A day of Rest.

                                              Blazer (with the orange fender) in St Vast.

Wednesday 25th  July.

Still hot and Sunny.


I cleaned up the cockpit and filled the water tank this morning - shipshape.

The marina facilities are top quality and spotlessly clean - flowers everywhere - lovely.

It feels strange somehow - the water in the marina is kept in by a lock gate which only opens near high tide.

At low tide the whole area outside dries out completely, revealing massive areas of farmed oyster beds with tractors buzzing about.

St vast is quite a small town but has some posh shops - one famous one is M Gosselin.

It is full of very high priced fruit and veg - very nicely presented groceries and a wine department to die for -
Wow!!
Room after room of wines - all in proper bins - some in locked vaults  - with prices sky high.

I bought milk.

                                   There's a surprise - a shop selling nothing but oysters - Heaven.

                                           This fish shop was beautifully laid out - a treat to see.

Needless to say I bought oysters prawns and whelks in their shells for lunch.

Back on board  - the marina gate opened and an old boat came in and moored at the side of Blazer.

The owner - a Belgian guy had sailed it around the world alone!!

We had a great afternoon talking about his experiences.

                                                      Jean Heylbroeck - circumnavigator.

His boat - Chartist Lady - a British 1974 Elizabethan no bigger than Blazer.

I'm moving on again on Thursday afternoon but probably only into the bay outside to anchor.

The next part of the coast is a headland notorious for really fast tides - I need to plan the passage to have the tide helping me - not against me.

At anchor, I can leave when I want, not when the gate opens.

Mike.