Leaving Royan for Arcachon

 

So last night in Royan..Seems like I've been here an eternity! The boat has . I stayed with a friend NW of Bordeaux with her three dogs which was good for Ed's and gave me some thing to do as the property is a new purchase and needed some sweat and muscle .Not too much as I went from there to Tuscany for another friends daughters wedding. A marathon journey of trains, ferries and car followed. A tornado arrived as I did in Bastia didn't last long but killed 5 people. Nightmare buying onward ticket for Livorno and time had to be killed necessitating leaving my bag in a back street corner shop with 3 Corsican blokes. This because all official left luggage facilities have closed due to threat of local terrorism. They were good to their word and the bag was intact! Camping on the overnight ferry ,plenty of dogs on board as well. Passed very close to Elba which I find evocative.

43 hours after leaving Bordeaux Nigel picked me up from Livorno 50 meters from boat ramp ,best thing about the journey ,massive lightening storm all the way to the restaurant near our Villa. Great group of people some I knew and Ed's enjoyed a few walks through the Chianti vineyards.

                                                   

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Brilliant wedding, bride was lovely ,a few very drunk people by end of evening Nigel and I felt like old codgers but stayed till around 1 I think;. a few days of eating and chilling then the marathon in reverse except it got extended by a night as last train was missed due to delays. Stayed in Ibis because although SNCF very efficiently were giving out accommodation vouchers I was at counter awaiting attention after massive queue and the police came in to clear station due unescorted bag.  Ed's was really suffering thought it was curtains but I think heat and stress got the better of him .A day or two back at Di's and he's back to his new normal.

                                    

                                                                      

Now with dog on boat leaving on early morning tide with requirement to be at Arcachon bay for high tide. I'm sure with the light winds I'll have to motor a fair bit which is very annoying. More when I get there!