Still stuck in Cherbourg

Not much to report today - glad I stayed put - my wind speed recorder shows an average of force six for yesterday with one gust at force 8!!

It rained all afternoon so I didn't get many outside jobs done and no photos.

I did work on the radar - remade some connections - no improvement.
Today I will do a test procedure from the manual and see if it gives me a clue what's wrong.

I did make a cracking rabbit stew - perfect for a cool rainy day.

Sunny today - Thursday - so outside jobs priority.

Off  tomorrow - wind permitting.

Mike.

Stuck in Cherbourg

                                                            A Mc Donalds event.

Wednesday 29th August

Too Windy Again.

I checked all my weather sources yesterday - SW force 5 to 6 and rough seas.

That will give me wind against tide in the Alderney race - NO THANKS!

The forecast gives the wind easing a lot on Friday NW 2 to 3.

My pilot book says Bray harbour is well sheltered from all winds except NW!

To quote Tom Cunliffe in the Shell channel pilot only a madman would stay there in NW winds.

Well they should be light - going lighter on Saturday - I'm going.

So another rest day yesterday - Tuesday.

Read a lot - went to the little market in the big square with the fountain.

Interesting - I sat on a bench to eat my very spicy hot dog and people watched.

The market stalls were not stalls at all but boxes of fruit and veg which were raised up on two or three empty crates.

The produce was not like we see in our markets all uniform and spotlessly clean.

This was definitely locally grown and some stalls had just a few things.

There were no assistants serving and the customers, mainly women, were helping themselves - handling the produce and rejecting any that wasn't up to scratch!

Try doing that in Sheffield market !!

They then took the bags to the weigh and pay person - simple.

I'm sorry my camera batteries gave up - no market pictures.

Later in the afternoon I heard a public address system and went to investigate.

It appeared to be a sport for kids event by Mc Donalds.

                                                   Is that Ronald Mc Donald ?

It was well laid out in the park behind the marina with all kinds of sporty things set up.

                                                    Including a good sized swimming pool!

                            It looked to be well attended and  well organised with music and dancers.

                                                   
                              I then walked all the way out to the inner sea wall for a bit of exercise.

So - Not a lot to report - but warm and sunny - A holiday feel to the trip.

Jobs today -

Fill up with fuel.
Sort the radar.
Stow the solar panels
Some laundry
Cook the rabbit stew
Passage planning.

Better get going.

Mike.

Return to Cherbourg.

                                                 A fantastic bakery in Cherbourg town centre.


A restful day.

I was originally due to travel on Saturday but the ferry was cancelled due to high winds and 3 metre waves!

So I re- booked everything for Sunday and it turned out to be a long day.

Left home at 06.45 - Taxi to the station - train to St Pancress - London.

Tube to Victoria - or so I thought - WRONG!.

I was well on the way when I checked the itinerary - Saturdays said Victoria - Sundays said Waterloo!!

Panic!

I retraced my steps then set off on the Northern line but it took forever I got to Waterloo 5 minutes after my train to Portsmouth had gone!!

Then a bit of good luck - there was another in 20 minutes - and my ticket was flexible.

Then a bit more luck - I got a text from Brittany Ferries to say the Ferry was delayed an hour due to high winds in the morning.

I could relax - Taxi from the station to the ferry terminal - Then 3 hours on the Fast Cat to Cherbourg.

Statistics - 6,500 Tons - can take 260 cars - Cruising speed 42 knots - max 46 knots.
                 Cost £30 million second hand - made of aluminium - in Tasmania.

It was a bit of a sea running but quite comfy sat down but difficult to walk around.

A taxi to the Marina saw me on board at 21.00 - tired out.

Monday (yesterday) I managed a restful day - Getting Blazer back to operational and shopping.

On the way to the big supermarket I wandered around the town centre for the first time but being Monday most shops were closed.

                                                 A massive theatre in a grand square.

It is quite an interesting town and I saw enough to make me go in again today when things will be on the go.

I found the market hall which should be open today.

                                                       A big bronze fountain - no water.

I stocked up on all the usual goodies in the supermarket and ate a seafood meal in the cockpit - crab and the freshest whelks in their shells - wonderful.

So - now rested - a quick trip into town then passage planning and weather checking for the trip to Alderney hopefully tomorrow.

Mike.