Riding along on the crest of a wave.

"Riding Along on the Crest of a Wave (and the sun is in the sky)"




So, it was the holiday we had waited almost a year for. Not the first cruise but the first one sailing from Southampton. On board the Oceana and after a couple of rough days through the Bay of Biscay we arrived at Funchal, Madeira just before dawn. What a sight from our cabin window. The island looked like a glorious, giant, fat, Christmas tree, lit up against the pre dawn sky. The sun rose into a beautiful cloudless sky an we were off to experience the delights of this pretty island. The standard ride on the cable car taking in the botanic gardens with giant angel trumpet plants, beautiful, but deadly if ingested, and the ride down on the toboggan.
"Scream if you want to go faster"
More sightseeing and then finishing off with the obligatory wine tasting at Blandy's. More of a brandy than a wine but it certainly had a kick to it.
Back on the ship, playing posh, dressing for dinner. Excellent cuisine and enjoying the evening entertainment of a fairly decent Beatles tribute band and a "resident" band at our favourite hang out the "Yacht and Compass".
We arrived at La Palma the following lunchtime, in the wake of a storm. All tourists were confined to the port of Santa Cruz as the island was on yellow alert for landslides. We wandered around the town enjoying the Canarian sunshine and this relatively unspoilt and quiet resort against the backdrop of the volcanic landscape. The mist was gathering over then mountains so we returned to the ship and sat on deck watching the clouds gather with the distant roar of thunder, waiting to see the spectacular flashes of lighting across the top ridges of the volcanoes.
We set sail again on our way to sunny Gran Canaria. A old farmer from Wiltshire and an old farmer from Cornwall were amongst our travelling companions. Both enjoying a few too many gin and tonics by the pool, by the looks of things. Wrinkled from years of working outdoors and brown from the sun. They were always arguing about who knew the most about tractors (yes, honestly). Saying they were born on a tractor and such like, trying to out do one another. The Wiltshire farmer, looking for some additional support, (and more drunk than the other), turned to me and said "tell im you got a combine 'arverstor, ask 'im if 'es got one" I laughed at this bizarre request and told him there wasn't much call for combine harvesters in Liverpool, at which point they both burst out laughing saying something about Liverpool people always having an answer. I honestly didn't think it was that funny!
The visits to Gran Canaria and Lanzarote reminded me of how much I like these, fascinating, weird, volcanic islands with their farms reliant on the lava ash to retain moisture, aloe vera, cactus and permanent warm climate. We sat in the beach in Arricefe and of course two minutes later I was paddling in the Atlantic Ocean feeling the sand between my toes and the cool water of the waves lapping against my ankles before soaking the bottom of my skirt. I looked like a typical Brit abroad, but I didn't care, I had to make sure I enjoyed that feeling before we set sail again.
Sitting on the beach, watching the waves, I noticed something different, concentrating hard I tried to see what it was. Then, I realised, plop, plop, plop. It was dolphins, jumping, their distinctive arched jumps and black against the steel blue sea. This made my whole trip worthwhile. A wonderful sight to see them so close, but far enough away to enjoy their natural environment. No camera, no pictures but a sight I always treasure, whenever I have had the privilege to see theses amazing creatures.
Sailing to Lisbon we were treated to this wonderful sight a number if times. I suppose it was highly entertaining for others when I was in the pool and the captain announced a sighting on the starboard site. I shot out if the pool, like A rocket, dripping wet and ran to the side of the ship to see them.
The dolphins came quite close to the ship, putting on their own show then disappearing off into the ocean wilderness that is home. Anyone seeing how fast they swim, how high they jump and how far they travel would realise how wrong it is to coop them up in a man made pool with no where to go. It is like sending them to prison and locking them in a tiny cell. Swimming with dolphins is OK if they are in the ocean and choose to make friends before going on their merry, lively way but never in a man made marina.
We were due to sail into Lisbon just after dawn. We set the alarm and went to the front of ship to see the magnificent sight of bridge over the river Tagus and the sun rising behind the statue of Jesus. Lisbon didn't disappoint us with its magnificent buildings, churches, and tuc tuc taxis.
We sailed back to Southampton with the Bay of Biscay unnaturally calm. Waves taking on a herringbone pattern and many sightings of dolphins. There was a rumour of a whale sighting, but this was unconfirmed, although they are often seen around the Bay of Biscay. I am sure if they wanted to be see I would have seen them.