Current Position
48 47 88N
003 13 53W
Riviere de Treguier
One thing we are coming to terms with is that you don't have to spend days ashore to see a place. Yes, in some cases a town warrants that, but when you find somewhere as beautiful as these two rivers, just cruising up and down is enough. Our next river stop was the Riviere de Treguier which according to our mate Tom, is a medieval city, unspoilt, with a magnificent medieval cathedral and with my love of history we were keen to visit it.
We slipped the line of our mooring buoy and retraced our route down river. A mixed day weather wise. Some horrible squally skies that looked very threatening and in fact in the distance we saw heavy rain. Somehow we managed to out run it and we stayed dry. We started by motor sailing but very quickly the wind picked up and we sailed. We are now getting used to sailing amongst rocks some of which just peep above the water line, others are massive with a lighthouse on top. Good navigation skills are essential for sailing along this coastline but there are so many markers you would have to be very stupid to get into trouble. Which brings me on to a great story:
We had entered the calm flat water of the River, having dropped the sails I went down below to put the kettle on. Andreas called to me and said that there was a chap in a small sail boat waving the distress signal. We edged over towards him having to leave the main channel and we could see him drifting into the shallows so it was quite a risky undertaking for us. We could not ignore the distress of another sailor so keeping an eye on the depth gauge which was very rapidly dropping, and with the aid of my schoolgirl French, he told me his engine was broken and needed a tow about half a mile up to his mooring. So we did our bit for international relations and I threw him a stern line and he threw me a bow line and with a couple of fat fenders we got him safely alongside. We needed to act quickly as the wind was pushing us into shallow water and by the time we got moving we were down to 1.1m under the keel. Another 10 minutes and we reckon he would have gone aground. We have never done anything like this before and I am going to sing all our praises ! There was no panic. No shouting. No hysteria. Just total calm. Once we got moving I took a good look at this French man's boat. He had a 6hp Marina outboard that looked like 70's vintage ( and that was probably when it was last serviced !) The boat was filthy, the ropes - some looked like bits of string - we're just lying all over the deck and were green and mouldy and there was GRASS growing out of the toe rail!!!! - toe rail, (not to be confused with toe nail), is the edging that runs around the deck of the boat at foot level.
Andreas did the most amazing job and guided both boats towards the mooring buoy where the French man had left his "petite bateau". He very skillfully got the nose of the stricken vessel lined up perfectly with the buoy and armed with a boat hook our friend picked up his line. First go and job done. We slipped the lines, our friend said thank you and we continued on our way. A very fine job and I feel very proud of both of us. It was only when Andreas mentioned "that cuppa would be nice" that I realised I'd left the kettle boiling!!!!!
We continued up river and checked out the marina which had plenty of visitors spaces, but we decided that we would back track as we had spotted a gorgeous place to anchor for the night. We would go into the marina the next morning. It was such a lovely spot, in a deep, calm pool of water, under a cliff face with a chateau above surrounded by lush green trees. Idyllic. We just sat for ages in the cockpit soaking it all up. Next morning we motored upriver and were guided onto a berth by the harbour master. We then spent a few hours wandering around the city with its narrow cobbled streets and spectacular ancient houses. The city was celebrating the day of St Yves and there were services being held in the cathedral. (St Yves is the patron saint to lawyers). It is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Sunday of May and the whole city is decorated with flags, banners and flowers and there is a procession through the streets to the cathedral. Speakers are rigged up on virtually every lamppost and choral music was being played. The cathedral bells were ringing, there were people in all the street cafes around the main square and the most delightful atmosphere. Some of the buildings were simply breathtaking. The fact that they have survived for so long was almost incomprehensible.
Song for this post: HELP by the Beatles
Thought for this post : It's very satisfying to help someone in real trouble
Highlight for this post : Having the opportunity to be an observer of what is clearly an ancient pageant in one of the most historic and beautiful cities