Autumn Trip to Roscoff - 1st/3rd October 2010

Roscoff Trip 2010

Dave & Vicky Peat with John & Judy Clarke in one car, Laurie & Ann Watson with Graham & Kath Mason in the other car.

Having got to Plymouth in good time, like excited children on Christmas morning, we sat patiently waiting to Board the Pont-Aven. Slight holdup boarding led Vicky to call Ann on her mobile for an update, they were at the back of row 2 and we were in pole position row 3. Vicky had been using her binoculars to try and see if we were boarding [it can only get better surely].

Only half an hour late and we are settled in the lounge, time to eat and drink [which is what we seem to have done for the entire weekend – how perfect] The drivers, Vicky & Laurie had to abstain from taking the wine which made Vicky’s next action even more hilarious.

Poor Vicky, having finished her meal, thought Dave was behind her so clicked her fingers with an authoritive “Garcon” oops not Dave but actually the Garcon, who for the rest of his shift totally ignored our table. From her blush we realised how well red suited Vicky. Encore Cordial.

Great crossing, lots of laughing and incessant talking and yes more eating and drinking.

Arriving at Roscoff we drove straight to the Hotel Taliban [Talabardon really but Laurie had convinced us all that it was the Taliban]. The Clarke’s, Mason’s & Watson’s were on the 1st floor with our exalted President & his lady being allocated the penthouse 4th floor. As it was late we decided to eat in the hotel,

excellent food, after strolling supper off we all converged on our room for a quick nightcap.

After copious amounts of wine, whisky and brandy [notice a trend here] oh yes and one coffee all retired to their rooms around midnight.

Having arrived for breakfast at 9am the tables are all moved to accommodate the eight of us. More food, strong coffee and lots of noise. This time it is Laurie asking the waiter “Av a vous anymore le scramble eggs pour par vour” miraculously he understood. We laughed so much that we didn’t think we could get to eat le scrambled eggs.

The plan for the day was to drive in convoy to the market in Morlaix with Vicky in the lead; who is a brilliant driver who has now been put forward to any formula 1 team that will take her. Any U turns en route would earn which ever car 10 penalty points, after a scenic drive Car 1 had picked up 30

points, ours are yet to be allocated!!

Morlaix was lovely, brilliant old buildings and an impressive via duct that was two tier rail and road. To our great surprise only one item was purchased at such an impressive market [Vicky got a necklace, that I wish I had bought when we got back hey ho] Judy was on a mission to get a shopping trolley, not just any trolley, well at least not the 20 we looked at in the market he he.

Onward to look for a lunch halt, en route to which we all got another 10 points for an about turn, at which time, with an exchange of sweets etc we continue to the Lannieur Creperie yummy mere mortals having tasty complete crepes others going for the Super crepe, which when it arrived was the same but

with a tomato. The mere mortals were rewarded with a chocolate crepe as part of the meal!!!.

We waddled back to the cars, stopping at SuperU to purchase wine etc [just in case we get stranded somewhere!] Still looking for Judy’s trolley.

En route to Roscoff, Vicky makes a pit stop and mouths the word “parking” which we understand to mean go ahead to the Hotel car park [their key to the garage is in their penthouse room!] Overtaking them we continue on, “this isn’t Roscoff “ we all exclaim. We waited for Vicky pitstop to catch up, but decided to go on, she may have overtaken as a flash!.

At the parking garage we called Vicky & party to see where they were and if they wanted us to wait for them; “ we are shopping in Leon”, was their response when they had said parking they meant there, well that was when we picked up 60 points.

An hour later, with Laurie snoozing away, I heard a knock on our door. There stood Judy, the proud owner of a trolley which is displaying a funky union flag. No don’t ask how that trolley came to be on sale in France but it was and now it has been repatriated to its homeland.

I forgot to mention the church bell outside the hotel that chimes every hour and quarter hour, it is a lovely sound , to start with! It does at least stop at midnight and doesn’t start again til 7am, didn’t need the alarm clock that I insisted on taking.

On the way back to the hotel from the garage Vicky & Dave booked

a local restaurant for dinner that evening, as of course we were all hungry he he. When they got back to the Hotel Vicky knocked on our door and ran off Le President shamefacedly owned up to them being the phantom knockers!

Later meeting in the Dave & Vicky’s penthouse room for pre dinner drinks hic hic we dashed across to the Restaurant in the pouring rain and had a lovely Dinner.

Then a nice stroll down by the water and back to our rooms agreeing to meet for breakfast at 9am. It’s surprising how much food and drink eight people

can put away in a weekend. It rained hard all night with what sounded like gale force winds. Luckily it was calm in the morning, a little rain but not enough to deter the intrepid LBOA gang.

After breakfast Dave, Vicky, John & Judy decided to walk around Roscoff, while the rest of us drove to Leon to see the shops that we had missed the day before. Which of course being Sunday were closed. We all met up back in Roscoff, sun shining and really warm, trying to convince the others that they had missed a fantastic Sunday market in Leon and that trolleys were buy one get one free.

Having been strolling around in the sunshine we decided to have coffee, Dave, John & Laurie walked down the pier and the rest of us initially enjoying a coffee changed onto wine, well we only had a little time before we would leave.

The walkers returned to join us in the sunshine and the wine soon arrived.

We decided to get the cars and move to the ferry port [at most 5 minute drive] having got in line we heard over the tannoy for all drivers to return to their cars. Phoning Dave we found they were still in the carpark in Roscoff. Again like kids we thought it was great we would get on board the Armorique first; only to find they had parked on another floor in front of us on board- how did that happen.

Fantastic crossing, all had a meal [yes another one] the food is excellent on the ferry and well priced. The wine consumed is now what we have all brought out of our car boots.

The ‘boys’ and Vicky had a sleep, we were all nicely tired from a brilliant weekend. Getting off the ferry we again hussle for the best position in line; at one time Laurie said “it’s the first time all weekend that he had got to go faster than Vicky pitstop”. Passing each other again and again in different lines at Plymouth Port, it becomes silly as we are cheering as we pass each other.

We all arrived home not long after 9pm nicely weary after a wonderful weekend packed with lots of laughs and great conversation, what a brilliant way to enjoy each others company.

Ann Watson

LBOA Looe Raft Race - A Great Success

Looe was very busy during the Festival by the Sea weekend which culminated in the resurrected raft race on the Sunday afternoon. Looe Boat Owners Association, in conjunction with the RNLI organised the event and helped in raising funding for the replacement D Class lifeboat for Looe RNLI.

The Banjo pier was crowded for the start and there were people all along the quay cheering and providing friendly banter, with lots of the regulation water bombs and flour bombs. Adult racers started from the main town beach and juniors from the small beach by the lifeboat station.

The return of the raft race was well received with over 75 people involved in the building and crewing a variety of craft. Favourites were Looe RNLI, who rumour had it, had been practicing during the week, strongly followed by the Globetrotters from the Globe Inn.

After a fiercely fought race the Globetrotters eventually overtook the RNLI team and won, with Looe RNLI following up close behind.

It is hoped that with Insurance help from the RNLI the raft race can become an annual event once more. More will follow on this once a date in the calendar can be provided.

John Eckersall, Chairman of LBOA co-presented the awards with Dave Nichol, Area Fundraising Manager for Looe RNLI. John commented ‘this has been a great weekend, full of fun and it was a pleasure to see raft racing once again in Looe’

The attached picture shows Looe RNLI and the Globetrotters fighting it out for the lead.

The Festival by the Sea weekend was a great success and all money raised will go towards the Ollie Naismith replacement inshore lifeboat appeal.

FRIDAY 16th OCTOBER 2009

• Rendezvous  Plymouth Ferry  Port 10.30 am

• Weather bright and still

The Peat family (Dave Vicky Tom & Laura) were first to arrive, closely followed by Penny and Richard (Walters) with newcomers Roy and Trish (Hendy).

Tom watching out of the window spotted the arrival of Graham and Kath (Mason) with Laurie and Ann (Watson) and commented on the unusual choice of leaving the wives to unload the luggage while the men folk went to sort out the parking meter.

When the party arrived in the departure lounge  we learned that Laurie had paid via card £75.00 for parking…..which covered him until 31/10/09 !!

Mr “click happy” Watson had pressed the button 15 times when 3 would have sufficed!! Calls to banks and parking companies continued in the background.

Meanwhile Richard was left worrying if he had paid enough !!

With the group now assembled Penny introduced Roy and Trish to us all, including Malcolm…. (aka Graham).

Eventually Kath leads us off to check in, discussion surrounds the new E111 card now called EHIC  but it seems both Penny and Richard’s card are in his name.  This week end is going to be one long laugh.

We boarded the Pont Aven and settled ourselves in to a comfortable corner of one of the bars and went exploring as the cruiser left Plymouth.  A lovely crossing the boat was not very busy, the food was good and the kids went for a swim.

At Roscoff and no incidents through customs Laurie route marched us off to the hotel where we quickly settled in and arranged to meet for dinner.  We found a bar / restaurant on the sea front where Trish our newly appointed linguist requested a table for twelve.  A pleasant evening.. good food and great company.On the way back to the hotel Trish booked a table at Soucouf  for the following evening.

SATURDAY 17th OCTOBER 2009

• rendezvous breakfast room  9 am

• weather sunny intervals  dry and warm

After a continental breakfast we gathered together and walked into town.

The tide was low so the coastline was littered with rocks and islands and the impressive pier out from Roscoff towards the Isle Le Batz (pronounced Baa).

First stop was the tourist information office, where we gathered information.

Trish and Roy had departed on their own agenda, the Peats went walking and the others made their way to the ferry for the island.

The Island trip saw the group ordering coffee at a quayside café… Graham found it rather strong so ordered a second, a grande , only to find it was the same again … but bigger.

The Peat party stomped around Roscoff exploring both coasts, a good 10k march with a wonderful tour guide.

We all lunched in Roscoff albeit separately and returned to the hotel for a siesta.

Half the party met in the foyer at 7pm and set off for the restaurant assuming Penny Richard Roy and Trish were already on their way…Tom returned to the hotel to “rescue” them.

A wonderful evening and great food, Trish and Roy devoured a huge platter of “fruits de mer” and were supplied with bibs, a messy job.  We wobbled back to the hotel, another successful evening.

SUNDAY 18th OCTOBER 2009

• rendezvous breakfast room 9 am

• weather sunny dry and warm

After relaxed leisurely breakfast we deposited cases in reception and set off again to experience the charm of Roscoff.

Roy and Trish bravely managed to cross the estuary on foot … sinking in soggy sand up to their knees (almost).

The weather was beautiful, hot and sunny, a lovely day to mooch around the harbour the sea front and shops. All too soon it was time to make our way to the ferry port and depart for Cornwall.

The crossing was calm the ferry was very quiet, the party looking a little more dishevelled !! than the outward journey.

I spy, was the most taxing part. We all napped. It was dark in the channel and there seemed to be lots of  commercial vessels crossing our path.

The lights of Plymouth appeared on the horizon, it was time to make a move, some of the party made it all the way down to the car decks…. And back up again…

We disembarked and made our weary way to the cars….happily leaving the Watson party to confront the car park attendant.

A successful inaugural foreign visit by the LBOA .

The worlds our lobster.. who knows where we will venture next time.

Make sure you don’t miss out.

Roscoff Here We Are

Vicky Peat