That crazy law gets even crazier

One of the oddest trials involving Tricky Dicky’s drugs laws that I’ve read about in recent times – very recent, in fact, this month - comes from upmarket, educated Cambridge of all unlikely places.

As regular readers will know, I don’t favour the notion that our elected elders and betters know more about what’s good for us that we do.

I don’t do drugs, as the expression goes.

No appeal

I don’t take or smoke that sort of thing because they/it have/has no appeal.

 The decision has nothing to do with whether some politician of little life experience makes it illegal. I believe that's how it is with most adults.

And I don’t not do it because a corrupt prosecution sentenced me to 19 years in prison for smuggling drugs on my swallowing-the-anchor voyage that came no closer to Britain than part-way up the Bay of Biscay.

I am sure the prosecution realised I couldn’t possibly have done it, but still pursued their dirty work. The drugs laws make prosecutions easy.

The not-so-bright jury swallowed the nonsense and I was sentenced to nineteen years, two or three more years than the Lockerbie airline bomber was serving.

That madman killed 243 passengers and 16 crew in the destruction of Pam Am Flight 103 over Scotland. … Continues on the blogs for my ocean adventuring book, Sailing to Purgatory, at
http://sailingtopurgatory.com/index.php/feeds/435-that-crazy-law-gets-even-crazier

327 days alone and Jeanne's still in the grip of danger

Our very brave 77-year-old lady circumnavigator is nearly there, nearly home, but getting rather impatient with disobliging weather.

As if a maths teacher would ever show impatience, but Jeanne Socrates notes in

Nereida's ship's log, 'ETA ... who knows?

'Totally dependent on winds coming up...'

In perfect conditions, she notes, it would be just five or six days off ...

Unlikely change

'But that is unlikely given present weather forecasts of the High in our way and then a Low developing near the coast.' As many of her pupils have probably said often enough, 'Can't do more than my best.'

And after an estimated 27,238 nautical miles, on this her 327th day of being alone out there on the Great Wide Open, she notes, 'I really want to finish! ASAP!'

Jeanne could be home by early next week, and yet - as with singlehanded sailing - her greatest danger will be present till just about the last moment until she finally steps off Nereida.

She adds, 'Making good speed but it won't last! Thin overcast (sky) - getting brighter.' Which she realises means the wind won't last, which means any speed is unlikely.

Jeanne could be home by early next week, and yet - as with singlehanded sailing - her greatest danger will be with her till just about the last moment.    Continues on the blogs for my ocean adventuring book, Sailing to Purgatory, at 

http://sailingtopurgatory.com/index.php/feeds/434-327-days-alone-and-jeanne-s-still-in-the-grip-of-danger

Amelia Earhart tells a wonderful story wonderfully

WHEN I BLOGGED THE OTHER DAY about the search for aviation pioneer Amelia Earheart and her crashed flight, I really didn’t expect to find anything that she had written.

I’m pleased to say there’s plenty out there. Just ask Google.

 My local library, the excellent Surbiton Library, had a copy of her ’20 hours, 40 minutes,’ and it is really well worth reading.

She comes across as a most pleasant person, modest and determined, and a human that didn’t fear changing the view back in last century’s twenties about what her gender could do.

And how she succeeded.

Falling in love

Her book shows her falling in love with aircraft – her descriptions of the various planes she encountered are well worth reading.

 She learned to fly and soon crossed oceans, going further and further … until a bit too far for the capability of aircraft back then.

There is plenty by her and about her online.

For an insight into this extraordinary human, this pioneering woman, her written words in ’20 hours, 40 minutes,’ are well worth consuming.

Back in my youth, I tried to fly. A young family friend in Central Otago, the son of sheep farmers, invited me to come out on his Tiger Moth. Continues on the blogs for my ocean adventuring book, Sailing to Purgatory, at
http://sailingtopurgatory.com/index.php/feeds/433-amelia-earhart-tells-a-wonderful-story-wonderfully