Concarneau

We spent a pleasant night at anchor up the Odet river and enjoyed listening to the fish turning once again as our wide and spacious anchorage shrank around the boat. Luckily we had judged it well and at low water we sat in about 4 mts with the banks barely the same again either side. In the morning We set off down the river under mainsail and texted Dave we were on our way, as we passed Hocus Pocus in the bay there didn't appear to be any signs of life aboard. Very soon the visibility became very poor and it began raining heavily. We had to don our 'foulies' for the first time in ages. We were in company with several other yachts as we made our way out into the offshore reefs and attempted to find the comforting cardinal which would indicate we were clear of all dangers and could make a course for Concarneau. We won the unofficial " race to Les Poulins Cardinal " France came in second and third. As we turned onto a course that would intercept the leading line into Concarneau the visibility was coming and going at some points we could see barely 100 mts.

Lynne was finding it difficult to steer a course with the flat horizon and lack of reference points, but everything improves with practise! As we approached yet another cardinal indicating safe water Lynne was convinced she had seen Hocus Pocus taking a shortcut inside the reefs, as usual her eyesight was infallible and as we negotiated the entrance approach we could see Daves big cat at anchor in Anse de Kersoz just opposite the marina and walled town. After taking a quick look inside the marina ( a hot shower seemed a good idea at the time) we decided it was too full and cramped so elected to anchor in peace near Dave.

We were quickly invited ashore with Dave and Carol in " trouble and strife " and after a quick meal went to explore the old town.

 

Even though the weather was best described as " steady drizzle " the streets of the old town were crowded with visitors.

The shops were an interesting mix of tourist tat and food shops. Lynne was particularly taken by the chocolate shop.

 However when she found an ethnic clothes shop temptation was too much.

The following day we felt that the town deserved a proper look around so we blew up rubber Duck mark 2 and left Dave to mantainance jobs as we putted into town. The sun was out this time and we decided to walk around the ramparts of the old town.

The views were quite stunning, as we looked over the marina we could see Dark Tarn and Hocus Pocus at anchor in the Anse de Kersoz, in the photo we are just to the left of the traditional ketch leaving the harbour.

The walled city has been extensively restored and rebuilt and is fascinating. However some of the child sized " murder holes" made you wonder about French health and safety!

Lynne and I had a lovely afternoon and finished up buying six Kouignettes, which are a Breton cake possibly a couple of thousand calories each, Apple, chocolate and a kind of sticky almond flavour, Lynne informs me was Florentine, needless to say they were all eaten before we walked back over the drawbridge!

We finished by walking around the Port de Peche. This is very much the working part of the port

Before heading back to Dark Tarn having discovered yet another secret supermarket.......

That evening there was to be a free concert in the old town so we arranged with Dave and Carol to go over and have a quick watch of the bike racing before going to watch 10 strings and a goatskin, a folk music trio from Canada.

They were great.