Royal Research Ship James Cook berthed at Ocean Terminal, Leith

Ahhhh, I arrived in Scotland after a glorious week in sunny Spain. The flight was over before it began - we had just enough time to take off from Cardiff - serve tea and then land. The plane flew right over the ship as we came in to land - shame you can't use cameras during takeoff/landing!!!! RRS James Cook is berthed next to the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Royal Yacht Britannia

The problems had already begun...............................

Firstly my Taxi took me to the wrong hotel same name different location. Only problem was the hotel couldn’t get me a taxi so I had to walk for 10 minutes to the other hotel with all my baggage!!!

More Problems.........

My ENG1 (Medical Certificate) and Sea Survival Certificate (For launching life rafts etc) were back in Southampton and are a mandatory requirement for sailing. Unfortunately they could not be obtained in the short period of time before we sailed and I spent a manic morning trying to arrange them to get shipped to Scotland. In the end it became apparent that I would have to resit my medical - my sea survival certificate could be reissued in Glasgow. Arranged my medical for Tuesday and got on with preparing the ship for sea.

More Problems.........

The power supply on the ship did not give the power output the British Geographical Survey guys needed for their rock drill so our ROV power unit had to be shipped by courier overnight

Royal Yacht Britannia (Left), German Tall Ship Alexander Von Humboldt (Middle) and RRS James Cook (Right)

Run Ashore

A port call wouldn't be the same without socialising!!! Went to the Port of Leith pub :-s ............. Got a T-shirt from there!!!

RRS James Cooks meets the Germans and the Pharos

On Monday a German Tall-ship berthed next to us and I quickly made my way around to their ship. Managed to get a t-shirt from them. The ship was sponsored by becks and hull and sails were painted green. The captain was on deck with a bottle of becks chilling. Nice Ship.

RRS James Cook through the Rigging of Alexander Von Humboldt

Alexander Von Humboldt

During cruise preparations another ship - Pharos - entered our dock owned by Northern lights and built in Poland like our ship - hence why they look so similar. This ship was called the Pharos and is owned by the Northern Light Board for maintaining lighthouses/buoys. Went and picked up my second T-shirt in as many days!!!

Pharos - Northern Light Board Ship used for maintainning Lighthouses and buoy. Made in Poland just like RRS James Cook

Ocean Terminal at Night

Tuesday saw me travel across Scotland to get my medical. Great fun - not. I spent the entire day traveling across Scotland for a 15-minute medical and then back to the ship. Bag-Pipe player on the keyside next to the German Tall ship - surreal.