Rocks
ahead!
It was another early
start next morning as I wanted to get to Les Ecrehou before the crowds . Sure
enough despite a very slow and cautious approach we were the first to arrive at
this extraordinary little group of houses marooned in the middle of the sea ( it was the top of the tide). It was coming
up to Springs and the only place deep
enough at low water , but out of the stream , had moorings laid , so we picked
one up. I don’t feel bad about this. If people must fill the best places with their tackle then they must expect it to be used , and
indeed the subsequent hordes that poured out of Carteret soon picked up the
rest , so I guess that it is generally the accepted thing to do.
Here we had a wonderful 36 hours, living to the rhythm of
the tide. As the water fell away revealing miles of sand and rock , so boats appeared from near and far , some
to join us in the anchorage – but most to dry out on legs in the sandy lagoons
that appeared as if by magic before our very eyes.
As the tide rose , the
process was reversed . The sand and the rocks disappeared , the boats left one
by one , and by dusk we were on our own again
with just the houses for company – surrounded once more by water. Each day we
explored in the kayak, discovering ways out of the archipelago on the receding
water before running back down the sound with the flood tide to regain our
ship. Kayaking to the North of the rocks I saw two dolphin breaching – and had
to make Lynda practice not jumping if they came close. Sadly they didn’t,
although I believe Lynda was secretly relieved.
Finally , at dead low
water on our second day we slipped our mooring and headed South once more ,
anticipating a gentle spinnaker run down to Chaussey in the evening sea breeze.
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- GBR 8408
