Miffa visited Wales

We have done more than 2.000 miles in UK by now. Father Bunny got a new car, a nice DS3, a tiny car, but quite nice.

Today we're in the British Riviera (yes, they're crazy) but we have visited very nice places like Wales.

Check some pictures I took in a medieval town

Shooting day

Umeko with the Camera. She was the Camera Assistant
From Palamos to Illes Medes, very close to the coastline

After re-fueling in Sant Feliu de Guixols we headed south to Tossa de Mar

Tossa de Mar, we got closer as we could to shoot "damn tourist" on the beach

Father bunny is producing a short video that will show some of the best places in Costa Brava. Of course I am the executive producer and the original idea and all the shooting plan has be done by me.

I planned to shoot the coast from the air with an helicopter first and them from the sea. Unfortunately that will add 4.500,00 € an hour and I prefer to use my budget for other
expenses.

I sent Mem and Umeko with him and the Camera to shoot some of the most beautiful spots from the sea with a speed boat. Unfortunately for them the wind was blowing North with an intensity of 5 and some nasty waves that like to splash people when trying to go the same direction.

I placed a GPS logger in his equipment and It seems that they did their work despite the conditions. But I will need to clarify the over 100 € restaurant bill he gave me for a three person dinner in Sa Tuna.

MOB or BOB - Man Over Board or Bunny Over Board.

"Mayday, Mayday, this is Miffa, Miffa, Miffa,
our position is 41°57'40.07"N 3°14'20.73"E
we lost our sailor Miffo, we start a BOB manouver
to recover her from the sea..." DRAMATIZATION

A Mayday situation is one in which a vessel, aircraft, vehicle, or person/bunny is in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance. (Wikipedia dixit)

Of course Miffo wasn't in danger at all, but she insisted in checking our Emergency Procedure (EP) and FB's ability to make front to such dangers.

FB and Miffo emerge from water and they're ready to be lifted by the rescue helicopter

Figueres, Cadaques, Port Lligat and Cap de Creus

Together with our friends from Cafemiffy we visited these famous and beautiful places in Costa Brava. It was a hard journey that started early in the morning.

Our first stop was Figueres were the Dali museum is located. It was the first time for both of us, so we decided to hire a professional guide for the visit.

It was well worth of it because Dali’s art complexity and all the weird things that you would miss is you’re not a real fan or just it’s your first visit.

From there we moved to Cadaques were we visited their center and we had Paella. A very nice dinner but may be too much Paella for us. The road from L’Escala to Cadaques is very curvy and you will need at least 30 minutes to arrive there. During summer time the traffic there is heavy and there’s no so much parking space (expect to park quite far, if you can park).

Next destination, Dali’s house in Port Lligat. I was there once sailing and I must admit that Dali knew about nice spots. He built a –surrealist house- joining several small fisherman houses. We were lucky because it’s closed on January. It was the last day…

Weather wasn’t fine and a big storm with heavy rain and wind surprised us. Well, this is another “nice” attraction of this area close to Cap de Creus.

If you want to see some pictures you can go here, but I really recommend visiting it.

This is what you just see when entering inside

Almost no day light, bad weather...

- should we return home, I asked my father.
- Surely not Miffa this is perfect for visiting Cap de Creus’ lighthouse.

He was right but it wasn’t nice outside. Now I know why sailors are afraid to cross this Cape with heavy “Tramuntana” wind.

Merce 2008 with our new friends

As I have told you many times I have been travelling around the world quite a bit with my parents but I have been visiting my new city only in a few occasions. When Chairoko and Kiiroko arrived to my home things got a little better but still almost every month we were travelling out of the town.

Today it’s a Major festivity in Barcelona “La Merce”

From the official website

“Every year, around the 24th September, Barcelona bids farewell
to the summer with its Festival celebrations. This year’s
programme includes more than 600 events, which will take place
in just four days.

An explosive programme where tradition – giants, dragons,
human castles – lives side by side with the most
contemporary artistic offerings: independent music, street
theatre, all kinds of public participation.”

Unfortunately I am very busy with a new business I have decided to create with Chairoko and Kiiroko but our new friend from Japan, Melanie has just arrived and we were impatient to show her Barcelona

Draculina , who never regrets to go out and to party, proposed to take her friends - Chairoko and Kiiroko as well as her new friend, Melanie – to taste the Merce 2008.

Mother Bunny accepted that Draculina takes out her friends , but not overnight. So, they got up quite early today and they took the bikes to have a look at the different events in the city. They went to “ Parc Ciutadella “, where a few events for small kids were going on, and then directly to the beach. They had a stop in front of the Hotel Arts, Draculina´ s recommendation for Chairoko and Kiiroko´s parents. Then, they went to beach. Draculina wants to get suntanned, actually, she wants to be as dark as her new friend Melanie.

They also had a look at a huge paella, which was being cooked on the street.

Chairoko and Kiiroko said “what a pity that our parents were not here to taste Paella too”

Draculina had a short bath and then they all ate paella while me –at home- was thinking about how to solve the Paella problem.

Happy Ibiza, happy Miffa, I am Miffa, I am at Ibiza

Chairoko and Kiiroko at "Mercado de las Dalias"

This was our song during past weekend. In my previous visit to this island with Mother Bunny I learnt about its magnificent history and I enjoyed places, colours, people, and hotels, everything a nice island can offer you.

But when you have to deal with an angry Father Bunny who hates crowds, but still has a will to go there, because he was evil during sonar festival – and when you play evil whilst in a bunny relationship sure you’ll pay- things surely will go in the wrong way.

And so they went: plenty of people, outrageous prices, the biggest rip-offs on earth, and rude people in our hotel.

Anyways Draculina – who got a severe punishment from Mother Bunny, cause her sonar party- Chairoko and Kiiroko and me did enjoy a lot our weekend in the white island. And, still the inner part has the old charm that Ibiza had in the old times.

Holy bunny, all those vessels are willing for a real crew

Sailing till sunset

Chairoko and Kiiroko enjoyed their first
journey in a racing siling boat (Beneteau First)

Kiiroko did it real god with our genoa sail.

Coming back to our base we saw this magnificent sunset

Back from NY, Boston and Cape Cod, Miffa did not feel like staying at Brcelona. She decided to go sailing .She loves to feel the wind touching lightly her nice ears. This time she wanted to show to Chairoko and Kiiroko, how you sail in a nice boat prepared for regatta.

Only the three of them together with Father Bunny were sailing the whole day till dawn.
Miffa´s Japanese friends are becoming familiar with the art of sailing and learning the first Spanish words in order to help Miffa sailing. However, they do not still dare to touch the rudder wheel. Well, Miffa is in charge of it and protects Chairoko and Kiiroko.

Exploring Cape Cod

Google Earth track From Boston to Orleans

While in New York we asked Father Bunny to visit another places close to the Big Apple. Too many days in such a busy city were stressing us and I really wanted to visit Boston.

I must admit that we were very lucky. We arrived NY during their Memorials Day and many people went out off the city (mainly to the beach) to celebrate the three days weekend. Walking along NYC center (what they call Midtown) was great. Just only a few impenitent tourists who woke up early to defy the high temperatures.

And wait a moment if we were going to visit Boston what about a nice stop in that Peninsula were old wealthy families has built nice houses I private islands. One of them the Forbes family used the money they got trading with Opium and built and nice house…

Yes I am talking to one of east coast favourite’s tourist attraction: Cape Cod (Apart from Miami, of course)

Getting there from Boston or New York is easy but expect big jams during Fridays and Sundays (back home).It will take you about three and a half hours to get Princetown (the most remote city on the Peninsula’s tip). But if you are not in a hurry our advice will be that it will be a good idea to visit some of the little and no so little places that are in your way to Princetown.

As the great planner that my Father is we departed from Boston at 7:00 pm and we ended reading free tourist guides that we found in a gas station. Chairoko, Kiiroko and I were not very happy about sleeping inside the car or going back to NYC.

But finally in a town called Orleans we found a nice place, actually a beautiful place called Orleans Inn. Its owner Ed, whose family bought and restored the building, is one of the nicer persons we have found in our travels. He gave us very useful information to maximize our travel experience in such a few time and gave us a book with all the building history though time.

Beautiful sandy beaches, nice green fields, nice lighthouses that are still in use, great food, nice wooden houses painted in nice colours… Definitely this is a place to visit and to stay some days if you suffer from any kind of stress.

we spent a great time visiting Orleans Inn

Here you can find a book to do some planning
And there you can download the Google Earth track

There will be no second one in our Challenge

Katanga Studios PLC did our team's corporate image
Any doubt of our origin?

Switzerland has no sea but they won the previous America’s cup. The winner decides where and when (some limits apply). And they decided Valencia. Some people say that it is because Valencia has an average 150 days a year with the optimal winds. Others may think that several thousands 500 euro notes have more power.

Anyways they need some wind speed but not a lot. The great spinnaker sails that they use when the wind is coming from their rear part or “reaching” (stern or “popa” in Spanish) are fragile.

Of course there are many types of fabrics and shapes (symmetrical and asymmetrical ones). But still the spinnaker is the biggest sail in a vessel and of course a lot of meters to place your ad.

Together with my sisters we have decided to organize our own Bunny Challenge. We have been training in our 40 feet Oceanis Clipper with nice results. It’s a nice ship but too heavy. After some research we have decided to use a Farr designed Oceanis First.

Our design agency Katanga’s has developed our main sail and hull graphics.

The south sea will be bunny or it won’t be!

Miffa’s first expedition to Sea Cucumber land failed. (part II)

Posted by Father Bunny

Sometimes my daughter Miffa has to face risks that an average bunny usually does not face. Sometimes people point me and tell me I am putting too much pressure on her.

Far from reality, I always overprotect her and if in a difficult situation I will put myself in great danger to avoid any damage to my beloved child.

But I must admit that her HongKongnese roots have a great influence in her character and he considers herself one of a kind. Stealing The Economist from our neighbours, seeking from perfection, and continuously defying and arguing with an ultra competitive Mother Bunny is forging her character.

But she is still the sweetest bunny on earth.

Here you can find some links with our route. For those of you interested in GIS, we used an inexpensive data logger GPS and we tracked our 48,78 km journey. We spent 8 hours and 21 minutes seeking for sea cucumbers. Visit the links underneath to sea some details about our trip.

Using Google Earth:

http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/download.php?Number=821031

(This will require to install this software)
Using Google Maps: (This will NOT require any software installation but you will miss a lot of information)

Miffa’s impressive expedition to dominate the sea cucumber market.

not exacttly the same, ours will be without chicks wearing bikinis

Knowledge, charisma, self-motivation and the ability to select and train a good team is the key to a successful enterprise.

Miffa has inherited from his biological grand father a enormous ambition to explore and to bunny dominate the world.

To celebrate the new golden Pig year, Miffa and her crew will depart from 41°50'37.41"N - 3° 7'27.06"E . They will explore a vast area seeking for the best sea cucumbers. As a crew member the several times Nobel nominee – Mr. Cyteck – who has done extensive research about this amazing creature.

Using the best specimens he and his team will clonate them and the biggest and most advanced sea cucumber farm will be established in Blanes (Girona). A new automated sea cucumber smoking and curing factory is being built in Guadalajara. This factory will be capable to process more than 1.5 million units a year.

Other reputate members of the expedition will be:

Mr. Chan – an experienced diver and GIS guru who has developed a sophisticated technology to track sea cucumbers movements-

Mrs Chan – who has crossed from Sydney to Hobart in a 29 feet old ship defying 30 feets waves and 50 knots winds-

Miffe Chan, the highly experienced bunny sailor who will take care of the wet end.

Olaf Frünsen a giant octopus baby who will take care of the keel.

And finally, Mr Paul Cayard’s brother in law, Mr Evasee and an enigmatic bowman who joined last minute to replace Mr. Musik

Sometimes even an expereience bunny like me runs into difficulties
(picture credits Mrs Marin)

PS: The journey will be monitorized using the latest GPS devices and Google Earth.

The Legend of The Kraken: Do you enjoy mussels?

C'mon Olaf you are nicer than the other one (see below)

My friend Miffa has already introduced me in this space. We met ourselves in Port Lligat. Miffa was sailing with Mother and Father Bunny and they tried to anchor in the bay but the wind was strong and it’s not an easy place. Strong currents and winds coming from the north forced me to refuge in that small bay too.

I got stuck onto their ships rudder and while father bunny was securing the anchor Miffa discovered me well attached to the hull.

They invited me to get on board and we have some sardines, shrimps and all kind off food an octopus can dream with.

Miffa invited me to join them in their journey back home, and I accepted. Now after so many adventures and fun since her 100th post party she has convinced me to post in her blog.

And my first assignment is to write about a fantastic animal that have been in sailor’s memories for centuries: The Kraken

Kraken is the definite article form of krake, a Norwegian word designating an unhealthy animal, or something twisted.[1] In modern German, Krake (plural: Kraken) means octopus, but can also refer to the legendary Kraken (Terrell, 1999). Wikipedia

I must admit that I really feel uncomfortable with the picture Miffu has taken of me attacking that tugboat. There’s no evidence of a ship being attacked by an octopus or our cousins the squids. An as a matter fact humans eat them with great joy. Giant squids (about 20meters long) have been found and lately even pictured, but no giant octopus evidence has been recorded (see St. Augustine Monster)

A "picture" made by a frenchman

What it is really true is that down in the big blue (earth surface is only 30% of the global planet surface) very big animals and unknown creatures can be found. Surely they’re more afraid about coming to the surface that you are of them.

You, humans know little bit about our seas.