Snork Maiden redux

Oh dear – we do look desolate!   I was going to photograph the mast coming down in stages – however, since I was needed to make up numbers, my role in documenting the action was scotched.   As you can see, we look a bit depressed when it’s not in vertical mode.   Now I understand completely why the rigging can’t be changed without taking the mast down.   Actually the mechanics of taking the mast down are the least of it.   Much more challenging is disconnecting – or rather re-connecting – the cables that run from the mast to the instruments – lights and radar.   I’m sure you will hear more about that when the time comes.   If you have ever taken your phone apart and seen that nest of tiny coloured wires, you’ll know what I am talking about.   For anyone contemplating a passage alternating sea sailing with inland waterways, the advice would be to make the connection boxes accessible, simple and well documented. The Dark Art of Rigg...

Today is the big day – the day of the lift.   We have lifted in several ports and several ways now – big, overpowered, well-maintained, shiny travel lifts designed for boats much bigger than ours at one end of the scale and tractor – trailer type devices that look as though they can’t possibly work.   Asking a yard to lift the boat is always an act of trust.   So far it has always worked.   Usually we lift in the Autumn and launch in early summer.   Last year we left her in the water all winter so she’s just out for a week or so.   It’s a big year too – we are changing the standing rigging – an expensive job that involves another scary manoeuvre, taking the mast down.   But I am getting ahead of myself.             Today began at around 3am when the sound of heavy rain woke me up.   It was hard to go back to sleep then.   I think I dropped off a few minutes before my alarm went off at 05...

For some reason Blooger (typo but seems appropriate) wouldn't load my iPhone video - so here's the YouTube link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SwVpgRue2A&list=UUY0SsHxEBJVIxHN6tI1_B6A&index=1 Finally a sunny day!  All laundry done by hand as the little laundrette has closed!   On the positive side, the Department is clearing the canal from Marans to La Rochelle - that could change everything!  Would be a great little canoe trip.

Sunny afternoon for Marans modest celebration  The French seem to do modest quite well. See that bit of blue sky? Eating, drinking and music.  Sausages NOT vegetarian so had coffee and cake. I feel as though I have arrived now, with a quick trip into La Rochelle this morning for supplies - BLOC almanac (an essential compendium of times, tides and harbours), firing cartridges for lifejackets and a can of yacht cleaner.  Pretty quiet at Minimes despite the presence of several hundred - maybe thousand - boats.  I got back in time to catch the market - a pathetic 3 stalls in a space that was designed for many more - 2 veg and 1 fish.  I bought from the same old geezer who I've been buying from since 2008 when we arrived here for the first time.  I spent 22 € on veg. so well stocked for a while - early broad beans, artichoke, beautiful leeks - and much much more -mostly from the geezer's garden.     I was also in time for the Fete at Marans - bought a ...

AL on Nantjizel Beach May 2013 As you may have guessed,  Jenny has taken off for France in her capacity as maintenance crew while Al labours away in Bristol, producing tracks for what we used to call 'the man'.  Just now he's finishing up his Celtic collection and moving on to guitar tracks largely composed in Cornwall, earlier this month - or was it last month - at Sally's house on the Lizard.  Travel is always inspirational for Al and he and his guitar will be joining me, my oily rags and a clean, shiny, re-rigged Snork Maiden sometime in June. I am looking forward to it.  Although Snork Maiden is great company and doesn't talk back, I miss him.

  Snork Maiden and her sisters on her pontoon at Marans Slow start to this year's blog, I'm afraid.  Facebook partly to blame - I feel as though I have already said it all - but I'm aware that it is a different medium.  This b(log) acts as a diary and record of where we go and what we do, although it fell into a black hole of Internet paranoia last year - maybe year before. It usually takes me a couple of days to acclimatise, to settle into boat life, live in a space of around 4 square metres, speak French and hone my DIY and engineering skills.  This year I am also having to get used to the temperature and the unforgiving NW/West wind.  It's rare to have to turn on the fan heater between April and September - but this year is pretty strange, weather-wise.  For anyone who's interested, Meteo France have a detailed 10-day forecast on the Internet. Marans Weather The plan for today, after a second cuppa, is to major on the engine, and give the outside of the ...