeping up with my travels very well... But now I have added a map which shows where I have been and where I am at the moment... Almost anyway! I have just spent four days with my cousins Isabel and Anil in Toronto which was a great place to relax a bit and plan the final push to the Atlantic coast. I shall be in Québec on Saturday after spending two nights in Montreal. I hire a car in Québec and will do a weeks sightseeing covering as much ground as possible but aiming to include the biggest tides in the worl around the Bay of Fundy, Halifax and Prince Edward Island as well as a drive around the Gaspé Peninsular.. Keep watching this space!