Policoro, Basilicata, ItalyWell folks, the moment you dreaded, and we dreamed of (i .e.had nightmares about) , has arrived. We will be going live-aboard once more. Over the past couple of holidays we managed to get Tiercel (our 34ft Westerly Falcon) from Leros in the Aegean Sea to Messolonghi in the Ionian Sea in 2014 and then from Messolonghi to Policoro in Southern Italy last year - without too many misadventures and with minimal fuss.
Later this month we will be heading to Policoro to take Tiercel around the toe of Italy, up the beautiful ,testicle scrunchingly, expensive Italian West coast, around the rugged rock that is Corsica, across to the starlet strewn beaches of Southern France and into the fabled French canal system, with a vague aim of arriving in Northern France in the Autumn.
Gina and I will be accompanied by Marley, our ever-so-cute Cocker Spaniel. What he lacks in brains & adventurousness he makes up for in cuteness.
We started planning this trip as soon as we got home from Policoro last October . One of the biggest problems we encountered was how to get the dog there. Discussions with friends and family produced a vast number of possibilities which we narrowed down to:-
- - Fly - No way was Gina going to have his cutenessship (the dog ,that is) crammed into the hold of an aircraft. No way was Bob going to pay an air fare for the dog which equated to the same as a first class fare to almost anywhere in the known universe!
- · Train from Scotland to Southern England then ferry to European mainland and trains to as near to Policoro as we could get, then play it by ear!. This meant we would be travelling for at least 5 days with a dog, his accoutrements, our luggage etc, etc. The entire trip would have to be tailored around his cutenessship's bowel movements and urinary flows. Napoleons’s return from Moscow was simpler than this option.
- · Take car to Southern England then cross channel and hire car for one way drive to Policoro. We don’t currently have a mortgage but we would certainly have one if we took this option..
- · Take our own wee car, leave it for the Summer in Policoro. Sail away till September then train, coach or plane to Policoro and drive back to boat in Northern France then tunnel (EuroTunnel, that is) back to England and, ultimately, Scotland. This looked like the simplest option so that’s what we’re doing.
We now have a route planned, channel crossings booked and hotels confirmed. We will be heading from Argyll to London – London to Reims – Reims to an industrial estate (+cheap hotel) under Mont Blanc – industrial estate to Rimini - Rimini to Policoro.
Policoro is an excellent, sheltered marina right up in the heel of Italy. It is about 3 miles from the town and there are no buses that visit it. The facilities are top class, the staff attentive and the lack of English speakers a real problem. Yes, yes, I know, we should have learnt Italian, but, hey, we’re British dammit, we don’t do languages! (actually we have spent a few shiny pennies on some Italian and French DVDs to wile away the hours travelling out to Italy)
Our cunning plan is to get Tiercel in the water by beginning of May,and then leg it up the coast of Italy like a Tory Minister from (or is it to?) a Panamanian Tax accountant,before the Italian marinas have a chance to escalate their prices to a level that could pay off Italy’s national debt .
What could possibly go wrong?
Will Chicken
2016-04-21
Good luck on the next leg of your adventure. Hoping we'll get out to visit somewhere in Francais! X
Sailorjim.
2016-04-21
Enjoyed the blog. Gluttons and punishment come to mind. However, Gluttons partake of that which they enjoy and as for punishment? No gain without pain. A word (or two) of caution...watch out for sneaky Italian road signs telling you that you are entering a restricted zone... i.e. restricted to the art of screwing tourists in cars for mahousive fines. I know, coz I wuz there! Enjoy life both of you... it has a nasty habit of overtaking you on the blind side. Best wishes from us to yooz.
Tony and Jan
2016-04-21
Seem to be on a similar trip. I am in Crotone. Plan to meet Jan in Nice ? 15 May and through French canals
Tony Jan
Helen langley
2016-04-21
Hey the pair of you! What fun! As opposed to that I've given back word on house was going to buy cos nice house but not good area! So house sold n nowhere to go. My house that I thought was well maintained has woodworm n electrical probs I'm going to have to pay for. Life's a laugh ain't it! Have good trip n keep updating X
Helen
Lyn Bowerman
2016-04-22
Bon Voyage. What an adventure! Look forward to hearing your posts. Love and kisses, Lyn
Tony and Jan
2016-04-22
Mary is cute and looks exactly like our son dog in Aberdeen. Name Molly
Tony & Jan "Red Marlin"
Marion Wardill
2016-04-22
Oh yes the sailing bard is revving up! What a great start tour day, certainly made us laugh/ gasp in equal measure. You two are either intrepid or.....!
Take care of them, Marleyxx
Dave Leadbeater
2016-04-22
Hope your cunning plans work. You certainly do not take easy routes in retirement do you.
Mike Stevenson
2016-04-22
Hi. Good to hear that you haven't settled in a deep rut in darkest and wettest Scotland. Although it does sound as though the long term plan might be to get Tiercel home at some stage. I sold my yacht a year or so after we met in Greece but still miss the lifestyle. I will enjoy your blogs, so please keep them coming. Best wishes, and do have lots of fun. Mike (ex Sanuk).
isabelrodrigues
2016-04-22
It's nice to read about your adventures by the sea.
I wish you a pleasant trip and hope to read much more about it.
For the next time we can take your dog with us in Portugal (since our house now is almost a zoo with a cat, a guinea pig and a dog we are waiting to be the baby of the family).
Be happy!
Isabel
Rae and Steve
2016-04-24
Lots of planning comes to an end and you finally start your next adventure! Enjoy and we hope the sailing winds blow and the sun shines for you all! xxx
Aileen& jim
2016-04-29
Hi Gina Rob and Marley
Good luck especially to his lordship We have e new cocker spaniel coming to stay called heathcliff would you believe it=cant wait to see the looks when I call him up the beach etc
take care and look forward to hearing from you en route.
Aileen and JIM