Saturday 29 - crossed channel 13 and a half hours, wind force 5-6, moderate sea (seemed pretty rough to me & Hev - especially Hev who retired to her bunk for most of the trIp) safely in our 'mouillage' (French word of the day) by 8.45 p.m. French time - all exhausted despite doing very little all day.
Sunday 30 - pleasantly surprised by le Havre and then on to Honfleur by 6 p.m. for the evening. Very very pretty but absolutely heaving and expensive. Only staying one night because of lock repairs on 01 & 02 September means we can only go through lock at high tide and we need to leave at low water to take advantage of the rising tide to Rouen.
Galley Slave Hevster entry...
We made it! The trip across was a bit rocky and rolly but Sequel's stabilisers worked wonders. Without them I think I may have had to get off and swim. Bruce and Matt were fantastic, hopping up and down plotting our route on the charts (with the help of Fran's mop as a ruler.) We were very happy to see France looming on the horizon and safely arrive in Le Havre. Fran's pre-made lasagne was a strike of genius as no-one could face trekking into the town to find somewhere to eat. We made a slight indent into the wine supply as we celebrated our safe arrival! We all slept like babies on logs and woke up to a grey Le Havre. The sun decided to put his hat on as we wandered around and had coffee in deck chairs near the beach. In the afternoon we all got stuck in washing Sequel and then raced to the lock for Honfleur. We made it in just in time and moored up to the tune of a man playing bagpipes on another boat...very surreal! Had a lovely meal in Honfleur and then rose very early again to make sure we make it to Rouen in time. As we write this the sun is shining and we're stonking along the Seine and I'm getting told off for writing too much..:) so byeeeee!
Monday 31- lovely day and easy trip to Rouen - came across very little traffic on the river despite dire predictions from Bruce. Found a mooring very close to the city and walked in to find food and in particular ice cream for Hev and tartes aux abricots and camembert. 27 degrees by this time and all too hot.
Tuesday 01 September - raining today so feeling very much at home and a rest day from travelling. Followed Wally (aka Matt) round Rouen and into the Cathedral and Abbey before we were allowed lunch. French coming on quite well now. Plan to make our way on to Paris tomorrow morning with the tide again at about 10 a.m.