The Weihnachtsmarkt opens daily from 10am (11am on Sundays) to 8pm until 23 December.
Beam downTake the DFDS Seaways (08705 333 000; ) overnight ferry from Harwich to Cuxhaven on Wednesday, Friday or Sunday at 4pm, arriving at 9.45am the next morning Bremen is a one-hour coach ride away Fares for foot passengers start at £58, or £78 with a cabin The coach to Bremen costs £12 return. A historic setting, carol singers and organ concerts, stalls selling traditional toys, the smell of roasted chestnuts, Lebk?n (gingerbread biscuits) and Gl?n (mulled wine) wafting through the air – if this doesn’t get you in the mood for Christmas, nothing will. Why go now?The Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market) opens in Bremen on 28 November. For rafting on the Hiwassee river, contact Harold Webb at Webb Brothers Float Service (001 423 338 2373).. As soon as I crossed the line and the scrutineers had come on board to do their checks, they both gave me a big hug. The rest of the shore crew should be touching down at the airport about now Two people there to meet me were Thierry and Bernard. Too early for all but one of my shore crew, who’s already in town, to meet me.

Not long now.Thursday 14 November V&A docks, CT, 10.00I crossed the line at 03.27. My mast headlights and strobe were blown off by the storm in the first week and I only noticed they were gone when I went up the mast last week Awkward waves now, the boat still groaning Music volume up Wind likewise. Luckily I’d taped my emergency navigation lights to the bow earlier. Moments like these make it.Wednesday 13 November In sight of Table Mountain, 19.10I saw the first signs of the coast last night – a huge container passed within a couple of miles.

I’ve also just seen a great wandering albatross, unmistakable Its wingspan as it came close was about the width of Pindar Huge, stately, and old I hope my memory is kind to me after this race. It was so close I could see the curved part of its back was the length of this boat, 60ft It must have been way bigger with its tail It took a dive as I went past Beautiful, fascinating, huge, scary And nearly end of race – again. She moaned louder so I turned up the CD.11:36I’ve just avoided – by a few metres – the one thing I’ve been dying to see all trip The biggest whale I’ve seen in my life. Pindar is creaking and moaning but I’ve told her there’s not far to go, hang in there. There’s no way I’m going to sit back and stop working after all I’ve been through.

Or maybe he’s heard the one about me lounging round in a bikini If only. It was established in the 1930s to manage the power of this mighty river. “I will regret signing that deal for the rest of my life,” he says sadly.Harold has strong views about most things – not least of which is the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the body that controls most of the waterways in the Tennessee Valley. Harold would not be prosecuted for obstruction if he agreed not to sue over the bridge.