From st Martin on Ile de Ré we sail to la Rochelle where Albert and Indra will join us, our youngest son and his girlfriend.
Entering the passage to la Rochelle is tricky because you have to make sure there is enough water under the keel so we have to calculate the best time slot concerning high tide.
Navigating the busy channel slowly the entrance to the medieval port emerges and an impressive image unfolds.
Formidable walls and turrets protect the city from invaders and we feel duly awed.
The very friendly harbour master lady directs us to the Bassin the Chalutier and tells us to wait for an old acquaintance: the Thalassa three mast clipper which we saw in l’ Aber Wrac’h enters the narrow port.
The kids are still on the way coming from their surf holiday some 140 km southwards so we proceed to explore the narrow and old streets of la Rochelle.
Back on the boat I impatiently scan the quay really longing to see the kids after all those weeks and finally I see my blue Volvo speeding by looking for a parking place.
Back to Ile de Ré with Indra and Appie on board this time.
St Martin is the prettiest little fishing port with a quay full of restaurants, busy but for good reason since the scenery is delightful.
In this part of France you start seeing traditional market halls like I have seen in Spain. I really love to visit those places to look at the colourful food and Robert Jan can put his favourite hobby, photography, to use. Needless to say we buy some very tasty treats for our meal and to eat with a nice glass of cold cidre Breton.
Ile de Ré with its quaint old villages and lovely countryside is nice for biking. Despite the fiery wind and occasional showers we are having a good time picking blackberries along the way.
One of the nice things of travelling is talking to locals or fellow travellers and hear tips for nice places to visit.
This is how we came to sail up the winding Charente river heading to the old marine town of Rochefort.
After some calculations for the tide we pass at great speed upstream by the rickety fisherman’s houses which make a scenic sight.
Halfway we pass an old iron bridge with a hanging ferry apparently one of six left in Europe. We have seen those in Bilbao and in the Kiel Canal.
Leaving Rochefort early morning at low tide.
The weather improves considerably and it starts getting really warm so we start exploring the other Islands, anchoring, swimming and biking.
Ile d’Aix and Ile d’Oléron are as nice and laid back as Ile de Ré and we really enjoy the Island life and the good company.
Eindelijk heb ik door hoe ik hier de foto’s kan vinden….
Prachtig gebied waar jullie rondtoeren