Pictures from France

Boulogne-sur-Mer

FeCamp

After four dismal failures I will again try to bring the log up to date.  We are safely ensconced in FeCamp awaiting Bastille day and (excuse the dodgy spelling) it is raining but there again at least its warm and a mildish sort of drizzly rain.  We have just been to a beautiful seaside village called Etretat and had ham, cheese, mushroom and raw egg pancakes.  The egg yoke is ok but the white is not so good.  (Oh dear the xxxx connection has just booted me off again but I am back.)  We have now got our confidence with the buses and are exploring further away from base having done Le Havre on Tuesday which is two days ago.  We have so far visited Boulogne, Dieppe and now FeCamp but because we spend so much time in each place we have not made much progress but we have really enjoyed each venue.  In Dieppe we had a brilliant meal for 23 euro's which comprised of fruits of the sea, steak and chips, cheese, profitter rolls and coffee.  Well until Chris noticed that the sea food was still wriggling and trying to escape our prodding needle like forks.  The said shell fish tasted a bit as you would expect slugs to taste and we each had plates loaded to the gunnels.  We each made a valiant effort on the sluggish front and washed it down with the local rose wine.  Well enough of that.  I will try and download some pictures.

Boulogne

A lot of water under us since we last updated the log and we are now in Boulogne-Sur-Mer.  This is our first time abroad ever with our own boat and the sun is beating down on us.  We met up with Steve and Sue off Amigo and Brian off Tom Boy but they went on ahead to Dieppe yesterday.  We decided to stay and look around before going to Dieppe on Monday.  Most of our neighbours are from Holland with a few from Belgium and Germany, very few british boats.  The crossing from Dover turned out to be relatively simple on this occasion.  On the way we have been to Shotley, Ramsgate and Dover.  Dover castle was a first and very interesting having both WW2 and ancient history.  I have some more pictures to post so I'll try and do those next.

This takes the biscuit...

Contacted Ramsgate yesterday about going today.  Apparently the massive flotilla that booked all the space cancelled and we could have gone on thursday no problem........Grrrrr...  We also had to cancel going today because of forcasted force 5 to 7 winds in the Thames estuary.  We have therefore decided to just go with the flow and move the boat to Woolverstone.  We quite like Woolverstone and its about £8 a night cheaper.  (Should have gone there in the beginnng) yea your right.  Took the picture of my dad and mates to the museum.  They were quite happy to have the photo and are going to put it on they're web site "HMS Ganges".  Watched the Diamond Jubilee Pageant on tele yesterday and saw Angel Hardy II who we met Wells on the way here.  Off for a meal at the Bristol Arms tonight as it is Chris's birthday.  A few drinks are in order me thinks.....

And there's more....

 Wells to Walsingham steam railway

Holkham Hall

Hamilton Dock Lowestoft

On our way to Shotley

Sizewell Power Staion



Approaching Shotley

More pictures of our adventures

Approaching Wells next the Sea

Not far to go now

Lucinda waiting for the tide in Holkham Bay

 

The Official Photographer

Zigzu on the pontoon at Wells

Anthea and John feeding the ducks

Shotley or Area 57

We have now been unable to leave Shotley for four days because of the Diamond Jubilee pageant on the Thames.  This event has caused a total snarl up of all boat traffic around the area and seems set for another couple of days at least.  It would not perhaps be so bad if we were not having to pay £33 a night for the privelege of being bored out of our skulls in Shotley.  Its an unreal place, apart from its extraordinary berthing prices the marina owners seem to think that having an empty club house, employing several staff to man said club and charging £11.30 for a beer, large brandy is good business.  Perhaps the abscence of customers willing to part with their hard earned spondooleys has escaped they're notice.  I mean its no mean affair here, they have a bar, two large inside restaurant area's, a large covered outside eating area and rarely more than 4 or 5 customers.  Doesn't that say something?  Well enough moaning.  We need to find somewhere cheaper to leave the boat whilst we return to Louth for the upcoming wedding.  We have twice been to Harwhich on the little foot ferry and discovered a really good pub called the Alma.  Chris really likes it because they have Raclette on the pub grub menu and beer is normal prices.  Going to pop into the HMS Ganges museum today.  I want to take in a photo of my dad when he was an instructor here.  Its also very wet and windy  so I will also set about downloading some more pictures whilst we wait.