A sad time

When I left home in June my dear old Mum was in failing health. Mum and I had a few lovely talks and knew when I left that we would not see each other again. Good to talk about our love for each other but still a really sad time when she died peacefully on August the 6th. She was a beautiful person.

Me dear Mum

At Pauillac I spent a few days out of the water painting the bottom, rerigging the mast and general tidy up. Was pleased to find virtually no damage after all the shallow canal and lock travel.

Easy to use trailer in Pauillac

Back in the water antifouled, polished and dressed

Innovative architecture in Bordeaux

Really enjoyed Bordeaux and spent another couple of days there walking and biking in the most pedestrian and bike friendly city I have been in. Mind you the bikes and pedestrians almost get a bit too friendly at times.

One of the many Bordeaux Chateaux

Typical vineyard with very close spacing

Another Chateau gate

After Le Bateau was back in the water I went back upstream to Bordeaux to meet up with Kerry and Jenny who are signing on for their 4th European boating holiday with our various boats

Kerry  and Jenny on the Gironde River

After all the canal and rivers at le Verdon sur Mer we saw ocean and waves and lighthouses. Spent three days in Medoc marina waiting for a good Northerly to take us down the coast to Arcachon a huge boating resort (Venus Bay like lagoon) with literally a few thousand boats on moorings for the summer but gone onto their trailers for winter.

The Medoc light

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Saint Jean de Lutz

The day we sailed from France to Spain was amazing in the amount of change a few hundred metres can make. We actually anchored in France and rowed 100 metres into Spain. The evening promenade of thousands of people, the sardines grilled, the Tapas bars, and a 10 year old brandy in a refurbished citadel at midnight with a 30 metre high ceiling were just amazing.
I enjoyed France but think Spain has a lot to offer.

A shallow anchorage in Arcachon invaded at low tide

  

Beautiful little Elanchove

On the Spanish North coast steep hills and rocks are everywhere. The harbours are often small and Elanchove was just delightful. Walls on the harbours are up to 15 metres and I can only imagine what the winter storms would look like. We have been lucky with only 1 to 1.5 metre swells but the harbours are indicative of the possibilities.

The town of Elanchove was perched on the slope with tiny paths between the houses and at the small town square the bus was turned around on a turntable. Even then the bus had less than 30cm clearance on the walls.

The bus on the Elanchove turntable

And just making it!

San Vincente de la Baquera

Bilbao was quite a different experience tied up at a prestigious Yacht Club where it was suggested a tie required to enter but we instead walked the lively streets and sat down to beer and pintxos. Unlike other areas with Tapas bars here it is Pintxos bars. Pintxos is a slice of bread topped with all manner of things from prawns to bacon ham to corn tortillas. So vegetarian me had bread topped with corn filled wrap. The bread underneath was traditional and I am sure the tortillas would have been happy on a plate on its own but that is not what you do. Here in Gijon it is apple cider. Cider is the drink of Asturias region and as it is a bit flat (still) they pour it from a great height into the glass to aerate it theoretically without looking. They do look, they do spill it, and for the record it didn't taste that great to me. But as part of the deal unlimited peanuts in the shell on the bar and throw the rubbish in foot tray so at midnight it all looked pretty grotty. A big bottle to share between the three of us and peanuts, all for  2.70 euros.

The floor of the Sidreria at midnight

Bilbao is famous for the Guggenheim museum and it was an impressive building precinct and some great art. Personally I think MONA in Hobart has a better range of art. A lovely afternoon spent amongst some huge pieces.

Twisted torus in 50mm steel plate!

The outside of the Guggenheim

And the flowers are obviously well watered and growing .

Lantres harbour with walls taller than our mast!

An unfortunate boat at anchor in San Vicente de la Baquera

And next time from Portugal which will include Jane and her sister Terri.