Last Berth in the Villaine

Our friends from last year Jenny & John,  have a berth at Arzal and they had left it just before we arrived. They offered us the use of it, but by the time we got there, it was occupied. So, the Capitainerie put us on the visitors pontoon.

Next day was Dimanche, sorry Sunday, we have got so used to speaking French these days!!!! It was my birthday, so spent it relaxing and chatting to family and friends at home via SKYPE. oh, and had the odd swig of a 12 year old Cardhu whiskey Pauline had bought as a present.

Arzal Lock

Monday we took the mainsail down to get a slit in the foot repaired. Our fellow hibernators from Redon, Maggie & Paul, were on the hard at Arzal doing the usual annual maintenance work on their boat. Maggie gave us a lift with the sail.

We also discovered water in the bilges and this turned out to be a leaking fresh water pump. If you have never found yourself with your head stuck in a dark hole under a sink, with little room to manoeuvre, trying to connect pipes and electrical cables; its great fun.







Discover the depths of boating in this short 30 second video.

Wednesday, we collected the repaired sail after handing over €25 (no doubt it would have cost three times as much at home). Maggie and Paul gave us hand at fitting it back. We had a meal with them in the evening and then said our goodbyes.

Finally, after 6 months in the River Villaine, we were heading back to sea.

Tomorrow, Thursday 28th April, we will join the morning queue for the 0900hrs opening of the Arzal lock to head off to La Turballe, the only port we got turned away from last year. Hopefully there will be a place this year.

Arzal Lock