Week 1
Lots of hard work, too much money and many cold, dark winter nights
Friday 20 July 2007
Darryl went to get the boat and bring it from it's swinging mooring in Poole Harbour into the marina on Poole Quay whilst Christine loaded up the car with everything to go onto the boat - there was lots of it! Just as we started loading the boat it started raining (Mrs Bean and Sara from Christine's work and her daughter came to help). Rather than finding homes for everything we just put it on the boat out of the rain. We had moored on a short stay mooring for 4 hours and as the time was running out Darryl decided to take the boat back to its mooring but unfortunately the tide had changed and he could not get out of the marina so we decided to leave the boat there for the night. Went and met all our friends (a little late - sorry everyone!) for a last drink on the Quay and then spent the night on the boat.
Saturday 21 July 2007
Sorted out some of the stuff on the boat and then Darryl took the boat back to the mooring whilst Christine went home to sort out the mess at the house. Left the house about 10.00pm on Saturday to go back out to the boat for the night.
Sunday 22 July 2007
Up at 3.00am and headed out of Poole Harbour. It was a nice morning and once past the chain ferry we managed to get the sails up and sailed well with the Navik (self-steering unit) for most of the day. There were clear blue skies and sunshine all the way to Cherbourg. Arrived in Cherbourg at 8.00pm local time. Anchored up and went ashore. There was a live folk band playing by the marina so we watched for a while. Went for dinner and When we came out of the restaurant about 11.00pm it was absolutely pouring with rain (just like being in England!!). Waited for it to ease off and started to make our way back to the boat. On the way we saw a huge inflatable screen up in a park which was showing an old musical. Once back on the boat had a well needed sleep!
Monday 23 July 2007
Didn't wake up til lunchtime! Raining again! Stayed on boat and unpacked and tried to find homes for all our stuff. Popped ashore to check weather forecast. At 11.00 pm set sail again for Honfleur. It was still raining and the visibility was poor but the tide was right so off we went.
Tuesday 24 July 2007
Sailing was pretty good most of the way. In sight of Le Havre by 1.30pm. By this time the sea was all over the place and we rocked and rolled all the way up the estuary (about 8 miles!). Weather by now was brilliant sunshine and off came the wet weather gear and out came the t-shirts. Arrived at out first lock about 5.30pm. There were about 6 boats going in and we came alongside a Dutch couple who helped us tie up. Out the other side and under the lifting bridge and into Honfleur. What a picturesque little harbour, reminded us of Bergen in Norway - lots of tall slim, pretty coloured buildings. Once moored up, next to a really nice British couple, we went ashore for a long awaited shower and then back to the boat for dinner. Got talking to Chris and Jean on the next boat and they gave us some good advice about where to go along the canals as they had done the same trip back in the late '80s.
Wednesday 25 July 2007
Had to be up early as boats were moored 5 abreast off the quay the 2nd one in wanted to catch the early bridge. Moved outside the harbour into the waiting area as we needed to be up to catch the 5.30am lock on Thursday. Used guide in Navicarte and did a walking tour of Honfleur where we saw the old salt stores, St Catherine's Church (constructed entirely from wood by the local boat builders in the 15th Century), St Etienne Church, Cote de Grace (described in guide as "for a panoramic view of the estuary" - all you could see was the power station opposite!), Chapel of Notre Dame (built by the local seamen in the 6th Century. The whole town is full of beautiful, quaint little houses in cobbled streets. Took the large fenders to the petrol station to inflate ready for the locks. It was about 23 degrees today.
Thursday 26 July 2007
Up at 5.00am to get the 5.30am lock. Other than a small rib we were the only boat in there which made life nice and easy for us. Motored along the Seine passing lots of pretty villages with huge houses. Saw a lone cyclist wearing a yellow shirt followed about ½ hour later by another 8 cyclists (? Tour de France??!!). Arrived in Caudebec about 10.00am and moored on a huge metal buoy. Unfortunately could not go ashore as the mooring is also used by commercial craft so someone had to be aboard at all times in case someone else needed the mooring. Could not go on either as the next stopping place was too far ahead as once on the Seine boats are not allowed to move on the river after sunset or before sunrise.
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