The Cruise

We are a little suprised at how small the plane is! Yikes, think it is going to be an interesting half hour down to montreal.

Arrived in Quebec early this morning. Looks like a beautiful city but we dont have any time to stop-going straight to the airport. Next stop boston for some retail therapy!

No we're not downunder but in Nova Scotia. We arrived this morning in thick fog and to the sound of the ships fog horn - very errie!

Got off the boat early and had a wander around town, bit of a small hicksville type of place. Think of Twin Peaks and you'll get the idea. We later came back to the boat to get a trolley tour of cape breton. This was okay, we visited an indian settlement that had set up a convention centre and a number of gambling institutes (reminded me of the last serious of Auf Weidhausen Pet!).

Theres not much here but we did get another scottish piper to meet us off the boat.

Hello from Newfoundland.

Well guess what? Florence (the hurricane, not florence from the magic roundabout) reared her ugly head and we had the worst journey overnight that I have ever experienced on a boat. We were literally being thrown from our beds so we didn't sleep much at all. Not to worry though as we have really found our sea legs and Joanne didn't resort to her 80's disco sweat bands (with secret magnetic chinese acupuncture things) at all.

We arrived in St Johns only 1 hour late and after practically squeezing through the entrance to the harbour we docked very quickly and were soon off the boat. There was a welcome party of two newfoundland dogs (slobbering of course) and the custom handsome mounty with a black stallion between his legs (couldn't make it up could I?), all to the sound of a scottish piper!

We have had a glorious day, very warm and we're about the head upstairs for a sail away drink. After that we're off to dinner and then we've been invited to a sail away party by the art auction lady...guess what? We've gone and bought another Wyland lucite sculpture..ohhpps. This one is huge and depicts a pod of dolphins within a wave! Sounds crass and probably is but we love it.

Anyway the picture today is me with a mermaid. Just like the cows in edinburgh (the guys from work will know what I mean). Here in Newfoundland they are painting mermaids and they will be auctioned off for charity (minus the one that has been stolen!!).

A big welcome from Nanortalik in Greenland and boy are we glad to be here! We had a horrendous trip across the Atlantic from Iceland. We had 20 feet swells and the boat groaned, creaked and shuddered for a whole two nights and a day. It was quite scary to see how a 77 ton cruise ship could be tossed about so much. Joanne took to her bed for the entire day and didn't surface until last night (just in time for dinner!).

Needless to say it was definately worth it. Greenland is simply stunning, we sailed through an icefield this morning and the icebergs are simply amazing (although I'm not convinced that they're not made from polystyrene). I've posted some photos already so you can see what its like. The weather has been beautiful and the whole town came out to greet us.

We're just about to set sail for Newfoundland and the captain has kindly informed us that hurricane florence is heading our way but he expects it to downgrade to a tropical storm soon so hopefully it won't affect us.

Hello everyone. Today we've been to the blue lagoon, a pool of chemically contaminated water from the geothermal powerstation. It's supposedly got healing powers and makes you look younger. It just made us feel slimey and dry! It was very hot and we got to put this white clay stuff on our faces to rejuvenate us.


Iceland has been fantastic and I'd recommend it to anyone. Its very like New Zealand but only a couple of hours flight from the UK. You've got the dramatic scenary, the geothermal activity, the people are very friendly and all speak English.

Tonight we set sail for Greenland and we're hoping its not as rocky a journey as last night - the boat really did move about quite a bit with the drawers in the room flinging open and shut all night.

Thanks for all of the comments - keep them up! I'll try and get some more photos posted but it very much depends on the boats satellite link.

Hello from Isafjordur which is a tiny town nestling under some fantastic mountains. We're really loving Iceland and you can see us stood here outside the museum with Janice holding up some drying fish (which stink!).

Hi everyone. We are now in iceland and on a tour of the fire and ice. I am stood next to a pseudo crater formed by water boiling through over flowing lava.

Now circling the north of iceland which lies in the distance like some mysterious island. We are just about to enter the arctic circle and you can see your breath in the air.

Hi from the faroe islands. Its very wet and all the houses have turfed roofs, must be murder to keep cut! Had lunch in burger king in the shopping mall that looked like an aircraft hanger. Now heading to iceland and its starting to feel cold.

Louise caught feeding fudge to a shetland pony next to the Jarlshof ruins in the Shetland Islands.

Just arrived in Lerwick. Its a beautiful day and we have an early start. We are visiting the Jarlshof ruins and going on a scenic drive across mainland. I hope the american passengers we met yesterday are not too disappointed as they thought we were docking in Limerick today!

Hello from rainy Bergen. This is mother Todd at the top of a mountain. It rains here 300 days of the year!

Bonjour. Just off for dinner, dressed as a penguin and delivering milk tray for da ladies!

First day at sea spent chilling and preparing for glitz and glamour. Here are the todds at pre-dinner drinkies!

Just left southampton and the captain has informed up that we are heading into a force 9 gale. Joanne has plastered herself in magnetic spots to ward off the sickness. I am hoping that she does not affect the ships navigation!!

Hi, we have just arrived on board and are busy exploring the ship. The ship appears to be a floating retirement home for senile americans and we're feeling a little underage!