Funny things

Funny things….

Like, we went for a walk at about 10 one evening and met two frogmen walking along the street. We exchanged ‘bon soirs’ and they walked down the path and into the sea! We sat and watched their little flashing light follow them on the surface while they were on the bottom. Every now and then we could see an eerie green gleam from their underwater torches….

Like, as we walked back there was a lady standing on the path next to the road wearing half a bikini, using the beach shower.

Like, we were sitting in a tiny harbour one evening and three men came in. They were standing on surf boards using a single paddle each to propel themselves. They came in, had a chat with a friend, then stood on their boards and left….

Like, being naked just is not an issue here - there are marinas for Naturists, tourist villages...often people on boats are naked. But it was extra surprising to find 4 fire engines and crews parked next to a tiny remote beach. The crew were all swimming in their regulation trunks...till a call came in!! THen we were faced with lots of naked firemen rushing to change into thier uniforms and get bavk to work!!

25th Juky

25th July 2006

Summer doesn’t really lend itself to computing, especially with such high temperatures….but here’s our update!!

After leaving Agde for the second time, we headed east along the south coast of France. We had listened to so many stories about bad winds, expense, insects etc that we really did not know what to expect! But deep down we didn’t think that the story tellers were used to east coast sailing!! We have had some windy days… but with clear blue skies, warm wind and blue sea…exactly what we wanted!! So we had some superb days sailing along the coast. Most nights we got in close to the coast or tucked under a breakwater and spent the night at anchor - then we could enjoy a swim, rather than stuffed in a hot marina. We even sneaked ashore with Dom - very few doggy beaches in this part of the world!! I got caught once and had a severe ticking off from a fat man in a uniform - lots of apologies!!!

We passed Sete, then skirted along the Cam argue - wonderful to see flocks of Flamingos fly across at sunset! We anchored off one beach where there were hundreds of people, mostly family groups, who had set up camp on the beach. Some even had their picnic tables standing in the shallow waters. The sea is SO used…water skiing, jet skis, wind surfers, kite surfers, kite boarders, fishing, diving, snorkelling, par ascending..it all happens here!

After Sausset les Pins we went to the islands which lie just off Marseille - lots of swimming and snorkelling - the water was 27degrees!! Then into Marseille - very impressive but unbearably hot!! 40degrees…time to get out to sea and find a cool breeze - but instead of being in an oven we were in a fan oven!! Breeze,yes; cool, NO!!

We are now exploring the area between Marseilles and Cassis called ‘The Callanques’ - very impressive! Enormous limestone cliffs with mountainous peaks, then narrow inlets which boats can enter and anchor. Often the sea is that lovely clear green. We see lots of different fish - highlight today was a cuttle fish swimming along the bottom! It is quite busy - but not too bad. We find watching school parties very entertaining - don’t think risk assessments have reached France yet i.e teachers sit under parasol while children high dive into sea; or groups in boats who are all thrown out; teacher wanders along behind a group scrambling along a sheer cliff path in their bare feet to find the best fishing spot!!

We can’t hurry this part of the coast!

9th July

Hello everybody!!

No we have not fallen off the planet!! It is just so hot that sitting in fronyt of a computer is not really a priority. At the mooment I am just melting!!

Anyway...news! We are a sailing boat again§ Our mast went up on June 30th at Cap dAgde. so we really can sail on the Med...It is really exciting!! We have put aside the stories of gloom that everyone seemed to have about the Med - we have perfect winds, bright sun and crrystal clear sea!! Now who could ask for more than that.

We have been south, almost to the Spanish border, and stayed at a wonderful place called Port Vendres. It is the only Real place on this part of the coast as everywhere else is purpose built holiday resorts with marinas - very beautifully done...but when youve seen one....

We have now come back so that we can head towards Marseille next.

We go to finalise our house puirchase tomorrow _ will take sleeping bags and stay over!!!

We loved having Frankie with us for a few days in June _ she is coming back for a month and will be our crew for Corsica;

We are very happy, very brown, very fit and healthy!! Keep blogging!!