We spent some days in La Rochelle which was very pleasant and a chance to
recover a bit. Actually we spent longer than we wanted because we needed to
get the Chartplotter fixed if we could and failing that get a reliable
standby. The plotter was partially fixed and we waited an extra day for the
standby to arrive.

We met a charming Irish couple who booked us in to look over the French
yacht Tara. It was aluminium built to go through the ice and she went to the
North pole and entered the ice to drift around with the ice packs. They had
thought that it would take 3 years but they came out of the ice in 2 years
in the pacific having entered in the Atlantic. Quite a trip and very
interesting to look over the boat.

So we were quite keen to leave La Rochelle and left at low water almost
springs, [not a good idea as it is very shallow indeed] Anyway we got out,
we disturbed a flat fish or two and a few cockles but we got out.

We spent a couple of days in St Martin De Re. It is a quite delightful
place. A real photographers dream and the island is also very flat for
bicycling which was fun. Tina had her birthday there and we went to a very
good restaurant to celebrate. We were expelled today, not for bad behaviour
but because there was to be a festival and all visitors had to go.

Subject to weather it is the isle de Yeu tomorrow. Forecast id W5 or 6 and
that should be ok.

 

I am in an internet cafe struggling with the internet. Tina says it is to teach me patience but it is not working!!
Sunbird July 5th