Line drawing of a trimaran similar to Maya

Any Way the Wind Blows

My passport photograph from 1975
1975 Passport Photograph
I'm Neil Constable. That is me on the left. Or it was. That is my passport photograph from 1975 when, at the age of twenty one, I set off from England to see some of the world. My letters home told the story, and I thought it might be fun to share it. We set off on the 2nd November 1975, so on the 2nd November 2013 I started a regular blog of the events as they happened 38 years before.The story is now complete and can be read on this website.

I hope you will find it interesting. There are dolphins glowing in the dark, a country that no longer exists, train journeys through Africa, a yacht across the Atlantic, Caribbean Islands, ancient civilisations, and many, many interesting people.

Sitting on Maya before we left I heard 'Bohemian Rhapsody' for the first time. I thought the line 'Any way the wind blows' was an apt title.

All the people are real and all the events actually happened. In some cases I don't have the real names or the exact dates, but I have kept as close as memory allows. Feel free to share with anyone you think might find it interesting.

Charu - Hi Neil, what a great idea to blog your letters!!! terrific reading about your adventures hoping to browse through more of your posts, Charu

Tessa - Dad, I have finally finished reading. So sorry it took so long, but my own travels got in the way. It has been an absolute pleasure to read and I feel like I have learnt so much I never knew about my father!! If I got into half the situations you did whilst I was away, I think you would have stolen and burnt my passport so I could never leave the country again! Thank you for passing your desire to travel on to me, it has shaped who I am today and how wonderful a father you are. Lots of love, Tessa P.s. How many nights did you sleep rough in total?!
Me - I’m glad you enjoyed it. I enjoyed doing it and rediscovered some things I had forgotten. I probably only slept rough for about a dozen nights, including railway stations and bus stations. I guess they just stand out a bit more

England to Portugal >