George Clark Letters (5)

Off Cape St Vincent, Monday afternoon, 3/4/76

Dear Father

Just a line to let you know we are going on well. We left Southampton on Thursday at 2.45. On Friday at noon had run 221 miles, Sunday 269 miles, today 263 miles, having 120 miles to make for Gibraltar, where I hope to get ashore to post this letter. I never ailed anything though it was queer to have to get hand up to over back to steady one so that dressing became possible, and when washing over the lavatory basin one’s head now and then went rather too far ahead when the ship rolled over. However, I am quite at home now, and we are living like fighting cocks. 6 or 7 courses to dinner and meat and curries etc. to every meal. The Steward rouses all at 6. with a cup of coffee and biscuits. Breakfast at 8. Lunch at 11. Dinner at 1. Tea at 5. Supper at 8. and it is an awful hungry job to cross the Bay of Biscay, oh. We have seen whales since yesterday, dolphins playing all about the ship and porpoises turning somersaults for our amusement. There are 120 officers and men on board, so it not so small a ship. We signalled our number to several places yesterday, Lisbon Rock, Cape Finisterre, Bishop’s Rock etc. Have had grand views of the French, Spanish and Portuguese coasts. Several of our party are bad with sickness. Kept all right myself. Glad of awnings over deck. Nose getting peeled, always hungry, such are our symptoms at present. I trust you and mother and the babe are all well and hearty and keeping yourself quiet. Aunt Emma and Dredge were very pleased at our visiting them. I got a splendid binocular glass when in London, it shows houses at 25 to 30 miles very distinctly, and is much praised by various gentlemen on board. Hoping to be able to send you another account further on.

I remain with love to all

Your affectionate son

George J Clark