24th July – Thursday – Treguier to Paimpol

Nice 11.30 start to Paimpol from Treguier.  A very still day with no swell, but an overlying mist which did not clear until after midday.  Arrived 16.45 after 25 miles of motor-sailing.

The arrival was interesting as you have to negotiate the channel, which showed only 2.5m of water under the keel at some points.  We have our depth gauge set to show the depth when the keel is down, as it is normally up we are always well within our limits, but its still nerve wracking to see such low numbers.  The picture was taken the day after showing the ‘channel’ at low/no water.  The second picture shows the lock full of water on the right and the tide out on the left.

The next excitement is the lock.  Everyone obviously calculates their arrival to coincide with the lock opening.  So everyone gathers in the channel outside the lock, in the low water, and waits for it to be opened. 

The right hand side had been filled by the time it was our turn and we were second in the middle section.  The outer boat grabs a rope which hangs down the side of the lock and uses a slack rope to allow their boat to move up and down in the lock.  We then rafted onto them. 

The French boat behind caused quite a fuss and took a while to get settled.  They had chosen to be further back in the lock but the lady lock-keeper made them move forward.  I don’t know where the lady had left her vintage motor car, but she had brought the hat.

Once the lock gates are open, there is then a charge to find a berth.  The local fishermen, in the small motor boats, power past everyone and the dory boat then directs operations to make sure everyone gets to the appropriate berths, for the size of their boat.  We were lucky this time to get a jetty with no one raftering onto us.  Paimpol is very popular and some people were rafting 3 a brest from the harbour wall.  Pays to get in early.

Paimpol is a pretty harbour town, like a big Padstow.  We had our orientation walk and ice-creams.

25th July – Friday

Walked around on Friday and found this bonkers, china shop.  Floor to ceiling pottery, with narrow walkways.  I held my breath and grabbed hold of my bag on the way in the breathed out as I left.

There are several pretty streets and lots of nice shops.

Info: 26 Euros per night.  Two supermarkets, a Carrefour city in the centre and a larger Intermarche, through the tourist office and turn right about 500m.  The facilities were free, clean and new.

26th July - Saturday

This was a doing day, haircut for Michael, washing, supermarket, then a walk at low water to take the pictures of the channel shown above.

Troop ‘Demijon’ arrived today, so had a good chat and met their friends who had worked around Ipswich, which we know well.