Brittany

After our enjoyable but extended stay in Guernsey, we arrived at Treguier in a Force 7 and negotiated the rocky tricky approach. Being in a river the pontoons are very difficult to approach or leave and not very secure. Slack water is the only safe time. The town is very old and full of character with lots of cafes and small shops selling lace and Quimper pottery. Roscoff  was our next intended port of call, however things were not going to be that simple! A fair tide and good breeze got us there early and we took a buoy between the harbour and Ile de Batz. Watching the Seaweed boats arriving laden down...was quite bizarre. When the tide had risen enough, we entered the harbour, only to find no room on the wall! So as night was falling there was no alternative except to go round to Bloscon the rather exposed Ferry terminal. Well, the night was spent rolling around and at first light (5am) I slipped the buoy and headed off for L'Aberwrac'h. The nearest shop was a 2 mile walk up a steep hill. Try and drop into the conversation at the cashout that you are on a boat and you might, like us, be lucky and get a lift in the back of the delivery van. Mary Joe's bar is recommended in the pilot books. The food is good and conversation in Franglais, spoken in a slurred accent. Weather kept us tied up and with a slightly better forecast we nosed out bound for the notorious Chenal du Four. When we arrived, the wind had risen to a force 7 on the nose, giving us rough "wind over tide" conditions. Silver Tryst was showing us she was a good dry seaboat. The Navtex weather forecast was giving the prospect of worse to come and we were glad to reach the sheltered harbour of Camaret sur Mer.  Gales and gusts of over 50 knots kept us in Camaret for a few days while we planned where to leave the boat. Brest was our choice as it has a large well run marina .We left the boat there and returned to UK for a month. This whole area has great Breton entertainment and free Jeudi du Port in Brest, surprise, surprise on Thursdays.

When we returned our two oldest children Mark and Siona joined us for a week.

Morgat was our next port where we spent a few relaxing days, before braving the Raz de Seine. Ras de Seine

River Odet

Conditions were kind and soon we were in Benodet . We joined in local celebrations with fireworks and live music. Benodet is a lovely but rather expensive town at the mouth of the Odet river.

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