(Sept 6th - Oct 13th)
Sept 20th - Sorry it's been so long since the last update! We're now on our boat in St. Raphael, and she is beautiful! We arrived about a week ago, and have since been packing away all our belongings on the boat, and taking a look around in Nice and St Raphael.
Today we took Gallant out of the marina for the first time! It was lovely to at last be out on the water. Michel, our ship broker, showed us how to hoist the sails and use the autopilot, everything is electronic! We just push few buttons and the sails are up!
The weather here is gorgeous, its starting to cool down after the summer, but its still perfect for shorts and t-shirts, with a breeze to keep you cool. The people here are very friendly, when they realize that we're struggling with the French, they try English, and are happy to answer our questions. Most of the time Andrea and David do the talking, alex will the the Spanish speaker! Giles and Savrine are turning our aft cabin into a double berth, and were very helpful when we first arrived and didn't know anyone. Giles does not speak much English, but he is learning, and we are learning French too! Savrine not only speaks English but also Italian and Spanish, so Alex has been practicing her Spanish in preparation for Minorca.
Right now I (Alex) am sat the navigation table with David trying to figure out the navigation equipment, and Andrea is wiping the table after a lunch of baguette, cheese, ham, and jam, it was delicious! Its been really hot today because there's been no wind, but now it is picking up and it has cooled down.
Were planning to stay here for about another week, enough time to finish the aft cabin and sort everything out. Then we're headed off south to go along the French coast for about two weeks and then were sailing to the Balearics islands!
If you want to contact us we have a French mobile phone, to call from America dial::(011) 33 6 30 74 03 26, if you're calling from England the number is (00) 33 6 30 74 03 26. We would LOVE to hear from you!
Sept 27th - Tried out our new gadgets for the boat, yesterday we bought a flat screen TV, a blender, and a juicer. We made fresh juice for breakfast, very tasty! Then we had Savrine and Giles, (the people converting the aft cabin) for dinner they are our first guests!
Sept 28th - Met up with long time friends, Ray and Ada. The last time they saw us was 14 years ago, what a reunion!
Also got our name for the boat, we're officially Gallant of Fowey now! Had an
amazing sunset too.
Oct 2nd - left St Raphael for Hyeres. Got a quick picture of the famous church in St Raphael from the water:
We anchored off of St Tropez for the night, the first time anchoring.
Oct 3rd - Arrived in Hyeres, did a terrible job of docking, but I'm sure we'll get better, (i hope!). Alex and Andrea took a look around the historic part of Hyeres. It was beautiful, cliché French alleyways and washing hanging above to dry.
Oct 7th - Alex went up the mast today! One of our navigation lights was broken, so we had to put a new one in.
Oct 8th - We left Hyeres and sailed for Cassis further along the coast. We anchored at Port Minou just round the corner in a little calanque.
Oct 9th - None of us slept last night because a storm blew in and rocked the boat the whole night! Motored out of the anchorage and went to Cassis where there is shelter. It's really pretty here, colourful shops right on the water.
Oct 10th - It poured with rained, the heaviest I've ever seen!, the main street became a stream! The bridge over the street was useless because water wasn't just going under it but around it too! Alex got caught out in it and was soaked!
Oct 11th - The weather has eased so we sailed to Marseille today. We're moored up right next to a huge Galleon, and we're in the middle of town because it's all centered around the port! We found an amazing coffee shop in town, had to take a picture!
Oct 13th - left Marseille for Barcelona today. Got some photos of Chateau d 'If, I didn't realize it was so close to Marseille, it's right outside the habour!
