Days 25 – 27
Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th May
The weather is now set fair with high pressure in charge and today was a non-sailing day (just as well – not much wind!); otherwise known as an exploring day, so we got our bikes ashore via our dinghy. This is only slightly more inconvenient than being able to get them onto a pontoon and then ashore, but the effort was very worthwhile. The others from Edelweiss and Jenny Wren were doing a mixture of walking and cycling and the island is pretty small.
I was keen to see the Menhirs at Cromlech de Kergonan which date back to 3,500BC, made up of 26 standing stones arranged in a horseshoe. It remains a mystery as to why they are situated in this configuration. Here is the stone that is purportedly “The Monk” who was turned into stone and this is why the island is named after the Monk (Moine) Iles Aux Moines – as far as we could see there was no Abbey. There several other Menhirs around the island, but this is the biggest and most impressive collection; there are also many other standing stones and stone circles around in Brittany. 
The island was easy to travel over on our Bromptons and there is little motorised traffic – but plenty of other cyclists and walkers. The island is only about 4.5 miles long, and miles wide at the widest part – so it didn’t take us long to get around! We stopped at a beach and had a little paddle in the water – not too cold – but I couldn’t be bothered with the total rigmarole of getting my swimmers on!
Thatched roofs are commonplace over here and we even saw one being re-thatched. Later we bumped into Judi and Paul and share a Crepe lunch in the main town. After an afternoon spent relaxing, we went out for our last evening as all three boats together and also that Nick was leaving us the next day. We had an interesting meal on an old disused barge, that served as a platform over the sea as a restaurant.
Nick generously treated us and we enjoyed good repast. I choose Dourade (Sea Bream) which I had to cook myself on a very hot stone – it was very delicious. A swift nightcap, where could clearly see the waxing moon, brilliant Venus and Jupiter provided the perfect backdrop and meant it didn’t take much rocking to get to sleep.
On Saturday morning we awoke to the sight of two hot-air balloons making their across the water towards us – we sat quietly on deck, watching their progress. Not much else was about – this kind of early-morning peace is not often captured!
It was ideal, hot weather for airing out the cushions from the front cabin; while we were at it the bedding all came out and we soon looked like a Chinese Junk! Whilst the fore-peak was empty, I took the opportunity to check in on a under-bunk holding locker where we store spare drinks etc. Quel horreur! It was 2/3rd full of water. So I taste the water to see if it is salty or not – it is not, which belies that there’s a problem with water escaping from our tank. It’s very strange, as the cabin cushions are not wet, the capillary matting they lie on is also not wet, but the water must be seeping out of the tank somehow… something to keep an eye on.
We said goodbye to the Edelweiss crew who were going to spend the day in Vannes & Nick departing to make his way home.
Bob set up a pulley system to help raise the outboard engine back onboard – always a cumbersome job – but with a bit of practice we could get used to this. Bit by bit we tidied up, had a bite for lunch and got ready to leave: destination Crouesty, about 7 miles back down towards the mouth of the Morbihan. Many folk were out in their boats – lots of sailing boats, fishing boats and a pod of jet-skiers came bombing in towards us in terrific speed and noise!
The collective noun for Jet Skiers – anyone?
Passing Navalo
Soon we were entering the busy port, but the Capitainerie were not answering on Channel 09 (the proper channel call) – wait – isn’t it lunchtime ‘til about 1500?! Meanwhile it was evident that there was some rally or other going on and we would NOT be allowed to moor on what looked like a lot of tempting empty pontoons. Crouesty has six yacht basins – you wouldn’t think it would be a problem, but the place was jammed-packed. We found a little slot, and checked in with them later – luckily, this was OK!
Monica & Steve soon arrived on Jenny Wren and found that they had a similar problem; soon all was settled and we found a bar for a very welcome cold drink! On discovery that the Supermarché was quite a walk in the heat, Bob, Monica and Steve jumped in our dinghy to cross the harbour in a couple of minutes (pulley system on the engine lifting – working well!)
The evening concluded with a meal in a local restaurant – Cap Horn – once again some delicious food: 
My starter was a Trout Gravalax
And the main course – Tuna (thon) Takati
Bob chose the camembert avec miel (honey) as a dessert!
A short wander towards the beach – but we were pretty bushed and over-heated from the day
We got up pretty early on Sunday morning and enjoyed the cool, refreshing breeze – billed by the forecast as NE 6 – 9 knots of wind (F3) – but by the time we were en route it was more like 12 – 15 knots, which was in our favour. We departed Crouesty about 0800 (I hope not to return there any time soon) and were happy to raised the sails, turn off the engine and enjoy the sail to Piriac. This was a 17 mile trip and we made the most of the wind and being on deck without all the layers of clothes – summer has arrived here at last and the most important coverings were suncream and hat!
Piriac is a pretty little port, approaches are clearly marked with cardinal buoys, then one red (to port or left) and green (to starboard or right) buoy towards a narrow entrance with a sill, that keeps the water in the harbour when the tide goes out. We found a berth on the “visiteurs” pontoon E and tied up. Monica and Steve weren’t far behind us in Jenny Wren and were able to moored on the same pontoon. We had a lazy afternoon and went to the beach for a swim, although it was too windy to sit in the shade of our parasols as they kept blowing away! The swim was the most refreshing thing, despite having to walk across the sea-weedy beach and we stayed in the water for a while.
In the evening Steve and Monica hosted us on Jenny Wren for our third Safari Supper of the trip – the bar was open, and we enjoyed a feast of wonderful food together. Steve cooked a magnificent Scallop & Pesto Tagliatelle dish and Monica produced a creamy chocolate pot – I think we got off lightly with only producing a starter of Duck Pate!
Steve and Monica – Safari Supper Hosts!