Snork Maiden redux

Hello Virtual Shipmates So we have been in La Rochelle for a couple of nights - since the third one is free, we just can't resist! Since Al arrived a week ago we had a few easy days in Marans - got the second anchor kitted up with a nice new chain & rope in preparation for all those lovely Spanish Rias.  La R is as seductive as always with its 3rd night free, terrific ice cream but a disappointing sardine & squid experience at the P'tit Bateau Bleu. Tomorrow we set off for Ile d'Oleron - just a short hop but hope to get a nice sailing breeze and make sure that the autopilot is under our control.  (Really this is a matter of good sail set as all you salts will appreciate.)  If we are truly going to the land of Flamenco & tapas, we need a good reliable 3rd hand - and this one doesn't answer back! Mainly English boats on our pontoon - well, i suppose the French live here anyway.  For yo TV people - Sunny Side of the Doc is on - so lots of overheard conversat...

So what happened between the ferry and Marans?  Well - there was just over a week at Philippe Julien's yard in Charron - 10 K from Marans.  During which time I anti-fouled the lovely Snork Maiden with 3L of Cruiser Uno in smart navy.  Marylene drove over from Rosas and the two of us spent a happy few days in a maze of closed cell foam and glue, dealing with a sort of vinyl polar bear skin that is the forepeak lining.  Results were better than we dared hope, and although there are some edges that need to be dealt with in due course.  The main thing is that the forepeak is now fully functional for sails, baggage, boarding ladder and human crew.  Yippee.    Oh yes - the protective clothing! Pity they only sell these suits in XL sizes.  Glam eh? It wasn't all work though - we found the great little La Ponetere restaurant next to the boatyard and managed to eat there twice in a very few days.  The cook knows what she is doing with seafoo...

So here we are back in on our 'catway' in Marans.  The original plan was to go for a short cruise leaving on Thursday, but a phone call and family drama called Marylene back to her maternal role and she took off for Spain yesterday.  There is plenty to keep me occupied - never a moment when there isn't something that can be done - aside from social media and just chilling out reading.  Yesterday's errand - a trip into La Rochelle for a spark plug, a tin of varnish (for the boat hook - watch this space) and a nice lunch at our favourite restaurant in Minimes.  (Nice thing about eating alone - you always feel like it's half-price!) Just to remind you what Marans looks like: The Old Chat Noir - now re-named the Marans Cafe. Not sure what happened to the colours here!  Time to download photo software for the iPhone 5!   Get that typeface!

FERRYGEDDON Usually I sleep really well on a ferry but not this time !  I had a sandwich on the way down so skipped supper and settled for a weak earl grey tea in my cabin. Then we left Plymouth and after a quick look out of the round window to see the red buoys sliding by, I read for about 5 minutes, set the alarm for 0530, put the light out and looked forward to an unbroken 6  or 7 hours sleep - not to be! I felt as though I was waking up every half hour or so, eventually putting this down to the position of the cabin directly over several hundred (or maybe thousands) diesel horsepower. The old Brittany ferries were kind of like that with cabins way below the car decks. This one is the Armorique, the flagship of the new fleet with hotel style rooms, TV (no signal) tea making & shower. Speaking of which, I am getting out of bed to have one. Coming soon....  Another year, another coat of Cruser Uno (just kidding)