We've been back on the Island now for just about two weeks.  The arrival here was not very spectacular, boring Channel Crossing, but excitement crossing the Solent.  I managed to rustle a couple of pictures together for the exhibition at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, although I didn't manage to sell them.

Perry went back to France with Ben, almost immediately, to get the boat ready for its return. They only stayed two nights, then returned via St Malo.

This is just waiting to board the ferry. They arrived Monday night and left the boat in Kingston Marine.  Survey took place on Tuesday, and launch was planned for Thursday.  Unfortunately, it was very windy, so ended up being delayed until Saturday.

This is the actual launch on Saturday morning.  How small Bloto looks.  However, it was very successful.

Just waiting for some final bits to be sorted.

Bertie in his new life jacket.  He did keep very still and sat down most of the time.  I think he was a bit unsure of the movement.  Took the boat down to East Cowes and then eventually to its new mooring. Nearly two weeks of rather intense activity which has passed very quickly.

Friday 30th August - well this was the start of quite a traumatic weekend!  We left here in lovely warm sunshine, heading for the Baie de Mont St Michel, so we could take in some sea air.  For the evening we headed down to an Aire we know quite well, Tinteniac, which is near Rennes, because we had an appointment at the Camping Van Concessionaire on Saturday morning.  However, on arrival the place was absolutely over flowing with vans.  That meant we had to find somewhere else, tout de suite!  Unfortunately, there ar enot a lot of places on the North side of Rennes.  Eventually found one, not too special, it rained and was 25 km from Rennes!

Saturday set off for Rennes and our 9.00 a.m. appointment.  Fortunately we got a new leisure battery with no fuss!  Left there about 10.30 off to La Roche aux Fees for the painting.  Low and behold it was not the place for the painting sign-on, but somewhere else - no idea where.  Fortunately someone else was in the same position, and we following him for 25km to where the sign on was.  Arrived there at 11.45 - time limit for sign on is 12.00!  I was pretty grumpy - apparently we were supposed to know where this place was!  Anyway, managed to find somewhere to paint, and got on with the job in hand.

Well this is my effort.  Managed to do it in just over two hours.  Perry checked inside the building and said it was a workman's toilet! (Found out later it was in fact a workman's cafe).  Perry also managed to break the teapot - oh what a disaster.  I managed to get runner up, which was surprising, but in the meantime we decided not to continue on to Chateaubriant.  Stayed the night at a lake at the Southern part of the Mayenne, and Sunday went home.

We are now getting things ready for the return trip to the Isle of Wight.  Quite a bit to get sorted, but we have a week. Next post will be from East Cowes.