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    Fall/Winter 2026 - Collection Reveal Premiere Thursday 9th July at 1700BST

    Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure

    Iron Heart Meet Ups & Travel
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    • GilesG
      Giles
      IHUK Crew
      Joined:

      Almost perfect. We barrelled down here for 11:32 lock opening. Actually managed to get in the queue for the 11:02 opening. Then we got a call on the radio telling us that the 11:02 and 11:32 openings were not happening. Next time the lock gates open is 20:45.

      So we are in the next marina on a visitors berth...

      Bloody French 🙂

      "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
      • GilesG
        Giles
        IHUK Crew
        Joined:

        In point of fact. The above fuck up helped us in the end. Paula suggested that we pop around to the marina that we have booked, and check out our berth. Guess what? None of the berths are marked, and even the marina staff did not know where F4 (where we were told to berth) was. If it had not been for the lock being dredged (which is why they shut early today), we would had turfed up at 21:15ish and not known what to do. Because, guess what again? The marina staff knock off at 19:00

        "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

        last edited by Giles 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • motojoboboM
          motojobobo
          啓蒙家
          Joined:

          Given this chaos…how in hell did the sailing world come up with the expression ‘running a tight ship’?

          The journey is the objective.

          last edited by MattM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • gazza61G
            gazza61
            Raw and Unwashed
            Joined:

            I love the relaxed attitude to work they have they know all about me time and clocking off is clocking off so that's a pretty tight ship as to where you berth is cest la vie bien sur

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • MattM
              Matt
              見習いボス
              @motojobobo
              Joined:

              @motojobobo the ships plenty tight. Once you get off its loose as all hell.

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • GilesG
                Giles
                IHUK Crew
                Joined:

                At 20:20 we dutifully turned up to get into the queue for the 20:45 lock gate opening. Paula radioed the lock keeper who then spent about 5 minutes saying there would be no room in the lock, as 2 dredgers and their barges had to transit, and we should come back for the 21:45 transit. We were fourth in the queue after the work boats and a 22m Princess from Jersey with 3 crew and a load of drunk guests, so did not pay any attention to him. Mind you, by the time we got into the lock. 2 French boats, and a German boat had muscled in front of us. It was mayhem, then a bloody great trimaran joined the party too.

                IMG_5757.JPG

                IMG_5760.JPG

                "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                last edited by Giles 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
                • GilesG
                  Giles
                  IHUK Crew
                  Joined:

                  But we did get moored, a tad tighter than I would have liked........

                  IMG_5761.JPG

                  IMG_5762 2.JPG

                  "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 10
                  • GilesG
                    Giles
                    IHUK Crew
                    Joined:

                    And now we are on a train to Paris...

                    IMG_5764.JPG

                    "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 11
                    • MattM
                      Matt
                      見習いボス
                      Joined:

                      Looks like how my wife parks in the Target lot.

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                      • GilesG
                        Giles
                        IHUK Crew
                        Joined:

                        Not bad……IMG_5773.jpeg

                        "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                        last edited by Giles 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 9
                        • GilesG
                          Giles
                          IHUK Crew
                          Joined:

                          Leaving St Malo. Next stop Sark.

                          https://vimeo.com/share/6bb3522b-fb81-469d-8a8c-d6b4fe484af4?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

                          IMG_5782.JPG

                          "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                          last edited by Giles 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 9
                          • GilesG
                            Giles
                            IHUK Crew
                            Joined:

                            Today's route.

                            St Malo - Sark, where we will anchor for the night....

                            IMG_0116.PNG

                            Tomorrow. Sark to St Samson in Guernsey for cheap fuel...

                            IMG_0115.PNG

                            "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
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