5 - 17 May: Sailing to Bordeaux

A friend from Uni, Roger, is taking his boat from Lymington down to Bordeaux then on through the Canal du Midi to the Med for the summer. He needs crew for the first leg, so I am going along with Chris (also from Uni) and his wife Jill.


Fri and Sat: Caught the train down to Lymington where Roger picked me up form the station at 5pm. Familiarised myself with boat contents under guidance from Carol, then we went out for a meal at the marina bar. Chris and Jill arrived at 9:30. We set sail at 11pm having put on all our cold weather gear. Motored out past Hurst Point and the Needles. Put up sails and tacked along coast to off Start Point where we turned south to cross channel and the shipping lanes at right angles. It was very cold with a large following swell, gusty force 7 (just to the east of us the shipping forecast was warning of a gale). We all felt a bit queasy so eating anything was out of the question. I went down at 4am for a cold snooze, absolutely chilled to the bone, for a couple of hours. We snacked on fruit cake throughout the day as the conditions didn't change. Given the hard progress we decided not to go as far as originally planned along the coast and to go into Roscoff. The pilot guide said that the new marina at Port Bloscon there was being built. We called up the harbour master and after some umming he said we could go in through there were no lights and it wasn't open. It was dark and gloomy as we edged into the marina at 10:30pm at low tide with high walls, and moored with the help of another yachtie. The pontoons had no connection to the shore, so we had a quick pasta and sauce then straight to sleep, very relieved to have made it.

None was keen in taking pictures!


Sun: a very cold night despite sleeping in full thermals and fleeces. Motor sailed around Chenal du Four against the tide all day to Camaret, not a bad passage as the sea wasn't too churned up.

Nice menu of the day at the only decent fish restaurant. Showers shut as we were out of season.


Mon : a slightly less cold nights sleep. Motor sailed again though RaZ du Sein to Loctudy, a nice inland river berth opposite an island and parkland, avoiding a bad tidal stream, and again the tides seemed against us all day. Weather still cold.

A happy captain, some sun at last.

The able seaman, taking a break from making tea

Our quill pen navigator - I just whacked the cursor on the GPS

 Eat on board, Roger inspired menu of uncle bens rice and chicken in sloppy sweet and sour sauce.


Tue: longer day to Port Haliguen on the Quiberon peninsula.

 Damp evening, we walked into town for a good creperie meal at what seemed the only eating place open.

Wed: walked into town to buy supplies at Casino supermarche. Another long day to L'Herbaudiere on Ile de Noirmoutier. Some sun in afternoon. Walked along quay for a drink,

actually second Ricard at La Rochelle

first Ricard of the trip, then back on board for stir fry. At last a not cold night.


Thu: short morning sail to Port Joinville. Good marina. Lunch at creperie. Hired bikes to cycle round the Ile d'Yeu. I showed Chris and Jill how to ride a tandem, they made it seem so easy!

 Vieux chateaux on south west of island. Eat on board of local marlen fillets (sea bream?)


Fri: motored past Ile de Re under bridge to La Rochelle.

At last sunshine and we got down to shorts. Into mega marina just outside town. Caught water taxi into old town, quick walk around then nice dinner, taxi back.


Sat: up late, nice fruit for breakfast. Cleaning boat, washing clothes having been in same ones basically for a week!

And restocking fridge. After lunch caught water taxi into town and saw the sights - there was a women's race on so lots of spectator activity. Went up the 3 towers, had beer then water taxi back. Pernod on boat for sundowner. Dinner overlooking beach next to Marina

Sun: out round Ile d'Oleron and down coast to mouth of Gironde where we anchored for lunch and for Roger to play with his chain and rope.

At last, its summer

 Waited for slack water and followed channel into Port Medoc at 9.30pm. No town nearby so ate on board.

Mon: At Pauillac picked up Andre a friendly French yachtie who has been in email with Roger about the Canal as a pilot. Down Gironde then Gavone into Bordeaux where we moored up at the town quay to await the lock gates opening tomorrow at the basin (being French they only open on odd days).

Taking the infamous Andre on board at Pauilac

Tue: Had a short wander around town, very nice buildings, Mediterranean feel with lots of cafes and sunshine.

 Carol arrived at 3 and we left immediately for the basin which opened at 4. Tricky mooring, well done Roger. Imposing WW2 submarine docks dominate the basin. Started to get the ropes off and rigging down. Tram into town for meal and Bordeaux wine!

WW2 u-boat pens - 5m of reinforced concrete on top!

through the lock gates

Crew and Captain

Wed: Chris and Jill left for a few days in Bordeaux. Trammed into town for walk around, found Decathalon store near the basin! Back at 1pm to await mast removal. Casual work attitude in yard, finally it came out at 5pm, it seemed huge on the quayside. Roger flew back to UK for a meeting so I finished off the demasting - quite a rigmarole with all the halyards and wires. Lovely hot day, clear blue sky, just like summer should be. Meal with Carol in the shack on the quayside.

Huitres

Nice waitress, spoke excellent Anglais

Thu:  Tram and bus to catch 9:55 Queastjet to Luton to be picked up by Mrs M.  Washed kit and re-packed for weekend Lakes cycle/walk trip.  Into London for convivial evening at Brewery Wharf with walker chums:

28 April - 4 May

Sat:  Rain rain all day.  Some Granny duties. Re-plotted all the Raid routes on RidewithGPS,  booked all cars and flights for Sept holiday(s).  Now just need to do the cycling!

Sun: Rain rain nearly all day.  Popped into Harlequin, Jon came back in evening and we Sathi'ed.

Mon: Strange yellow object in sky surrounded by blue.  Very unusual.  So took advantage and went for early run on Common, just 5.2km in 36mins, happy with that given recent layoff.  Common is very good at shedding water and it wasn't too muddy. Hot tub with Mrs M.  Great start to the day.

Granny duties - put up flashing on her porch roof/wall join.  Dodgey work on ladder but luckily could lean out of upstairs window to finish the job.  Checked out and cleaned her hoover.  Back home, mowed lawns and picked up a few weeds.  Planted globe artichokes in my allotment beds.  Got satellite phone working.  Went for bike ride with Mrs M and Jessi -

Green Lane was flooded and closed and even impassable for bikes so had to come back and go along top road to Red Lion at Chienes for lunch.  Yummy - 2 pints, packet of pork scratchings and sausage and onion baguette.  Oh dear, where has the self control calorie counting gone?  Walked to vill for minor shopping with Mrs M.  Lazy evening watching Bridget Jone's Diary DVD.

Googled and read up on Channel crossing, tides and today flows on iPad in bed.  This crossing is not a walk in the park and very dependent on timings and weather conditions.  Around mid night splattering heard on roof lights - weather back to normal for April then!

Tue:  And a lovely rainy start to May!  Supposed to be easing off, but no sign so far (10am).  Off to London, first stop the Wallace Collection - absolutely brilliant, will be doing it again

then  to Dorchester for afternoon teas with Jon.

It was the South Bank Arts Awards on in the ballroom, and we were passed by Terry Pratchett, Tom Jones, Michael Ball, Zoe Wanamaker.  Fame by osmosis.
Walked to Green Park, and train back easily by 6pm.  At last it was sunny, so quickly changed and out for a run - 5k  in 34:59.  Mrs M, Jon and Jessi drove off for dinner with Lulu, whilst I have choir practice.

Wed: Big day to see Harry Potter at Leavesden Studios.  Well, big if you are a HP fan.

Thu:  Dinner at M&A's.  Delightful company and great food and wine.  We are blessed to have such friends.

21 - 27 April

Sat: Usual rubbish weather, no exercise

Sun: Ditto, but had big lunch for family & Jon

Mon: Ditto, picked up Jessi from LHR who is staying with us for 10 days.  Walked to vill for coffee, thats all.

Booked various bits on the interweb.

Tue: Ditto weather, but anyway first thing went for a run round Common in the drizzle (along golf links, round bridleway, then zigged along fire breaks).  8.1km in 1hr 1min.  Slow, but I didn't stop, felt OK, and shoes were fine, no probe with feet or big toe.

Wed:  Wettest day ever.  Crown Jewels, Matilda Musical and dinner at Bob Bob Richard (with Jon).  Excellent day out, it a bit wet.

Thu:  Common walk in morning, Chienes Manor in afternoon - great gardens and tulips.

Fri: Picked up at 6am by Roger to drive down to Itchenor to help crew him across to Lymington.

Set off at 9am under power and out of river across the Chicester Bar with quite big swells and increasing winds to 25 knots.  Up with sails and a blustery passage with a couple of rain squalls, I did most of the helming whilst Roger played with trimming sails.  A bit of sunshine in the afternoon, but still cold.  Into Lymington at 3pm, caught train up to London to meet C& Jessi to see Ballet Revolution at Peacock Theatre - very energetic show.

Learnt I need to be well wrapped up for the passage to Bordeaux next week!

15 - 20 April

Sat: Fly back from Antigua

Sun:  Arrive Gatwick at 6am, home by 7:45am.  Jon phoned from Kabul to say he was safe and locked down in the Embassy, but could hear gunfire and the rocket grenades close by.  A slightly worrying day with an eye on the news all the time, texting it to Jon to keep him updated.  All calm by the evening, what a relief.

Mon: Brian and Tim came to finish off the painting.  Potter around, food shop, fail to get a haircut, tidy up garden, put bags away in garage, de-sand and de-salt and clean Bromptons.

Tue: Pick up new running shoes from Ricky post office. Hoka One One Combo XTs (pronounced Ho'ka'on'e'on'e meaning fly far in Maori):

I wore them most of the day - not too different to my MBTs.  Used by Ultra runners, so thats me, ha ha.

Choir in evening, drove as too wet to walk there.  Dr M out doctor-dining at Clarendon Arms.

Wed: Wet and rainy day, no exercise. 

Thu: Ditto.  Emptied and refilled hot tub though!  great talk in evening from the the retiring Ranger on the management of the Common, old postcards pictures from Ginnie's collection:

Child's Farm and Darvells Yard from Darvells Pond

Fri: Picked up Jon from airport in early morning, great for him to be back if only for a few days here and there.

Run, taking advantage of the unseasonal sun (before the rain is forecast to start), round the Common, first outing for the Hoka's.  They felt good, very resilient yet cushioned, and the right toe up angle for mid striking and rolling off, like MBTs.  7km in 45mins which considering I haven't run for 3 weeks was very good.

6 - 14 April Antigua

For Pete's 70th birthday party.  A great time was had by all, with welcome bbq, all day circumnavigation with snorkelling and too many rum punches round the island, and the birthday party at Denis' headland overlooking two bays.  The Bromptons enjoyed their trip, including a ride to St Johns.

2 - 5 April:

Mon Weather was sunny than predicted.  Went for nice Reverse of a variation of PPPP (ride from Thursday with Patrick).   27 miles in 2hr 7min.  The glide down the valley into Little Missenden was wonderfully uplifting!  Hills (including Gore Hill up from Amersham) went well, but I need longer ones.

Tue Dark rain-threatening clouds, but held of till the very end of my ride to Chesham, Great Missenden, Chequers, Combe Hill and back via the Lees, Hyde End and Amersham.  33.5miles in 2hrs 35mins, same avg speed as yesterday of 12.9.  Some decent gradual climbs as well as short sharp ups.

Wed St Albans nostalgia ride. 31.5m in 2h36m.  Hilly, felt more difficult and slightly slower than yesterday.  Ran out of energy in Chipperfield and had to reload with a cup of tea and pack of fruit pastilles!

Verulam lake - I used to hate runs around the lake when it was wet and games were cancelled

Abbey - v.imposing and 2xweekly morning services in here

School House - All Gas and Gaiters (with Dereck Nimmo) was filmed here

St Michaels Village where I caught the bus - used to be a red phone box

St Albans School yard and entrance.  1965 - 1972

The Gatehouse - part of school and reputed to be AD948

6 St Micheal's Ave - home from 1960 to 1978

Junior and infants school 1960-65.  Looked much the same.

Thu No exercise - lots of errands and packing for Antigua!  Lulu & Fiona came for dinner, roast beef, yummy.

31 Mar - 1 April: Sidmouth

Sat & Sun Left at 7 with Granny and Nigel to drive to Sidmouth to stay at seafront hotel.  Shopped in afternoon, good meal at hotel, walked around next morning and drove back via Athelhampton for cream tea.  A lovely 36 hours!