Parked for Winter

After sailing into the Gulf of Morbihan we visited Vannes where we found that they did not have a winter berth big enough for us. After a look at the chartplotter and the Cruising Guide we tried our luck in the Vilaine River a bit further West  La Roche Bernard was a pretty little town, but again we were too big.  But four miles North at Foleux, we found our winter spot, on the hard at Multi Nautic boatyard.

On the end of the dock at Foleux marina....

....from where we had a fine view East up the Vilaine River.

Same view at dawn.

Nancy enjoys the Medieval town  of La Roche Bernard.

After a few days' work, we took off for a land trip to the Loire Valley, and stayed at this chateau converted into a fine hotel: Chateau de Beauvois.

We visited the chateaux at Chenonceau, Amboise and Clos Luce. Here's Nancy at Chenonceau.

Medieval buildings in Amboise, where we walked up the hill to....

..chateau Clos Luce where Leonardo da Vinci spent his last few years as a guest of the King Francis I.
Here in the chateau gardens are hanging prints of Leonardo's paintings.

Chateau d'Amboise taken from the old town,

Nancy did not much like the white and the red served up in a visit to a vineyard, but the sparkling wine saved the day!

And so back we went to Foleux on the Vilaine, where we just fitted onto the boat lift trailer! It did take two goes to haul us up the slope......

 .....and here we are half way up the ramp: that's 32,000 pounds - 15,000 kilos, which was at the top end of the equipment's maximum limit.

And so off to England where we visited Dad in Northampton, and Roger in London: Roger's house has a "distinctive" new coat of paint, named "Jamaican Blue".

Flying to Marco Island via Miami tomorrow.
Best regards to all,

Nancy and John