Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure

[Giles]

If you mean where are we, we are in Beaucette Marina on the north cost of Guernsey, France tomorrow....

[goosehd]

@Giles Speaking of, I mentioned that it didn’t look real and now understand why. I didn’t realize it was an old rock quarry that they turned into a marina. It’s been interesting to read about as well as the island in general. One of the most interesting things for me was their extremely lax taxation laws for both individuals and corporations.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guernsey

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaucette_Marina

[Giles]

Yep, The Channel Islands are a tax haven....

(Googling property atm.....:-) )

[Madame Buttonfly]

Thanks, all for your lovely comments and good wishes - we're having the most amazing time so far, can't believe we're only on day 6, it feels longer (but then 6 days on my own with Giles is bound to feel like a long time, hahaha). Giles has taken the dinghy out fishing, so I will sit in the afternoon sun and read my book and try to recover from the England game last night - was like watching a horror film, I could barely watch! Looking forward to setting off for France at first light tomorrow...

[endo]

Enjoy la France! Wish it had worked out with our meeting there, hopefully next year!

[Giles]

Sorry to have missed you and Mrs E this summer, let's hope I don't need another bleeding hip-op next spring.

Brittany is within our sights....

[Madame Buttonfly]

@endo I hope so, too

[goosehd]

@Madame-Buttonfly @Giles How does customs/immigration work when pulling into port? Do you stay aboard and someone comes to see you? Do they inspect the boat?

[Giles]

Tréguier (where we are) is an official port of entry. We are flying the "Q" flag and we completed the required French documentation and emailed it to the marina yesterday. When we arrived we asked the docking guy who came to show us to our berth, what we should do next, he shrugged and said come up and see me sometime, but no hurry. So fuck all has happened so far I love it.

[Giles]

We are liking Tréguier.....

Couple of empty properties - would not say no...

[gazza61]

@Giles I love all those old buildings in that part france.

[endo]

@Giles said in Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure:

Tréguier.

Went through it a few weeks ago on our way to Camping Beg Ar Vilin. You must have passed that when you went up the Jaudy. Any problems with the tides? The tidal range must be quite enormous there.

[Giles]

Tidal range today is 6.1m. We timed it yesterday so we had the last of the flood tide pushing us up the river, but hardly in current when we docked. And yes, we passed close by to your camping ground.

[endo]

6.1m is quite a lot. I think the most in Brittany is 14m somewhere. Do you fall dry in the habour, or does it have a constant level?

[endo]

In case you make it to Le Fret, there is a nice bar at the habour. Check it out, the glass of Pastis is just 2€ and the mother with her son are great hosts.

[Giles]

@endo said in Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure:

6.1m is quite a lot. I think the most in Brittany is 14m somewhere. Do you fall dry in the habour, or does it have a constant level?

We cant dry out without damaging the boat. So we choose places that dont.

[Giles]

@endo said in Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure:

In case you make it to Le Fret, there is a nice bar at the habour. Check it out, the glass of Pastis is just 2€ and the mother with her son are great hosts.

We are going to Brest and Camaret, so Fret is a possibility….

[ROman]

Great pics. many thanks.

[Brian]

@Giles
Sounds like the French and Spanish passport control of the late 80s 90s when you just had to hold up a newspaper to be waved through immigration

[Giles]

A few years ago, I had occasion to go to Dublin on business. The border guard at Dublin airport shouted to the assembled queue waiting for passport control "If you have a UK passport, don't bother queuing". I am 100% certain that not all those who peeled off had British passports....