When I woke up this morning, at 5:15AM, I had something on my mind. Mostly the fact that we are going home. We'd had another long night of heavy rain, thunder and lightning. All this weather, presumably warm air coming over the cool sea brings Maine's famous fogs. We are homeward bound so lots to remember, getting the boat ready for Ian and Fiona who arrive shortly to sail around for the month we are gone.

Anyway, the taxi was waiting, blowing his horn and in the early morning rain we started our long trip home. Trains and boats and planes with the odd dinghy ride and bus chucked in will get us to sunny Cardiff.

Maine, so far has been interesting. Rumour has it that before July there is a likelihood of fog. However, reality is that "likelihood" is actually a dead cert as evening and morning it's like living in a box, a giant Tupperware box or indeed, in Newcastle where I hear they often have fog on the Tyne.

The fog is so dense we have to take bearings on the dock or boat when going to and fro. Or indeed, back and furrit. With a strong tide of up to three or four knots running through the anchorage we need some accurate tidal offset planning to get us to the right place. Otherwise, you might just drift away.

You also have to be sure to climb onto the right boat. Island Packet must have had some very good years. Of the 15 or so boats moored here, 4 are IP's and there are two more on the slips.

So, transported here to Boston's Logan airport we are in the "all dressed up and nowhere to go" phase of international travel. Gone are the days of company sponsored luxurious lounges, free booze and lay flat seats. A Big Mac and a flavourless coffee are the order of the day while sitting on hard plastic seats with the masses prior to boarding cattle class for 8 hours with your knees up your nose while watching grainy movies on a screen the size of the cardboard sandwich they just chucked you.

Anne is off wandering, splashing money around at the various booths peddling manicures, re-vitalised skin tone and double chocolate muffins.

Only another 23 hours to go................

S&A


Prize to readers who spot and name the songs and their artistes! (Can you tell I'm a shade bored?)