Morning mist loiters long, on the waterfront. Spreading a chill gloom across the harbour.
Until the smiling midday sun charms it away, with warm chuckles.
In time for shoal draft sailors to catch the last of the ebb, and put to sea.
I set out, along the shore, to reconnoitre the tide cheating shortcut, between the Ile de Batz and the mainland. Potentially useful bound toward, or returning from, the west.
The Shell Channel Pilot describes the Chenal de l’Ile de Batz as “a rock-strewn, tide-scoured, chamber of horrors.”
Which is why Stargazer has been wary of it. Despite the bumpy ride usually served up by the (longer) route to seaward.
Closer inspection confirms that the pilot book’s description was no doom mongering flight of hyperbole.
Magnificently rugged though the scenery is, when viewed from the security of the beach.
No comments:
Post a Comment