LA ROCHELLE FILM FESTIVAL

Well - the summer isn't quite turning out as we thought it would!  Winds have been fairly consistently North and / or West with some days quite rainy too. We have had a few days swimming when we were at Boyardville and St Martin.  We came back into La Rochelle's Vieux Port on Thursday and decided to sit out the bad weather and go to some movies.  So far we have seen  new Icelandic film MEN AND HORSES - the irony of the title is that the strong characters are female - and, of course, the horses.  An unusual documentary about the Galician COAST OF DEATH - unbearably slow picture of a hard life in a tough environment when wind and mist dominate. 

    The festival is featuring the work of Howard Hawks so yesterday we went to a cowboy film RED RIVER.  Shot in black and white in a ratio that was almost square with a beautifully restored print. Story held up for over 2 hours and amazing shots of a 9000 head cattle drive that could probably never be done again outside of CGI.  The stampede scene and river crossings were incredible, although animals probably were harmed.  Made in 1948 the film begins with the issue of land grabbing and quickly moves on. The treatment of the indigenous population was as you might expect for the times with dispensable extras run off by the heroes and a token taciturn character carrying a running joke.  Music - and the whole experience actually - reminded me of Saturday morning pictures at the local cinema in Rhos on Sea - nine pence in old money covered the 3d (pence) admission, a packet of KP peanuts and a Kia Ora orange squash.   This morning we're up for THE BIG SKY.  

    Last night was a back-to-back all-nighter of which we managed to get through a French Classic from 1937 I think - Jean Renoir's LA GRAND ILLUSION - another lovingly restored print. Tough going linguistically - Al found it hard to follow and I just picked up the odd few words. A peacenick film at heart and heartbreakingly released as the Second World War was about to begin.

    I am ashamed to say that we ducked out of the free outdoor showing of Hitchcock's NORTH BY NORTHWEST on the grounds that it was so windy and rainy that it probably wouldn't go ahead. Clearly La Rochelle's festival goers are tougher than we are and sat it out while we were tucked up in our very cosy bunk on Snork Maiden. 

    And for you sailors - the mammoth new gates on the Chalutiers lock are now in place and working.

    Coming soon: we explore new places - maybe.  And just one last film...  The stunningly energetic GERONIMO fresh from Cannes. Watch out for this - also TIMBUKTU.  Both new releases.

    

LA ROCHELLE FILM FESTIVAL

Well - the summer isn't quite turning out as we thought it would!  Winds have been fairly consistently North and / or West with some days quite rainy too. We have had a few days swimming when we were at Boyardville and St Martin.  We came back into La Rochelle's Vieux Port on Thursday and decided to sit out the bad weather and go to some movies.  So far we have seen  new Icelandic film MEN AND HORSES - the irony of the title is that the strong characters are female - and, of course, the horses.  An unusual documentary about the Galician COAST OF DEATH - unbearably slow picture of a hard life in a tough environment when wind and mist dominate. 

    The festival is featuring the work of Howard Hawks so yesterday we went to a cowboy film RED RIVER.  Shot in black and white in a ratio that was almost square with a beautifully restored print. Story held up for over 2 hours and amazing shots of a 9000 head cattle drive that could probably never be done again outside of CGI.  The stampede scene and river crossings were incredible, although animals probably were harmed.  Made in 1948 the film begins with the issue of land grabbing and quickly moves on. The treatment of the indigenous population was as you might expect for the times with dispensable extras run off by the heroes and a token taciturn character carrying a running joke.  Music - and the whole experience actually - reminded me of Saturday morning pictures at the local cinema in Rhos on Sea - nine pence in old money covered the 3d (pence) admission, a packet of KP peanuts and a Kia Ora orange squash.   This morning we're up for THE BIG SKY.  

    Last night was a back-to-back all-nighter of which we managed to get through a French Classic from 1937 I think - Jean Renoir's LA GRAND ILLUSION - another lovingly restored print. Tough going linguistically - Al found it hard to follow and I just picked up the odd few words. A peacenick film at heart and heartbreakingly released as the Second World War was about to begin.

    I am ashamed to say that we ducked out of the free outdoor showing of Hitchcock's NORTH BY NORTHWEST on the grounds that it was so windy and rainy that it probably wouldn't go ahead. Clearly La Rochelle's festival goers are tougher than we are and sat it out while we were tucked up in our very cosy bunk on Snork Maiden. 

    And for you sailors - the mammoth new gates on the Chalutiers lock are now in place and working.

    Coming soon: we explore new places - maybe.  And just one last film...  The stunningly energetic GERONIMO fresh from Cannes. Watch out for this - also TIMBUKTU.  Both new releases.

    

AL & La Rochelle

Hello Virtual Shipmates

So we have been in La Rochelle for a couple of nights - since the third one is free, we just can't resist!

Since Al arrived a week ago we had a few easy days in Marans - got the second anchor kitted up with a nice new chain & rope in preparation for all those lovely Spanish Rias.  La R is as seductive as always with its 3rd night free, terrific ice cream but a disappointing sardine & squid experience at the P'tit Bateau Bleu.

Tomorrow we set off for Ile d'Oleron - just a short hop but hope to get a nice sailing breeze and make sure that the autopilot is under our control.  (Really this is a matter of good sail set as all you salts will appreciate.)  If we are truly going to the land of Flamenco & tapas, we need a good reliable 3rd hand - and this one doesn't answer back!

Mainly English boats on our pontoon - well, i suppose the French live here anyway.  For yo TV people - Sunny Side of the Doc is on - so lots of overheard conversations about the seamier side of filmmaking.  

OK - time to go and prepare the supper.

Trip from Marans uneventful - little wind; motor on to charge batteries.  Al has new iPhone and is taking pix like .....  anything.  

 Our berth in Marans.  Ducks, reedwarblers as neighbours! This is an old canalgoing to Niort - also a branch to La Rochelle but much of this is not maintained.

And here we are in our berth

Entering the La Rochelle old harbour

New lock gates for the Chaloutieres Bassin - yes, they are big!

Coming soon - Ile de Oleron!

AL & La Rochelle

Hello Virtual Shipmates

So we have been in La Rochelle for a couple of nights - since the third one is free, we just can't resist!

Since Al arrived a week ago we had a few easy days in Marans - got the second anchor kitted up with a nice new chain & rope in preparation for all those lovely Spanish Rias.  La R is as seductive as always with its 3rd night free, terrific ice cream but a disappointing sardine & squid experience at the P'tit Bateau Bleu.

Tomorrow we set off for Ile d'Oleron - just a short hop but hope to get a nice sailing breeze and make sure that the autopilot is under our control.  (Really this is a matter of good sail set as all you salts will appreciate.)  If we are truly going to the land of Flamenco & tapas, we need a good reliable 3rd hand - and this one doesn't answer back!

Mainly English boats on our pontoon - well, i suppose the French live here anyway.  For yo TV people - Sunny Side of the Doc is on - so lots of overheard conversations about the seamier side of filmmaking.  

OK - time to go and prepare the supper.

Trip from Marans uneventful - little wind; motor on to charge batteries.  Al has new iPhone and is taking pix like .....  anything.  

 Our berth in Marans.  Ducks, reedwarblers as neighbours! This is an old canalgoing to Niort - also a branch to La Rochelle but much of this is not maintained.

And here we are in our berth

Entering the La Rochelle old harbour

New lock gates for the Chaloutieres Bassin - yes, they are big!

Coming soon - Ile de Oleron!

CHARRON

So what happened between the ferry and Marans?  Well - there was just over a week at Philippe Julien's yard in Charron - 10 K from Marans.  During which time I anti-fouled the lovely Snork Maiden with 3L of Cruiser Uno in smart navy.  Marylene drove over from Rosas and the two of us spent a happy few days in a maze of closed cell foam and glue, dealing with a sort of vinyl polar bear skin that is the forepeak lining.  Results were better than we dared hope, and although there are some edges that need to be dealt with in due course.  The main thing is that the forepeak is now fully functional for sails, baggage, boarding ladder and human crew.  Yippee.  

 Oh yes - the protective clothing! Pity they only sell these suits in XL sizes.  Glam eh?

It wasn't all work though - we found the great little La Ponetere restaurant next to the boatyard and managed to eat there twice in a very few days.  The cook knows what she is doing with seafood and the view can be pretty stunning.

 COMING SOON:  AL via EASYJET

CHARRON

So what happened between the ferry and Marans?  Well - there was just over a week at Philippe Julien's yard in Charron - 10 K from Marans.  During which time I anti-fouled the lovely Snork Maiden with 3L of Cruiser Uno in smart navy.  Marylene drove over from Rosas and the two of us spent a happy few days in a maze of closed cell foam and glue, dealing with a sort of vinyl polar bear skin that is the forepeak lining.  Results were better than we dared hope, and although there are some edges that need to be dealt with in due course.  The main thing is that the forepeak is now fully functional for sails, baggage, boarding ladder and human crew.  Yippee.  

 Oh yes - the protective clothing! Pity they only sell these suits in XL sizes.  Glam eh?

It wasn't all work though - we found the great little La Ponetere restaurant next to the boatyard and managed to eat there twice in a very few days.  The cook knows what she is doing with seafood and the view can be pretty stunning.

 COMING SOON:  AL via EASYJET

MARANS AGAIN

So here we are back in on our 'catway' in Marans.  The original plan was to go for a short cruise leaving on Thursday, but a phone call and family drama called Marylene back to her maternal role and she took off for Spain yesterday.  There is plenty to keep me occupied - never a moment when there isn't something that can be done - aside from social media and just chilling out reading.  Yesterday's errand - a trip into La Rochelle for a spark plug, a tin of varnish (for the boat hook - watch this space) and a nice lunch at our favourite restaurant in Minimes.  (Nice thing about eating alone - you always feel like it's half-price!)

Just to remind you what Marans looks like:

The Old Chat Noir - now re-named the Marans Cafe.

Not sure what happened to the colours here!  Time to download photo software for the iPhone 5!  

Get that typeface!