Ssshhh....Secret Santas About

Part 2 of the festive season officially begins tomorrow....yep it's our family Xmas. Das parents are galavanting off to the far east for a few months for their annual vitamin d, we shall join them for their last few weeks.

So tomorrow it's Xmas at my sisters with festive cheer , food and off course the annual treat that is Trivial Dispute.

Highlight is Secret Santa, we don't do presents for all any more just Secret Santa, mine is fab and oh boy am I going to be in sooooooo much trouble!

Looking forward to catching up with everyone and getting into the festive spirit.

Italian Christmas

Yep the festive season has officially started for us! On a very soggy Sunday it was over to the cousins for a swooper roast lunch and catch up with family that are over from Italy. So not quite the true traditional Italian Christmas, but fab nether the less.

No game of Trivial Dispute this year but the Logo Game, where team Roffe / Pucas Pidley thrashed the Jacks in a non competitive way of course despite being made to answer the last round of questions...once no twice!

Great afternoon, swooper food and of course being with family which is what it's all about.

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Sad News

The rain has reeked havoc overnight here in Exeter with river levels rising again and banks breaching. Exmouth flooded and cut off as well as some of the peripheral villages.

Worse though is a 20 year old has lost her life walking home late last night after a tree fell on her just outside the main city centre.



The rain has stopped for now, let's hope it stays that way, one lost life is too many.

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Wet N Miserable

It's all abit wet and miserable here in Blighty. Bracing ourselves for what the elements will bring today again although we are safe here at the top of the mountain. As we go down though towards the river you can see the torrents that are having difficulty in containing themselves.

It's grim and it's been tough for large numbers of Devonians this week, here's hoping this weekends forecast doesn't live up to expectations. No swailing for us, just keeping well wrapped and warm.

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Girls Night Out

We will be tame racing drivers tonight as it is a school night but it is a special occasion. So early doors tonight post work, the ladies will be off to celebrate....41 years sis, here is wishing you a very very happy birthday!


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An Ode To French Toilets

As we have left port I thought it safe to discuss the one issue that has provoked the most indignation and laughter from us both all week.

La toilettes francais are in a world of their own.

Our observations :

Don't expect to find them where they are signposted, they won't be there.

There is no such thing as separate male and female toilets, in my experience all week they are unisex and don't expect the locks to work as interruptions from the opposite sex is the norm.

Light switches are not put in the usual place and you may end up incontinent trying to find it or caused yourself a head injury tripping over the toilet in the dark.

The doors open the wrong way round ie outwards.

This is one that caused most indignation from das captain, 220 volt sockets next to sinks with leaky taps.

The decor is either loud (that's if you find the light switch) or some 70,s floral pattern.

The flush invariably is some homemade gizmondo that takes several attempts to be successful.

It is an experience but we both feel wiser and enriched as a result and have survived!



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Location:La Manche

Homeward Bound

Well we've had our last supper in France although about to head out shortly for la petit dejeuner before hitting the hypermarket.

Super last night was in a quaint bistro in the old time. We ventured away from all things fishy for a change well almost das captain opted for an assiette de peche which included the customary fish soup which we have come to love over here. Swooper steak and heavenly pudding we were well feasted after a long day on the road.

Roscoff is a beautiful old town and we staying in the heart if it. Lovely to wake up the sound of the sea outside and a view to die for.

So last minute shopping and then ferry bound , back in daylight hrs this time, forecast is calm and only a fourth minute drive on the other side.

We have had a cracking week, so glad we came and can't wait to do it again in four yrs time to see the Vendee and hopefully by bot next summer.





















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Small World

So after a hearty breakfast we headed up the coast towards Roscoff. Pitstop was Cameret Sur Mer which has always been on the pitstop summer swailing route.




We arrived bang on lunchtime after a two hr drive, almost deserted and the sun almost came out but you can see why this is on the coastal hop after crossing la manche.




There are two marinas in the harbour and as we wended our way down to the first we recognised a bot from our home marina....prop furred up after not so much use of late but in spanking condition after an extensive refit this yr, there she was in all her green and yellow glory. No-one aboard but one of many British yachts in the marina.



Quaint harbour and beaches can see why people rave about it and can see why it is totally packed in summer. We took some lunch in one of the few restaurants that was open (not our best french meal) and then hopped up the coast to Roscoff.













Last night of the hols......it's flown by. Great room view to see us off tomorrow.




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Location:Camaret Sur Mer

Breton Treasure: Ker Ysta

This was a real find, courtesy of Sawdays of course where there aren't many places listed for Southern Brittany.



A gorgeous renovated Breton longhouse adjacent to the hosts house where breakfast and supper are served. Some real love and attention has gone into this as the room standard is exceptional. We didnt make use of the communal lounge but that is a quirky addition which if we were staying longer would get some use.








Supper last night was cooked by our host and was French cuisine at its best, a beautiful four course supper of all things fish....the chocolate and caramel fondant was to due for.

Wish we were staying longer but Roscoff calls via Cameret Sur Mer, some nostalgia for us as that was one of the planned stopovers on our ill fated trip a few years back! First though breakfast calls, I wonder what delights Yolande will have cooked up this morning!




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Location:Erveden

Could Be The Yealm!

So we left base camp this morning and wended our way along the coast. St Nazaire we continued to drive through as the submarine pens that das captain wanted to view were closed so we carried on through and stopped at a gorgeous town called La Roche Bernard for some lunch, it was stunning and I almost felt transported back to the Yealm for a moment.

Lots of English yachts berthed there, although hardly a soul about, it was so peaceful.



















We took a stroll along the river before heading further up the coast to Carnac and then down to Etel.

Etel


We are now chilling out in our Breton longhouse plotting where to go enroute to Roscoff tomorrow. The standard of accommodation here is swooper, so another great internet find by Mrs Roffeeeee! Looking forward to our traditional Breton supper later aver a crisp vin blanc.

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Location:Erveden

Leaving Base Camp

Yesterday we headed out for the day along the coast to Saint Gilles Des Croix de Vie, famous for all things Beneteau! The factory is based there and on the route in any available spot has constructed hulls under wraps.

Gorgeous sunny day in complete contrast to the day before, quaint town which we took our time to stroll around.

Wicked lunch with the best moules I have ever tasted and then another stroll to walk it off before sitting and watching the world go by or more importantly watching the boats head out to sea.






On the Vendee front it's claimed it's first casualty....Safran has retired, hit something and lost its keel.....cripes at least it happened here and not around the Southern Ocean, gutting though for the skipper and base crew.
So as for today, we are leaving base camp heading up to Saint Nazaire and then up the coast towards our Breton longhouse for the night before leaving for Roscoff via the coast on Tuesday. Time flies when you,re having fun.
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Location:Saint Gilles Des Croix De Vie

We Were There @ 1302pm: The Start Of The Vendee Globe 2012

Wow....what an unbelievable day, the French who are bonkers about swailing really do know how to see a race off in style!



We opted for not driving down at sparrowfart time as when we were leaving le gare on Friday it looked like all the car parks were full, are only option was the train and unlike Angleterre where additional get put on for special occasions, the earliest we could get was the 08:30am.

So train it was and as we pulled in we could begin to see the magnitude of what we were about to see as the crowds were swarming their way towards la plage.


It's not a long walk from the station but despite our route march it took some time due to idle dawdling.

Our first view of the beach and OMG....I have never seen so many people in all my life congregated in once place for as far as the eye could see. The famous carnival canal where the boats parade up was full to over flowing with people hanging on any available spot. The very very very slim chance of a premier viewing point was gone.






The parade wasn't due to start until 10:00am where over the course of two hours the yachts leave the pontoon after saying goodbye to their loved ones and wend their way up the canal being towed by their support boats to N absolute cacophony of noise that you have never heard before.

We made our way up towards the canal along the beach and found a reasonable viewing point, well wrapped up against the elements we stood and watched and waited still not quite believing we were here.

The sea was brewing up quite nicely with an array of boats battling against the huge swell that had grown since yesterday. No nice sunny weather today just ominous black clouds and right on cue as the first yacht left the pontoon the heavens opened, like a warning from Neptune of things to come. The rain stayed consistently for the next two hrs. Brrrrrr.




Prior to each yacht leaving each intrepid captain was interviewed live for all to see and hear, Alex Thompson 'humbled' by the crowds, veteran Mike Golding itching to go and the only woman in the race and native Breton, Sam Davies just waving and blowing kisses to all.

The next two hrs just flew by, the noise never lessened, flares set off as the each yacht left the canal and headed out to sea for the final checks before the 13:02 start time. Unlike the Americas Cup or even the Transat the start line is quite a way offshore so we were wishing that we were on das bot so we could get amongst it all.

After the last yacht left the canal so did most of the crowds, we in desperate need of warming up headed for a drink and some lunch. This wasn't as difficult as we thought, seems everyone just heads home and not the nearest restaurant so we found a nice looking place and enjoyed our first moules of the hols.


Warmed up nicely we headed out back into the elements, the rain had stopped by now and there was a glimmer of sun on the horizon. Along the promenade there were small crowds but those that had lined the canal and beach were gone.

13:02pm.....and there,re off! An amazing sight on what has been a fabulous spectacle to see, so glad we came over this and have experienced it first hand. What a way to send those skippers off on the marathon of the seas.



It's not been without incident as always, one yacht didn't make the start line after holing her hull on leaving the pontoon, they left late last night after repairs and Safran is back in port this am after colliding with something a few hrs into the race.....and it's only day one!

Having trouble uploading photos, so only a few I am afraid.

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Location:Les Sables Des L'Donne

Never Forget On Remembrance Sunday

To all those soldiers past and those serving all around the world here is to you and your bravery.

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Racing Hero,s

What a treat when we went round the race village on Friday....tucked on the other port side nestled into amongst the French fishing boats was a parade of old masters of circumnavigation.

Yep they were there, Joshua and Suhaili amongst others and to cap it all there was Sir Robin Knox Johnston with his brother in the cockpit untypical fashion smoking a fag!

Das captain had last seen Suhaili in Teignmouth a few years back I had never seen her. Close up it was amazing to see this 32 ft yacht that had take. Sir Robin into the history books all those years ago. Still in good shape for an old girl I bet she has many stories to tell.

Alongside her Joshua who abandoned the race she may have won, instead opting for another record and a life of vagabonding in the South Pacific.

All ages were climbing aboard and being given a history lesson on these grand old ladies. It was apt that they were here as the latest motley captains set off on their quest for glory.



















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Location:Les Sables D'LOnne

Location:Les Sables D'LOnne