Easy Day

Tuesday 28th June 2016.

                                                      Penny in her element.

Rain and high wind forecast for this afternoon so - off to Ille Grande for a walk this morning.

We parked at the port and walked clockwise around the island as far as the bird sanctuary.
A stop for coffee on an empty beach for Penny have a paddle - Straight in !!

Back on board - I checked the weather - No Good for a trip out - to see if the Mackerel are here yet - Blowing up to 27 knots at 5 pm - and it did !!!

We had an afternoon reading - relaxing - I researched Blazer's Bukh engine on the net and found lots of interesting information - useful.

A great home cooked dinner - the sun came out at 8 pm !!
We walked Penny to the far end of the prom - lovely.

Mike - Jackie + Penny.

New Visitors.

Monday 27th June 2016

Washday again - a big wash - keeping on top of having a dog on board !

Then off to Ille Grande for our favourite walk to the sailing school - forgot to take the camera !
A huge party of school children were having sailing instruction sailing tiny dinghy's round buoys in the bay
like the clappers - amazing.

Jackie met an English woman in the morning and we invited them on board for drinks at 5 pm.
Margaret and Ray Carter - their boat - Morning Light - A westerly Fulmar.
We had a lovely chat in hot sunshine and the G & T flowed !
They were leaving early Tuesday for Lezardrieux - the next river east of the Treguer river.

A great day - Mike - Jackie + Penny.

Stunning New Walk.

Friday 24th to Sunday 26th June 2016

A hot and sunny morning - we picked up our coast walk in Tregestrel port - we had no idea what to expect.
We were surprised to find beach after beach - no one on them and all with stunning views out to sea with the pink granite rocks, typical of this area, making a great picture.

                                                       The September islands.

The path is well maintained and well used by joggers - the grass areas are fenced off with a tiny wire - enough to let you know that they are growing native sand dune plants and getting them well established.

The area is called the Ille Renote - we didn't see a bridge - not sure why they call it an island ?

We were so impressed with this walk that we repeated it on Saturday and Sunday - each time finding sunshine and blue sea.

Penny loved the mixture of high hedges and little rocky beaches to explore at 100mph while we ambled along.

Each day we took a flask of coffee and sandwiches and we found numerous stone bench seats at the nice view points.

The path runs round a circular route with a big free car park - it makes a nice change.

                                                         A chair carved out of a tree stump.

                                                         Jackie holding up a big rock

Apart from our walks we have chilled out on board - I have done a few boat jobs - all very nice.

Mike & Jackie + Penny.

Lannion Market.

Thursday 23rd June 2016

A drizzley sort of morning so a late start - I walked Penny locally - then leaving her on board we headed for Lannion market.

Jackie was looking for a particular type of casual trousers and bought two pairs.
We were getting pretty wet walking round so we made a beeline for AZIZA Moroccan restaurant that we tested a few weeks ago.

We had a fabulous meal - couscous and a tajine with all sorts of side dishes - amazing.
We were glad that we went when we did - they close for the annual holiday this weekend !

Back on board we watched the DVD - Casablanca - what a film - I have seen it countless times and still love it.

The rain stopped - we walked Penny on the prom.

Mike - Jackie + Penny.

Ille Grande again !

Wednesday 22nd June 2016

Off walking Penny today on her favourite part of Ille Grande.
We walked from the car park to the sailing school - sat talking to an English couple - here on a 5 day break.

Back to the car via the beach - then we drove to the bird sanctuary to have our flask of coffee - lovely.

Back on board - I had a session sorting the engine overheating - checking and maintaining the thermostat.
Jackie cooked dinner.

We were woken in the night by Penny - she was scared by the lightning flashes lighting up the sky - no thunder !

Mike - Jackie + Penny

Washing and Walking

Tuesday 21st June 2016

Washday again today - we were set up smartly and all washing done for about 10.00 - Not bad.

A nice hot sunny morning - off to Tregestrel to pick up our coast walk.

                                                        A nice holiday home at our car park.

We walked along the beach toward Tregestrel - Penny went in the sea - We climbed the steep rock paths round the headland into the main town bay.
Boy it was hot !

We were feeling tired and hungry so we stopped at a new restaurant in the main port area  -
Le Coz Pors
We sat outside in scorching heat - we couldn't touch our table !!
Penny was in the shade of the table and they brought her some water.

We had mussels and chips and a nice ice cream with fruit - WOW !
We walked back to the car through the village - a long walk for us !

Mike - Jackie + Penny

Wet Day

Monday 20th June 2016

A really wet day today but still warm.

We set out really early to Tregestrel market looking for lightweight trousers for Jackie - No Joy !

We bought oysters - Tomatoes and Potatoes - all good value.

Back on board we dried out and just chilled all day - Jackie watched a DVD.

Penny didn't get much of a walk today - and the walk around the market didn't count - she got wet through - she hates rain !!! - she sulked until she dried out.

Curried pork for dinner - lovely.

Our English / Irish visitors are moving on tomorrow at 08.00 - I will be there to wave them off.

Mike - Jackie + Penny. 

Sunday Roast.

Sunday 19th June 2016

We were off early in cloudy but warm weather to pick up our coast walk where we left off yesterday.

We couldn't find a car park at the end of the last walk so we parked a couple of miles further on - or so we thought !!!

We back tracked along beaches - through paths with high hedges and dense woodland for over an hour but got nowhere near the end of yesterdays walk !!

I had had enough so we returned to the car along the same route.

An interesting walk in different surroundings.

We had invited our Irish friends Leslie and Marie to join us for a traditional Sunday roast dinner - so back on board we worked as a team to get it all going.

Menu - Roast pork and stuffing.
            Roast potatoes.
            Boiled new potatoes
            Cauliflower.
            Carrots
            Green beans
            Yorkshire pudding
             Home made Gravy.

Desert - Far Bretton and cream.

The cooking went well apart from the oven went out when the gas bottle ran out at a bad time !!!
We recovered and everything was ready on time.

Not bad for a 36 years old two burner stove with oven and grill.

A good evening was had by all - good conversation - the wine flowed again !

Mike Jackie + Penny.

Amazing Day !!

Saturday 18th June 2016

Off early today  - Landrelec - picking up the walk of yesterday where we left off.

                                         Warm and sunny - Hardly any one around - amazing.

                                                              In her element.

We walked for about an hour with a stop on the beach for Penny to have a swim.

The end of today's walk was a new bay with houses overlooking the sea - we will start the next walk here.

Back at the car - a packed lunch then back to Blazer.

Jackie and Penny snoozed in the afternoon while I did some engine maintenance - trying to sort the overheating again !!

In the evening we were invited to Leslie and Marie's boat for a sing song !!

There were 10 of us altogether - all from the UK.
The wine flowed again - we chatted and then the guitars came out !

                                                           Marie our hostess on the right.

                                                         Ian on Guitar + Peter on songbook.

                                                             Leslie manning the bar.

It was a really good evening with song after song from the song books that Leslie and Marie carry on board.

We wobbled home about midnight - took Penny for her last walk - an AMAZING day !!!

New Walk and New Friends.

Friday 17th June 2016

                                                         Landrelec Port.

Warm and sunny - off to a new walk Landrelec - from the port towards Tregestel.

                                                                     Great views

Hardly anyone around - amazing for June !!
Great view looking out to the open sea - Penny loved it - running, full gallop - investigating everything.

Lots of beautiful holiday homes along this walk - facing the sea - no one in them -most of them all closed up!

We walked as far as the restaurant and had coffee ( 7.50 Euros ! ) and returned to the car.

                                                Part of this path is a bridal way - Lovely.

                                                       Sniffing out every corner !

                                             A lovely new walk with great views - Just the Job.


In the afternoon I wandered down to the visitors pontoon and chatted with an Irish couple + invited them for a chat on Blazer.

Leslie and Marie came along and we had a lovely chat in sunshine in the cockpit - swapping stories of our trip so far.

After tea - it's Friday so - LE BENJI'S !!!

The band was good - the wine flowed and we had a little dance - lovely.

A great day altogether.

Mike Jackie + Penny.

Sunshine

Wednesday 15th & Thursday 16th June 2016

                                                             Penny - a bit bored ?

Wednesday - off to Treguir market - a half hour drive away - lots of stalls - we bought cherry tomatoes from our favourite stall and whelks ( cooked ).

                                                           Red flowers and red shutters.

                                                        coffee - watching the market.

On our way back we took Penny to her favourite beach on Ille Grande - lovely.
Then back on board - hot sunshine - I fitted the new depth instrument in the cockpit - works a treat.
The sun shone until after 9 pm !!

Thursday - a sunny day - all day !!
Off to Ille Grande beach with coffee and a packed lunch - I forgot my hat - burned my head !!!
It was hard to keep Penny in the shade - we must take a big towel to stretch between our chairs next time.
We did take her water bucket thank goodness !
Back in the marina - Jackie headed for the beach - while I prepared Blazer for a trip out to sea - just a test trip - out and back to check things out.
The marina gate was open until 21.30 so bags of time.

Off we went !!
First time out since October last year - WONDERFUL !!!
Penny was a bit nervous at first but soon settled with Jackie fussing her continuously!
Penny had her new life jacket on and a safety line to make sure she didn't try to run off !!
Jackie tried fishing but no joy - perhaps the mackerel aren't here yet ?
All systems worked well but the temperature gauge was not reading - I'll sort that.

Back in the marina after an hour in hot sunshine - lovely.

A great day.

Mike- Jackie + Penny

Blazer Repairs

Tuesday 14th June 2016

Up early on Tuesday - my neighbour ( Jean-Francois ) was kind enough to lend me his new mast climbing gear for me to remove my unserviceable radar antenna.

It is a webbing ladder that you hoist up the mast with sliders that fit in the sail groove.
At first I didn't have it tensioned enough but once that was sorted - UP I WENT !!

I had a sit harness with a safety device on a separate line - also tensioned - which worked well - I slid it up the rope as I climbed the ladder.

It took just a couple of minutes to climb to the spreaders and I felt perfectly safe all the time.

                                                               Just got to the spreaders

I loosened the 4 bolts holding the radar to the bracket and then climbed higher to stand on the spreader arms in order to disconnect the wiring.

                 In this position I was very comfortable for the delicate job of disconnecting the cable.

I hoisted up a big plastic bucket - put the radar in it and lowered it to the deck - Jean-Francois covered it up - then it rained - boy did it rain !!!

I climbed down easily but like a drowned rat !!

Job done - very pleased - I can take the radar home and repair it at leisure and avoid costly dealer repairs.

I have been in contact with Furuno and they have suggested what the problem might be.

I didn't take a camera up with me but Jean-Francois did, the day before, when he went to the top of his mast.

That's Blazer on the left - quite a view !! - not bad - climbing the mast at 67 years old.

Lazy Day

Sunday 12th June 2016

                                                            Baking this morning

A leisurely start today Jackie then got cracking with some pastry.

A steak and potato pie - Jam turn overs and a salmon in pastry for Monday - lovely.

We took Penny out for a new walk - Ille Grande - from the harbour but the opposite way to the walk we have done already towards the bird sanctuary.

                                                      The other side of the harbour.

                                                                     Wall flowers !

It was dry and warm on the walk but overcast.

Back on board we got ready and off to visit the boats that we entertained on Friday - lashings of tea and a home made cake - lovely.

Back on board - the pie was great.

A good day all round.

Mike - Jackie + Penny.

Busy Day

Saturday 11th June 2016.

                                                           Warmest spot on Blazer

                                                        Lovely glow inside the stove.
It's been cooler today - not cold but cooler - Penny grabbed the hot seat this morning - I lit a small fire to take the edge off first thing.

 We took Penny for a long walk on our regular spot - Ille Grande - we suddenly noticed a new sign, erected yesterday - NO DOGS !!!

That referred to the beach and must be because the tourist season starts in July.
Never mind - we walked the coast path and onto the beach much further up where there are no signs.

                                                 Coffee stop at Landrellec - tide in !!

We drove on to the port at Landrellec and saw it for the first time with water in the harbour - not high tide but at least the boats were floating !!

                                                       2nd coffee stop near Trebeurden.

We finish our flask of coffee at a beach that we have never stopped at - close to Trebeurden - looking across at Ille Grande from a new direction.

Back in the marina - I watched my neighbour - Jean Piere  - while he climbed the mast to do some repairs.
He was using a new device - a  webbing ladder - it worked a treat.
He has offered to lend it to me so that I can remove my radar antennae for repair.

Jackie made a big pot of chilli for dinner and we invited Jean Piere - we sat in the cockpit chatting for ages -
A great day all together.

Mike - Jackie + Penny.