Off to Madeira

Our Barbara's approximate route from Southampton City Cruise Terminal, Berth 101, down the R. Test, through Southampton Water and out through the Solent before joining the busy* shipping lanes through the English Channel and out into the Atlantic before crossing the Bay of Biscay.

Black Watch though will undoubtedly follow a much smoother path than the shaky one I've drawn.

* Busy is possibly an understatement; below is a typical view of the marine traffic in the western approaches of the English Channel:

It's Thursday morning and Barbara & Black Watch (and a few other people I've yet to meet) have crossed the Bay of Biscay, mostly at night, so maybe I didn't miss all that much?

Here in Fairford on Thursday morning, it's very cold, well below freezing. Black Watch meantime is passing Vigo where it's a balmy 12°C. At least it's sunny as it was yesterday:

 A little ahead of Black watch are two P&O cruise ships (the two blue boats), the MV Arcadia (about 2,000 passengers) and MV Ventura (about 3,200 passengers).

Both ships are also heading for Madeira so the port in Funchal is likely to be rather busy on Saturday when all three ships arrive. Hopefully, I should arrive there as well, if I can remember my passport !!!!!