what a wopper!!!




Full story on how long it took to get this beauty, and how we celebrated coming soon, keep posted!!!

Just for Bread - June 10th




Just for Bread
Everyone was up at 4am this morning after a mosquito attack, so we sailed 20 miles to a area called Cap Bear ( good name I thought) We went into a harbour and anchored outside a town called Port Vendres in Spain just to get some supplies and bread for lunch.
 After making sure the anchor was settled Dave, Arthur and Adria take the dingy and leave Lorenzo and me on the boat listening to music and tidying, then after about 15 minutes later  a small snorkeling vessel  came over with a group of people on it, I didn't realize he wanted to speak with me as I was cleaning the back cabin and washing up and tiding the boat, he told me to leave this  area as a big ship is coming into harbour.
Where was I suppose to go?
Leave the harbour I was told!
Not without the captain I said
I suddenly realized I hadn't taken her off anchor before on my own.
I was told that I could just move over into the beach area, but there is rocks there?
So,  I pulled up the anchor and fired up the engine and slowly motored closer to the shore.
Okay alls well this is easy no problem,  Lady Bear moves gently and like a dream slowly around the bay closer to the coast. I radio Dave but the connection isn't good.
'Return to Ladybear, need you!!' short and sweet and to the point I thought
The snorkeling vessel who turns out to be very nice man who speaks good English stays by just in case, because there are some underwater rocks.
A long while later Ladybear and I were fine, gently bobbing about now I started to worry about Dave. Where was he, I called him again on the radio saying ladybear is in good hands.
But later decovered he thought I said that she was on the sand!!
I get radio message back from the harbour master saying ' engine is broken down'.
Who's engine, not us, we are all right? Then I realized ...Dave!!
Then  there, to my surprice a huge cargo ship  was  coming through the small harbour entrance and looks like it wouldn't fit. It dwarfs our boat and makes me feel very small.
Suddenly I realize Dave and co are bobbing about on a tiny dingy with no engine with this large vessel heading their way.
I see on the deck they have left the oars for the dingy, so now they have no engine and no oars to get themselves back. Oh great! isn't life fun!!! I thought.
So I watch this great big cargo ship head  its way into the harbour not knowing what  has happened to Dave, and wondering how long can I just go on motoring around this bay on my own avoiding these rocks.
Finally I see in the distance the snorkeling vessel coming back to me and asks if alls well I said that they have broken down, and then he disappears back towards the harbour and marina . A while later  there coming towards me was the snorkerling vessel behind being pulled on a rope was our dingy with a very stressed Dave, Arthur and Adria.
I motor forward to pick them up and then we are off out of here .
We went to beautiful bay to eat our bread and chill after all the excitement.
'Is it always this exciting getting bread' Adria asks!

A great night out

Grussan Festival
Went to Grussan festival Last night, What a great night!!! Lorenzo had a go on one of their drums, Danced away, and then home again on a Thai Tuktuk!!





On our way once again

At last we finally leave Balaruc last night after spending our winter here.
We wave goodbye to all our new sailing friends who we have got to know while waiting in Balaruc for our outboard motor to be fixed. Sharing drinks and going shopping together and sitting at the bar, and we nearly went dancing at the little bar that has party music all weekend, all afternoon and all evening. Very lively little town. Even though we have enjoyed the Etang we are eager to get moving again.
As we arrived towards Sete we could see the bridges going up. Full spend ahead lets get out. Our engine did 5.6 knots, but still we watch them go down again as we were so close. Artie was disappointed !
An hour later tied up against the wall near the bridges we watch the golden rays of the setting sun as we baked a cake, 
and eat our pre made chickpea curry.
Also great to find a water supple from a public fountain, so
Now waiting for the bridges
filled up the water tanks and our drinking tubs.There is always that mystery when you leave somewhere, when and where you will get water again, and where we will be that night?

The last few days in Balaruc, summer arrives at last
Swim Daddy

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Cleaning her bottom

Our journey without sail


Okay we have put loads of photos on this blog so far and now it is time to add our thoughts and our life on the boat.
http://www.bouzigues.fr/
As Lorenzo is involved in Beethoven at the moment as we are trying to get him away from The Specials and Madness music which is now starting to drive us all crazy. He has discovered that there is one piece of  Beethoven music Symphony no 7 that is on his Doggy toy, which he cuddles at night. Hes off to find his doggy now and his keyboard in back cabin.
Claire who is helping out from Workaway .info. has gone out on this cloudy windy day to collect some info on local area and maybe some caves to go to while the weather isn't so great.
Had a morning at the small market at Bouzigues with all but three stalls and a new fish & chip, of course we had to have our lunch there and I bought some herbs and spices. We tried a brisk walk afterwards where Lorenzo pushed Arthur in the jogger ( a buggy for pushing or attaching onto a bike) running blindly along with occasional guidance by Mumma Bear. A lot of fun!
We decided getting off the boat will help well not get too bored!! That was the excuse any to go to the Sweet shop. Not just any sweet shop.

We amazingly keep ourselves amused and entertained, but the heaviness of our wait is a little too much. We have moments of tears as they ask when is Daddy getting back. But the truth I don't know it is now 27th April and he has been gone over three weeks now and still he is only a third of the way across from New Zealand to Australia. He was delayed with customs and weather. Now as I check the weather charts for his location the wind is minim and they are making slow progress. I have to contain my frustration and and let go and let god as they say. He has already changed his flight from 6th may to the 11th, now we are not even sure he is going to make that.
Our helper Claire has been great patient with us, as we have spent a lot of time on the boat being windy at the moment and Lorenzo always wanting to play the same tune over and over again driving us all crazy. We have managed to do a few days out yesterday, we made it to Agde a very pretty little town with river through it. We stopped to see an event of small motor boats and planes by the river. Unfortunately we missed most of it and they were stopping for lunch. But we did discover it is a town we would like to visit again. Our drive took us all around the Etang lagoon through to Sete.

WE have been logging our days with titles

     Bouziges museum Day

         Museum is all about the local area and the lagoon and the start of the fishing












        Long walk along the Lagoon cycle path Day











Day out to Grotte Des Demoiselle Caves Day

Top centre there is a balcony where people are standing, give you idea how big the caves are.



Playing on trailer and beach in Bouzigues



All muddy going through the puddles





Easter Day









Big Ships in Sete Day







Market, fish and chips Day.

Sweet shop Day


Artie's plays restaurant Day 

Marine Life Day

Budding Artist and composer day.

As you can see we have kept ourselves busy, We still have been in the boat a lot, listening to stories and music. It has been chilly and very windy so not inspired to get out. I and the kids don't mind one bit, but I feel some would find it hard. 
I have checked the wind and weather for New Zealand and Australia  everyday for Dave the last few days have been good winds. He arrived in Brisbane late last night!!