Later Update

Had a very nice Indian and we started to make our way to the ferry terminal, after the usaual queue and papers/papers for the customs and passport controls we were on the ferry.

On the ferry Cris and Gareth went down to the sauna and got all the road dirt out of the skin, it certainly was a sauna with a difference,  we were steaming away in the sauna putting more water on the hot stones, yet just a foot away the ship was barging it's way through thick sea ice, that made the most horrible grinding noise after the sauna  it was time to eat, we had booked a table for 6 in the buffet but Cris decided that a one course was cheaper in the Alacarte part of the resteraunt so he cancelled that table and we went to the other only to find a very hassled waiter say sorry we are full, so Cris had to eat humble pie and go get the original table. Fod was very good and the sweet trolley needed three attempts to fully appreciate the chocolate bits (that my story anyway).  After that it was a couple of beer at the bar and watch the dancing girls on the dance floor.

The nights sleep was disturbed by the ship shaking from going through thick sea ice, from 2 am till 6.30 am it was a constant bang, grind, bump, enough to make the whole ship shudder. Damn good job these ferries have specially strengthened bows to deal with it. Talking to others it seems that only ships of this type are allowed in the Baltic in the winter.

In the morning Tallin looked cold and grey, anyway Gareth had a light breakfast due to too many chocolate bits the night before. On dry land it was Papers/papers again and we were met outside customs by the Estonia ice sailing sec who took us to the hotel. For those who want to talk to us we are at Hotel Dzingel, Manniku tee 89. 11213 Tallinn. Tel +372 6105311  fax +372 6105245. Email hotel@dzingel.ee  web site www.dzingel.ee  also thos who want to text my mobile can do so on +447771621249 hopefully I may be able to respond on the ice!!

Later we drove some 40 mins to Paldiski and had quick look at the ice, well there is plenty of it and the location is easy to get to with a large area of grass to spread out on.  The area was a closed area in the soviet days and the town was a Russian submarine base, the place looks pretty dire even now as the scap men are there making huge piles of scrap metal from all the old stuff left behind. With one hotel with six rooms and one bathroom (and it was booked up anyway) we knew we had made the right choice in the hotel at Tallinn. The hotel has a security guard on the car park and a very nice receptionist who speaks English is helping us out. Cris Williams and Hans have gone to paldiski to meet the ferry and rob Shuter, and any one else who made it. I am typing this up via a couple nice Estonian beers.  Iam noe going to attempt to upload this as the hotel computer is off line, hopfully you will not hear me swearing when it doesn't work!!

Update due tomorrow pm 28/2/03