Bonofacio Haut Ville

Saturday 28 May

Have had two lovely days in Bonofacio and walked miles up and down to the Haut Ville and along the top where the views are fantastic. Everyone has collapsed in a heap on the boat reading and the boys are looking forward to the footie tonight.

It has been very windy today but the forecast is good for tomorrow and we are off to Sardinia and the Maddelena islands and then Porto Cervo by Tuesday - where berths can cost over £2000 in the high season - and Olbia by Wednesday. The forecast is looking good up until 02 June when Matt & Hev return to the UK.

Bonifacio

Thursday 26 May








Entrance into Bonofacio

Left Ajaccio at 8.45 a.m.not quite such an early start as Wednesday as not quite so far to go to Bonifacio and another beautiful day with flat calm seas all the way. Have had a short stroll around to see whats here but plan a walk tomorrow to the Haute Ville (blooming steep walk - couldnt face it today!) but forecast is for gale force winds Friday and Saturday. Matt & Hev have gone to find the beach and we are relaxing on board until dinner at the Kissing Pigs. Have managed to get on a random unsecured wifi network so hoping I can keep doing so for a few more logins.

Calvi Again and on to Ajaccio

Ajaccio - Wednesday 24 May

Matt & Heather arrived safely Sunday afternoon and we set off back to Calvi. The weather looked very promising and the sea was beautifully calm but when we got out of Saint-Florent bay there was an incredible swell although the water was really smooth and unfortunately it finished off Heather who spent most of the four hours to Calvi curled up asleep!
Anyway they loved Calvi as much as we did and we decided to stay until early Wednesday morning with a couple of trips to the beach and a little sightseeing before we left. Set off at 6 a.m. to try to make the most of there being little wind at that time of day and also armed with some Mal de mer tablets - and there was no wind for the whole eight hours and the sea was perfectly calm. We did, however, have a little hiccup - there's always one - about an hour and a half from Ajaccio a sea fog appeared out of nowhere and we could not see anything. To cap it all Bruce had been polishing his horn - I know it makes you go blind - but unfortunately it didnt work! That will teach him to keep cleaning everything. So with Hev and me on the front as look outs we crawled into the Vieux Port at Ajaccio - it was very spooky especially when a sailing boat would appear out of nowhere just by us and then finally the marina wall was there and a massive cruise ship - and then the fog cleared! Anyway it didnt take us long to decide one night was enough in Ajaccio.

Saint-Florent

Thursday 19 May

Left Ile Rousse after a coffee in town and a trip to buy bread and cheese and had a three hour trip in lighter winds along the coast to Saint-Florent. As usual there was this mild feeling of anxiety about available spaces but we need not have worried as the marina is huge and there is more space than we have ever seen. We had also been led to believe that it would be really expensive here as it is supposed to be a very popular place but it isnt as expensive as expected and there is a very relaxed atmosphere in the marina with boats mooring anywhere they feel like it.

We have found a wi fi cafe to blog and Bruce is on his second book already - he had to finish the one he was reading last year first!

Now Saturday 21 and only one more day before Matt & Heather arrive - cant wait. Weather is absolutely beautiful.

L'Ile Rousse

Wednesday 18 May

Left Calvi into brisk north westerly winds which werent quite what we had in mind which slowed us up although we only planned to go a short way along the coast to Ile Rousse. We were intrigued to be called on the radio almost as soon as we left Calvi to be asked where were we going, length of boat and how many passengers. We assumed that it was the coastguard but never have we been so checked up on - fortunately we werent attacked by Corsican pirates.

By 1.30 p.m. we arrived at the marina at Ile Rousse - there was one space available so we took it - the place was more or less deserted and although there was a Captainerie office there was no sign of anyone despite the fact that we kept returning to check in. We gave up in the end and went for a walk to the town and the lighthouse and spent a very quiet night.

Calvi from the citadel

Sunday 15 May

As predicted it is blowing a hoolley - a mistral, and although the sky was quite grey to start with it is now brilliantly blue and warm but impossible to sit out on deck. We went for a walk up to the citadel to see what the sea was looking like on the other side of the bay and made sure that we absolutely did not want to go anywhere today and probably not tomorrow either. So going to get down to a lunch of bread and very smelly French cheese in a moment and a walk to the beach this afternoon. Have found a great shop full of Corsican food, wine and beer so have a plan to go back there to stock up as well - we are really having to suffer the wind.

Monday 16 May

Had a complete change of plan last night - must have been the beer and wine. Decided it was crazy to go to Ajaccio and back in the next few days especially as it is so lovely here and we are now staying until Wednesday when we will make our way east towards St Florent which is in (hopefully) easy reach of Bastia airport and our visitors arriving on Sunday - very excited about seeing them. So actually went to the beach this afternoon and have now got that out of my system - it didnt look too busy yesterday afternoon and we found a nice spot today and then everyone else decided they rather liked it too. But a beautiful day and the wind has dropped almost completely.

Calvi, Corsica

Saturday 14 May

Beautiful warm sunny day in Calvi, Corisca. Left Port de Frejus on the south coast of France early on Friday 13 and took just over 13 hours to get to here at 19.45 p.m. There was no one to greet us and plenty of room which we were very relieved about as we had found it quite difficult along the south coast of France again even at this time of the year and couldnt go to Cannes as we had hoped because of the Film Festival. We were pleased to leave the south of France behind us. FF. We had a good crossing although I made the mistake of having a shower after we had got underway and that finished me off for at least the first six hours but that did mean I had coffee, lunch and tea made for me. I must remember this for the next long voyage!

We had a passenger for a little while who looked absolutely exhausted and in need of a little rest.

Calvi is very pretty although quite a tourist trap and we get the impression that it is absolutely heaving in the height of the season. It is just right as it is at the moment though.
Latest plan is to stay here for a couple of nights, although I have just checked the wind and it is going to be very strong through tomorrow which will leave Monday a little frisky - so will probably stay til Tuesday when we are going to head towards Ajaccio and then back here and along the coast for the end of next week so we can catch up with Matt and Hev next Sunday - so exciting.

Tuesday 10 May

At last leaving smelly shed.

Sequel safely back in water again by 4.30 p.m. yesterday afternoon and everything seems to be working - at the moment. Bruce has spent hours fixing the broken bed and it is now a work of art - I have washed the floors inside the boat three times and have decided if all else fails I can get a job as a cleaning lady - in fact have thought I might start my own business and even have a name 'Lady Muck'.

Weather lovely here - about 23 degrees and nice breeze. Needless to say mistral is on it way - at least by Sunday but we hope to get ahead of it if possible and are heading for Cannes by Friday - Saturday latest and then we will check forecast again before crossing over to Corsica which is about 100 miles(nautical) and will take us at least 12 hours - cant wait.

Back to Port St Louis

Thursday 05 May 2011

Left home early to catch ferry from Poole to Cherbourg. Good crossing. Drove south for approximately 5 and a half hours to a B&B recommended by Mr Sawday. Very large and old farmhouse, strong smell of cats, badly in need of complete refurbishment but had possibly the best dinner we have had in France! Swore I would never go into that much detail on a blog but had beef from one of the farm's cows and quite the best rhubarb tart we have ever eaten.

Arrived at Port St Louis half way through Friday afternoon. Sequel is undercover in an enormous shed - she was also undercover of a large amount of merde d'oiseaux and very dusty but we got to work straight away unloading the car and getting everything on board via ropes. AND THEN Bruce washed the aft ******* deck - so we wouldnt walk in any bird poo, of course.

Saturday was spent washing off the remaining dust etc. Bruce bought himself a disposable pair of overalls so he could safely put on the anti-foul and looked like a giant teabag all day.

Sunday I have left Bruce anti-fouling and am waiting for the washing (nothing changes) as there is going to be no power for the next two days. I am also having a lovely time catching up with a few emails etc. and seeing what I may be missing at home - although Chelsea dont play until this afternoon.

Back in the water tomorrow, Monday, and then all being well away by Wednesday latest as the forecast is looking good. Have to get to Corsica by May 22 to pick up Matt and Heather!