Another week on. At this moment we are in Brest and it is raining. It doesn't matter, because we have to stay a day to get the SSB radio working properly. It turns out that not all frequencies work (which we need for mail and weather charts). But we are lucky to be moored right next to an ICOM dealer who can arrange this for us. We are curious.
A few days ago we found out that we are still missing an essential cable to make an internet connection via the Iridium telephone in the middle of the sea to retrieve weather charts (this is our back-up supply for the SSB radio). And we want to have this in order before the crossing to Spain. On Wednesday Toine orders the cable through bol.com and has it delivered to the address of Dennis and Marja. The cable is delivered on Thursday and travels with them to their house in Brittany early the next morning. We have a good reason to meet each other. And so yesterday we had a visit from them on the boat in Brest and we had a very pleasant afternoon and evening together.
I'll go back to last Sunday when we were still in Cherbourg. That afternoon we sailed to Alderney in three hours with a good wind. The current helped us to reach a top speed of 13.5 knots! Alderney is a lovely island. Not so big without a ferry connection so there are not many tourists. With a beautiful nature.
So the next day we took a nice long walk across most of the island. Over rocks, along beaches, past the lighthouse and past many old forts from the 2nd World War, up and down hills. And also a piece through the blackberry bushes; the kids have already written about that! The road seems to end in a dead end and we don't feel like going all the way back. So we take the shortest way up (where the road runs again), and where there are many blackberry bushes the last few meters. But then, going back is even more annoying. Oh well, the scratches will heal!
Every day we check the weather maps and gribfiles via the internet. Usually we can pick up a network via WIFI. The combination of weather maps (meteomanager) and gribfiles gives us good insight into the weather forecast. So we know that we have to stay another day in Alderney and that night we are anchored behind the anchor buoy in wind force 6/7.
Not until the evening of the following day is the weather good to make the trip to Brittany. We left at 18.00 hours. The first few hours we sailed with big waves and against wind force 4/5. Then the wind subsides and the next day it turns to the south and we can sail the last 6 hours perfectly. So 20 hours later we are in 'l Aber wrac'h, at the northern tip of Brittany. We feel double; it's good to be one step ahead again, but this is also where we were last year when we were called home because my father was in a bad way.
The next day (Saturday 1 Aug) the weather is good to sail around the tip of Brittany to Brest. With a lovely sunshine and a weak wind from the right direction we can sail almost the entire 8 hours.
We are in regular contact with the Valentine via text message. They are following us and are now in Cherbourg. It would be nice to cross the Bay of Biscay together. That means that we will probably spend the coming week scouring the south coast of Brittany. And only in a week or so we will make the crossing to Spain.
So the next day we took a nice long walk across most of the island. Over rocks, along beaches, past the lighthouse and past many old forts from the 2nd World War, up and down hills. And also a piece through the blackberry bushes; the kids have already written about that! The road seems to end in a dead end and we don't feel like going all the way back. So we take the shortest way up (where the road runs again), and where there are many blackberry bushes the last few meters. But then, going back is even more annoying. Oh well, the scratches will heal!
Not until the evening of the following day is the weather good to make the trip to Brittany. We left at 18.00 hours. The first few hours we sailed with big waves and against wind force 4/5. Then the wind subsides and the next day it turns to the south and we can sail the last 6 hours perfectly. So 20 hours later we are in 'l Aber wrac'h, at the northern tip of Brittany. We feel double; it's good to be one step ahead again, but this is also where we were last year when we were called home because my father was in a bad way.
Hi,
If you're spending a week wandering around Brittany you should be able to score Roquefort.
Hello dear all,
What an experience! And that you were able to see the dolphins so early in the trip! Cool!
Eline; you can already cross that off your list nicely then.
Mira; I can well imagine the double feeling. Thankfully, your journey may now continue and take you to beautiful places!
How convenient it is to have friends and acquaintances everywhere, not to mention bol.com! Nice example of the modern age!
In the Netherlands it is nice and warm this week (close to 30 degrees) so Pieter and I took a day off. We pruned the garden a bit (or 4 x up and down with pruning waste... how do you do that :-))? )
and relax.
Last week we had a 20 week ultrasound and our little "fish" is doing well. Moves nicely (I can feel it since 3 weeks, very special) and all organs are intact and functioning. We also had the opportunity to look at our little one for about 45 minutes. It is a stubborn one because it lay of course with its back towards us. The nursery is ready and the bugaboo is showing off in the hallway, now we only have to wait a "few" weeks...
We wish you a good trip and we will follow the stories!!!
Enjoy it
Love
Hi,
Nice to follow your route, experiences etc.
You have set up a perfect site.
Wondering about the crossing to Spain.
Have fun
Tinus
I am sitting reading your experiences and I must say this must be a great feeling.
As a future retiree, this gives me the right inspiration.
Keep following your experiences and photo shoots.
Bon voyage!
HarrieG