In Mallorca at last!
This part was remarkably simple, no canceled flights or lost luggage just a little trouble finding my shuttle driver at Palma airport.
After a stunningly beautiful drive through Switzerland, over a high snowy pass and down into the “lowlands” back to the airport, I boarded a Swiss Air flight and took off for the sunny south. It was with some sadness that I said goodbye to Francois and Ursula as they have been truly wonderful hosts and friends to this wandering sailor without a ship.
I arrived just as the Sun was setting into the Mediterranean. As we drove into Palma from the airport the setting sun silhouetted not one but TWO sets of lofty spars. It seems that the Picton Castle has company at the dock. So at least I know “my ship has come in”.
Tomorrow morning I will try to get me and my stuff over to get on board at last. Doesn’t seem real just yet. Hopefully I can get squared away without too much trouble and begin trying to remember all 130 working lines on the ship 
Next post may be after I’m aboard or I’ll edit this one.
Thanks for reading.
KJ
November 10th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Bon Voyage, eh? - is there a nautical equivalent of “Break a leg” ?
with respect to the other recent posts:
Switzerland sounds lovely, cancelled flights & lost luggage are a bummer, the new notebook is nifty, and $350 is outrageous for a malaria shot - but beats getting malaria ;).
The incident report on the previous incident (which was quite an interesting read) does sound like a shakedown issue, so hopefully you’ll be safe as houses (and where the blazes does that expression come from?)
Cheers, STJ
November 12th, 2008 at 5:15 am
Not even 24 hours after you left it started raining here in Switzerland, and it rained ever since … down here in the lowlands. This morning, the Flüela Pass was still open, although it required snow chains. In the meantime, it probably closed down entirely. By this evening, they expect the snow line to decrease to 800 m.a.s.
You were one lucky fellow!
Have a safe trip!
–François