“Ice Maiden”, this fabulous and genuinely historic original painting was sold in some secrecy this time last year in part because Tracy Edwards wanted a second large painting as a gift for her sponsor.
Month: January 2018
Who Discovered America?
The large Chinese ships, some said to be 400 feet (121.92 m) length overall, impressive though they were would break up in a heavy sea, they simply were not structurally strong enough.
However smaller Chinese ships undoubtedly made very long voyages and regularly as did the Polynesians, Arabs, Vikings and others.
It is known King Solomon traded by sea with India, a colony of Jewish folk lived there until recently.
The anchor stones found off California are similar to the type known to have been used by the Phoneticians who voyaged extensively on the Atlantic founding colonies along the western seaboard as far North as Cornwall, maybe further so may well be of Chinese origin.
The ancient Egyptians may have reached South America and almost certainly rounded Africa… Columbus’ knew for certain ‘America’ existed.
Ship “Ferriera” departing Falmouth,
‘Last Departure’. I am prompted by a Portuguese acquaintance and others on Facebook to write this and reshow the is fine somewhat ‘lost’ painting, it went to a restaurant in Dubai with several others, a favourite of mine, I’ve never heard of it since …
The old Portuguese ship “Ferriera” departing Falmouth, her last departure with a ignominious cargo, scrap iron.
It looked like the last chapter in a story that at one time had been glorious, her time was almost ‘up’; it was not.
Hardship at Sea
Sir, “You raise some interesting points which all of us who sail very small craft long distances have opinions on !
I agree with you in that there were many abuses and scandals at sea with regard to the treatment of men; and there were good men like Samuel Plimsol (you know the origin of ‘The Plimsol Line’ on most of today’s ships?) who campaigned for sailors rights.
However the general drift was towards better conditions.
Red Sails
You might enjoy my sharing with you an answer to a question from Dave Goree in the USA?
Red sails:
As far as I know the colour goes back to the days of working coast sail.
I was told by an old boy some 50 + years astern, who had spent his life under working sail, much of that without an engine, because coasters furl sail so often the sails benefited from special protection.
Heavy weather today
A strong gale, cold wind and rain is sweeping Brittany today… One of the crew shown in this detail from my painting was Olaudah Equiano alias Gustav Weston who sailed on HMS Racehorse rated as both A B and Surgeon’s mate. See if you can spot him in the better quality detail on my web … Read more
Sorely Tried
A somewhat delayed reply to Chris Fagg. You can find his original post, 27 December on my Facebook page, (<hyperlink here) still worth sharing though, enjoy.
Chris Fagg wrote
Sharing replies: Of my previous post a ‘nautical’ friend of many years, Chris Fagg wrote of the photograph caption, “…hey, if THAT view is N x NW – this world’s in bother ! HaHa”. Chris Fagg has a good point so I’ll reveal some of my thinking and the reason for my chutzpah. I … Read more
Driving into rainbows
Steered N by N W this morning, driving into rainbows. The first half hour from Castelnau de Montmiral was through the beautiful valley of the Vere. Very wiggly, squiggly roads through the gorge of the Vere, past the dizzyingly rock perched chateau and village of Bruniquel to the the Aveyron Gorges, all are a … Read more
January 1, 2018
At Castelnau de Montmiral January first, awoken to a beautiful morning at Castelnau de Montmiral by a 09.30 phone call from a potential friend and client; still a fine start to the day, well worth getting up. This 13 th century gateway, a fine example including a firehole, portcullis slip and evidence of the original … Read more