Reset search
Cruising Donkeys to GreeceCruising Donkeys to Greece
SatelliteEdit route

Cruising Donkeys to Greece

April 2017 - May 2018
A 401-day adventure by Cruising donkeys Read more
+1
  • 246footprints
  • 9countries
  • 401days
  • 1.2kphotos
  • 2videos
  • 9.8kkilometers
Follow Calendar Share Bucket list
Date ascending
  • Cruising donkeysCruising Donkeys to Greece
    Day 34

    L'aber wrac'h still

    May 19, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    OK so sadly we didn't get to Paluden, we took the dinghy up river a little ways but apparently Take Five is to big for the mooring bouys there. Yesterday we took the dinghy around the bay for a nose around after walking up to the shops for supplies, well mostly for milk so we can keep on drinking tea. Bay is large and as tides are neaps the water isn't disappearing which is good but sadly a lot of the little islands appear to be private though we did visit a few anyway as the shutters were closed on the houses there. I picked some winkles as well which I had later as an appetiser. This brought back lovely memories of my Gran who died almost a year ago as when we were younger she took us, Max, Bryony and I, winkle picking she would then cook them and we would all sit around the kitchen table picking winkles, dunking them in vinegar before eating them, happy times. Today, Friday, we decided to go walking West around the bay, we nearly made it to Aber Benoit before we headed back below are some pics, zoom for a better view of bay and Phare de l'ile Vierge. There is also a picture of the ugliest French house we have seen to date.Read more

  • Cruising donkeysCruising Donkeys to Greece
    Day 36

    Camaret sur mer

    May 21, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Wow lovely day for 'sailing', we don't obviously actually use the sails but as it is a yacht I suppose that is the correct term. So today we went further west then south then east. From l'aber wrac'h along the coast towards the Le four lighthouse and being as this is JVK, we had to do it on the inside passage, and then south through the channel around point St Matieu, I will add photo. Then we crossed the Gullet of Brest going southeast to Camaret. The cats as you can see are happier but not relaxed about the engine. The final photo is the one I should have taken on way into L'aber wrach, it is of Smiley on the bunker who greets you on your way into port, when we arrived however I was not smiling. 😁Read more

  • Cruising donkeysCruising Donkeys to Greece
    Day 37

    Only 8 lives left

    May 22, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Well woke up this morning and couldn't find Cousteau, panic, we walked up and down pontoons a couple of times even before breakfast, then standing alongside boat talking to John about what might have happened and I hear a truly pitiful wail from under my feet What the?
    OK so we now know where the cat is, under the pontoon, slats, but not how to get to her. We lay down and looked over the side of the pontoon there were a series of floating black squares on either side with 9inch gaps between them all round. So one of us was going to have to get wet and I wasn't sure the cat had long enough for John to get wetsuit ed booted and gloved so me it was. Water was warmer than expected. I had to get under pontoon into middle gap before I could see her looking very wet and sorry for herself, I squeezed between the slats and the floating black squares. To cut a long story short I bundled her into a bucket, that was squeezed between floating black squares to me, she wasn’t sure that was a good idea but I persuaded her and then she and bucket were again squeezed out and back to John. She was very grubby and wet. John did suggest afterwards that I should have taken waterproof camera with me for rescue but sorry at the time I was a bit too worried about the cat. She appears to be OK now.    Read more

  • Cruising donkeysCruising Donkeys to Greece
    1
    Day 40

    L'Aulne, Port Launay and Chataeulin

    May 25, 2017 in France ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    So we got through the gullet of Brest and cruised up the river Aulne our first night was spent anchored just up river from the naval ships graveyard (1) and down river of the Terenez bridge (2), it was so very peaceful only the birds for company. We had thought we might do a bit of sailing but there was no wind at all.
    The next day, Wednesday I gave JVK’s hair a trim, not the pony tail obviously, then we actually cleaned the outside of the boat in the dinghy pulling ourselves round scrubbing as we went. After half tide up we set off further up river to Guili Glaz Lock where we nearly ran into a diver.
    Let me explain, our book says that if the bottom gates are open you can just go in to the lock and tie up and they were so we started to, but then on the shore we are being told to go to 'babord' so we do and only at last minute does someone add.... 'and wait'. There was a sort of holding quay, apparently there was a problem with the top gates and there was a 'swimming man in the water'. We didn't get him, so after waiting for gates to be fixed and chatting with lock keepers wife we carried on to Port Launay (3+4) but it was soo warm 31c. The town hall where we were supposed to pay our mooring fees was closed so we had a drink at the bar, a short walk and then afternoon nap, while Cousteau explored the quay and ate grass for first time in 3weeks. Quite noisy as next to busy road. Thursday we go to Chataeulin (5) further up river we are now in officially uncharted territory, why did we go? you might be wondering well mostly because there is a hypermarket very close to visitors pontoon, which is actually a bit small for us, so we're against the quay but on other side so fairly quiet, usually there is more going on except this afternoon which we have concluded must be a bit of holiday of some sort as tourist office not open and hypermarket closed at lunchtime, fortunately we had done our shopping in the morning bringing it back in the supermarket trolley, it was so close. Back down river tomorrow but either go early 7:00 or late 19:30 to catch lock and falling tide, probably late as we are getting very lazy, it's still 30c today, too hot for effort activities.    Read more

  • Cruising donkeysCruising Donkeys to Greece
    Day 42

    Brest moulin blanc marina

    May 27, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Hello back in a marina after 4nights alfresco, had hoped to anchor up the river Elorn but with the spring tide and our draft there was nowhere safe. Never mind nice showers and toilets, ah yes that reminds me we did get keys for the facilities at Chateaulin, the place as I said is lovely it reached 32c on Friday, the temperature doubled overnight. But back to the facilities, due to the vandalism earlier this year the loos at Chateaulin look like this, I haven't seen these in years. Next year there will be a new pontoon and toilets etc. We did do a short walk on Thursday and saw these slate deposits, never seen this sort of thing before, l have attached a couple of river scenes as well. Today Saturday has been a more pleasant temperature and after checking in at the marina we were able to walk to Relecq Kerhuon for a coffee, I needed to do some activity. Tomorrow weather looks good so heading round the Pointe du Raz to Audierne if all goes well.Read more

  • Cruising donkeysCruising Donkeys to Greece
    Day 44

    Guilvinec

    May 29, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    OK so we did go to Audierne but there was no room so ended up anchored at St Evette just outside. The cruise south across Duarnanez Bay and around the Pointe de Raz was very wet, cold and rough in places. John decided not to wait for the tide so for about 5 min we were only going forward at 1 knot but at least it was forward and not back or sideways. The anchorage was fine but we had picked up a mosquito at some point, so I now have 5 bites to John's one. We decided to move on as weather wasn't great, quite foggy so our planned ride back to the Pointe to see it from the top would have been pointless and probably miserable. Instead we headed across the Audierne Bay but although next to no wind there were rollers and we were taking them beam on urgh, the cats were all over the shop sliding on the deck and seats, they insist on being outside whatever the weather. Well I didn't make it all the way but they did so their sea legs are now officially better than mine. Once we cleared the headland we came into Guilvenic. We were a bit unsure about where to moor up but think we're OK. Cousteau jumped ashore as soon as she decided we were close enough. This is a working fishing port but also has a lovely residential area and beaches. Today from about 4:30 till 6:00 fishing boats were coming in to offload their catches, there were about 30boats in and then off to their moorings, juggling the offloading space, John loved it. Here are some photos but I hope to get better ones. Also Cartier looking cuteRead more

  • Cruising donkeysCruising Donkeys to Greece
    Day 45

    Guilvenic

    May 30, 2017 in France ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    OK so harbour master appeared this morning (Tuesday) , his office was closed up yesterday but we did try, he seemed surprised that we wanted to stay 2 nights, but the place is cute and as weather OK we decided to use today to have a ‘formula midi’ a set menu meal, and then ride to Pointe de Penmarc'h, Phare Eckmuhl, as I hadn't really appreciated it much on the way past yesterday. There are actually 3 lighthouses in a row, also Tuesday is market day. Below is photo looking down and then up the 287 steps. Also photos of the boats offloading their catches sadly it was busier yesterday but we didn't know what was going on then so no cameras. Their main catch is langustines, but there are fish and crabs as well that all go to a daily auction. Wednesday we are hoping to go up the river Odet as close to Pomeril as possible so we can visit a whisky distillery where they use buckwheat so it's a bit different.Read more

  • Cruising donkeysCruising Donkeys to Greece
    Day 46

    River Odet

    May 31, 2017 in France ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    We did make it up the river Odet very pretty and peaceful just the birds for company. We ended up borrowing a mooring last night but didn’t get to see the distillery as it was closed but never mind. After a quick stop at Benodet to re-provision, supermarket was close to marina and short stop overs are free, Cousteau had a bit of a shock after she jumped onto the pontoon, and there were 2 spaniels on the boat opposite looking like they couldn't quite believe their luck. She jumped back on quickly. We then headed East to Concarneau as I had been to the little walled city before and John had not, and it is beautiful also we need to get more water on board, do some washing and use the Internet as hoping to visit Les Isles Glenan next. We did go to walled town today but without cameras so will pop back tomorrow for piccies before we leave, but here are photos from the river Odet.
    Hope all is well with everyone.    Read more

  • Cruising donkeysCruising Donkeys to Greece
    Day 47

    Concarneau

    June 1, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    This a catch up post as I am going through the trip posts and reorganising so they make more sense ready for making into a book. Concarneau the tourist bit is a small walled town, even smaller than the intra murio part of St Malo, but it is very pretty a bit like Dinan. It is on an island where only a few vehicles are allowed, for supplies etc. The more modern part is also nice with some great cafes with views of the walled town. The Marina is a charter, sailing school base and the night we were there was the last before the charter sailors arrived so the captains and teachers were having a party 🎉 not our quietest night.Read more

  • Cruising donkeysCruising Donkeys to Greece
    Day 49

    Port Tudy on L'ile de Groix

    June 3, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    OK so sorry no original photos of Concarneau we didn't have time to get back into the walled city so I used some from the Internet, I did manage a 30min jog in the morning, at the moment it is much too hot to run in the evening. Then after showers and securing the cats we headed south towards Les Isles de Glenans, we stopped at the one furthest East, Penfret for lunch and a swim. There seemed to be a lot of armed forces personnel around no idea why. We were planning an overnight but the wind started to make, so headed further East instead and decided to come to Isle de Groix. It's only 30km all the way round the edge, that said we only walked the eastern half, there are cliffs and long sandy beaches, we also came across a shack on the headland. We had planned a supermarket stop on way back but lunch time closure was from 12:30-15:00! Back at the harbour and a classic class yacht race was finishing and both harbours were filling up fast, because of the race we were fore and aft moored in the outer harbour and to make it more interesting there are regular large ro-ro side loading ferries coming in and out, we spent rest of the afternoon watching near misses and collisions. The waves are currently 1-2m so not sure about tomorrow (Sunday) as yet we might still be here the cats are not happy though as they like to have a pontoon to jump to but who knows as we are rafted they might go visiting other boats tonight instead.Read more

  • 2024© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Blog
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Support
  • Legal notice
  • English