Arrived in the Canary Islands this morning, the city of Santa Cruz on

the Island of Tenarife.  This is near the airport when Alice and Kim

arrive on Oct 28.  It was a very gentle crossing with no winds over 10

kts.  

We were 4 days in Azores at a good dock, so we got a nice rest and

enjoyed the food, the people and a wonderful Island.   We were unable to

get work done on the boat because the bottom paint we needed had to be

shipped by boat from Lisbon and would take 2 weeks.  -  We did clean the

boat, laundry and small repairs and fuel up 1706 liters for 1959 NM from

Nuuk.  Fuel here $1.12 Ca per liter.  Food and wine cheaper than home.

Left Azores Oct 15 shortly before dark.  4 nights and 3 days to Madeira.

We don't mind going at night because we get enough sleep for the most

part and we prefer to arrive at a new place in the morning.  This gets

us through immigration etc  and situated either at a dock or anchored

with plenty of daylight to spare.  Our first 24 hours was fairly rough

but wind slacked and we had a nice trip.

No dock space at Madeira, but a good anchorage with a short distance to

row to shore.  After sorting things out we cleared in and had a big

breakfast.  Walked a bit about town, got drenched in rain then bought an

umbrella and hired a taxi for an Island tour which was great.  Very busy

tourism here but nice, lovely people.  Warmer yet here, we love it.  Oct

20 check email again, get more money, all Euros now.  Got some new

fishing line because we must have grabbed a big one that took line,

lures and everything.  Boys got souvenir wine and rum etc., another big

meal then, up anchor at 16:20z to fetch the Canaries.

At Madeira we were as far east as we will get for some time.  We will go

4,000 nm south now, 68 degrees of latitude, before easting very much

more.  We turned around 15 miles south of the Bering Strait on July 31st

at 169 degrees west and are now at 17 degrees west, we've come east 152

degrees, or 42% the way around the world longitudinally. 

Calm weather and flat seas, 2 nights and 1 day to Canaries from Funchal,

Madeira.  Lost our fishing tackle again, but no fish.  Not as much rain

here and not as much green, but a lovely place.   We hope to get work

done here, bottom paint gone from ice, railing bent against icebreaker

and canopy torn off in a storm.  But the main excitement about the

Canaries is Alice and Kim are coming for a visit.  We have missed them

and we won't let Alice work while she is here.

Thank you everyone for your cheers and prayers, it's nice to have you as

companions on our expedition.