Friday . Our last day in Cotignac

Moustiers - note the star suspended above the town

Gorges de Verdon - wow!!

Lin followed by John being greeted by a shirtless Steve

Oh dear , it's finally here our last full day of holidays and last day staying in Cotignac. It's been so wonderful to stay with John and Margaret and meet their lovely fun friends Lin and Andy McNaught.

We decided to head off to the Gorges of Verdon and in two cars with 3 bikes on board set off to Moustiers our first village stop about 45 mins drive away. It's a beautiful little village with an enormous 12 point star suspended above the village.

After a wander around the village we started the climb up a winding road to look down into the gorge and it was spectacular. We reached Palud and the cyclists took off on their ride along the high road 
along the gorge and we started to drive it, stopping frequently to gasp at the view.

We met John, Lin and Andy for a picnic lunch, before they finished the downhill part of the ride and we drove back via the lake. Quite spectacular .

Steve once again stripped off his shirt to wave the riders in! Lin pretended to be a Tour rider and waved him away.

Back home for a last wander through the streets of Cotignac.

Thursday bike ride

John and Steve debriefing outside the Modern Bar 

The McNaughts, Brannocks and Maitlands relaxing on the Terrace

  

I've swam in  the Mediterranean, now I've cycled the Tour de France route! Well part of it.

We drove to Carces about half an hour away (John, Lin and Andy cycled all the way there!) Then we hired bikes and headed for the lake. We rode along beside the lake on a part of the road the Tour followed! So officially I have ridden the route for about 2 km.It was a gorgeous day and the lake was reflective green and still and it was so peaceful once we got onto the bike track.

We finished as all cyclists do with a cafe latte and headed back to Cotignac for lunch before a big afternoon storm hit. It rained and thundered and lightening struck and it was so good to be safe in this
beautiful house.

By 4 it was fine enough to head off to The Modern Bar (its not very modern at all but has a TV) to watch the Tour; and with John and Andy our resident cycling experts giving us guidance we were able to follow the race tactics and tried to understand what was going on. I miss the SBS coverage.

Cassis on Wednesday

Hugh and Sue McKay with us in Cassis

After listening to the end of the movie last night- lots of music echoing throughout the town from the outdoor theatre movie night, followed by children's voices and parents chattering on their way home - I got to sleep very late. Then this morning it was all soft light and birds.

After breakfast and coffee we headed off to meet Hugh and Sue McKay in Cassis. It took about an hour and a bit.......... and is a beautiful little seaside town. We overshot the exit from the freeway but it turned out just great because we were able to enter Cassis by the coast road with spectacular views. 

A quick look in the markets (similar to Cotignac) and we met on time in front of the port. A lovely lunch later and a glass or two of Rosé and all was good! Had a lovely chat and catch up and back to Cotignac as the rain storm started.

Having tea and a little bit of nougat (John's special ) - yum!







Sent from my iPad

Sent from my iPad

Cotignac Tuesday Market Day

Early morning stirrings from the Marie woke us - gently. Sweeping, chatting, a dog barking, kids playing. Lovely village sounds. Steve's job was to go for the fresh bread and we had an early breakfast before setting off for the markets. It's so different in the village in summer compared to last November when I was last here. Then it was cold and quiet and though the markets were on then they were fairly small. This time they were all action. Bright colourful, full of stalls selling everything from delicious food to bright straw hats, beads, belts, scarves, clothes, flowers, tableware...... and so it went. I had my shopping bag and Margaret and I quickly went to the linen clothes stall. Some lovely things - and I bought a pair of linen pants and a white dress. Could have gone mad but held back. We got our coffee and watched the world go by while John and Margaret visited the local doctor to check on John's injured leg. He pulled something in his leg the night of the Bastille Day pasta party - jumping up a step! This of course has made him a little crazy!

We returned to the house with provisions and packed up a picnic and headed to Tour Tour to meet up with Andy and Lin who had ridden off in 32' heat . It's a lovely drive there and once again quite different in summer. The villages we passed through were lively and decorated with posters advertising fairs and balls, feasts, movies, theatre and of course markets.

Tour Tour is a lovely town we visited last November and well worth visiting for a picnic under the trees at the top of the hill. We arrived just before our cyclist friends and Steve greeted them in true Tour de France fashion by taking off his shirt waving it the air and running alongside them as they came up the final hill.

We chilled out for a while before heading back to Cotignac to watch the final stages of theTour - in time to see Costa lead and manage to take the yellow jersey for the day.

Home again for rests and listening to the sounds from the Marie before enjoying a dinner out at La Clos de Van - where the chef Stefan is married to a lovely girl from Warchope near Port Macquarie! We met her the other night at the town's pasta party. The restaurant is a few km out of the village set in a vineyard and serves the most delicious meals. We had lots of laughs concluding with a limoncello and a visit from Stefan who despite being French has a lovely Australian accent.

Home to bed but not before one more limoncello!

Sunday in Cotignac.........

Hotel de Ville - our house is to the left.

Runners at the end of the race: note wine bottles!

 We left Lerici around 8.30 and made it to Cotignac in Provence around 3pm just before the village roads closed for the Bastille Day fun run and then evening celebrations. The Brannock's house is just as lovely as I remember and we have the big guest bedroom and its fantastic. Overlooks the Place de Marie and  Hotel de Ville.
 We went straight to one of the bars to watch the Tour de France.

Around 7 we went back to the village to watch the fun runners come in and they were very sweaty looking. It was a little different to our fun runs. It ended through a narrow passage so they had to pass the wine table where every runner received a bottle of red wine. Then it was off to the food table. No oranges and water for these runners! They had coke, wine, juice, watermelon, gingerbread slices, butter cake, cherries - and of course a second glass of wine if needed. They stood around after the race patting each other on the back and toasting their success.

We then moved onto the town pasta party. We had bought our tickets to the feast and were placed on the P&F table by Suzanna who manages the Brannock's house. On either side if us were Christina and Bents from Norway, and Maria and Arturo and their 13 year old son fom Marseilles. Both couples were delightful and we had a great night

Fun on Bastille night

The singing if the French National Anthem was stirring and the fireworks stupendous! There were no obvious safety precautions or barriers between the crowd and the fireworks .
They were just slightly out of alignment and the ones shooting left were hitting the eaves of the nearby house and it nearly caught alight!
It was all very French and we loved it.
John sprinted off the greet some others fiends arriving to stay and then we arrived home after midnight (the party was really only just starting) to find poor John on the bed with an icepack. He had strained something in his leg and was in quite a lot of pain.

Off to bed in a very comfortable bed but not before Steve had broken 3 glasses and a plate! It was an accident but don't ask how. Hope we get invited back.

Fwd: Last day in Lerici

Dressed in pink made by Gaga Marg

Barbie doll given to Cleo by the Priest

Beautiful Demi

 Big day today as its Demi's Christening and the ceremony starts at 10.30 in Carrara, about 40 mins away. So all up early including Caleb, Bertie's friend from Australia. All dressed and ready, Fabio in his summer weight suit; Bertie in a lovely blue dress; and little Princess Cleo in a gorgeous dress made by Grandma Marg (otherwise know as Gaga). Baby Demi was in a pretty dress (also made by Marg) made from a fabric from a favourite shirt of Grandma Betty.

Steve and I went with Massimo and Patrizia, who live in a gorgeous house nearby. It was a "short 40 min" drive to the church.

We all assembled at the church in Carrara, and Fabio's sister Antonella and husband Fredrico and son Dmitri arrived all smiles as they were to be the Godparents. Several other friends arrived and the Priest came out ready to start. He was also the media manager as he kept telling where the photographers (Dmitri and Massimo) should stand to get the best shots. He also gave Cleo a Barbie doll, a great surprise and something I've never seen in an Australian church. That kept her completely occupied.

Parents and Godparents sat up near the altar and away we went. Demi was perfect as usual, she's a really lovely easy friendly baby. We got all the photos and then moved outside for more photos and chats.

We were moving onto to a restaurant near by - well not so nearby. We drove for nearly an hour, out of Liguria and into Lucca and up several mountains untill we arrived at La Cerratola.

It was like a mountain get away.

Lunch was delightful, beautiful traditional antipasti followed by 3 pasta dishes followed by a meat platter with 4 different types of meat and salad then the cake and gelato for dessert. Just as we were finished bad news arrived.

The whole way up Massimo and Patrizia had been a little distracted as their friend Oscar was very ill in hospital in Genoa. They then got a call saying he had passed away. There were many tears and a fairly quick end to the lunch, we moved outside and discovered Massimo and Patrizia had left and we were without a lift home. Well, in lovely italian style it took 15 mins to arrange cars, count people distribute between cars etc...... to save Steve and I being left on the hill. Eventually we went with Stempy and Veronica and their daughter Greta. Over an hour later of winding corners we arrived back in Lerici and everyone was exhausted. Gorgeous party to welcome little Demi. Thank you Fabio and Roberta.

Had a peaceful night and planned an early morning departure for Cotignac and the last week of our holidays.

Lerici

Lunch time on the island

Roberta with Demi

You may remember I was in Lerici last year with my friend Pat. We had an apartment near the castle and enjoyed a week of summer fun.
Our niece Roberta (Berti) and husband Fabio live here but were away when I was her last years. This time we are staying with them. We arrived at their house to find them fresh out of the shower after an afternoon on their boat. We settled in then went shopping where Steve got to play Grandpa, pushing the stroller and looking after Cleo. We gathered a few things then went home to prepare dinner.
The two little girls (Cleo 2 and a half and Demi 3 months) are just yummy. Cleo took straight to me and I was having a lot of fun talking, reading, playing, dancing and cuddling her.
We slept in the "cave" downstairs and enjoyed a great night.
The next morning after breakfast Steve and Fabio left on the scooter and we all followed

We joined the throngs of people on boats and set off for Palmaria a small island in the Gulf de Poeti. We stopped at our own beach and went onto the blackish sand and spent some time swimming and collecting shells before heading off for lunch in a lovely casual restaurant on the island.
There was the usual mix of young old, big and small but all were brown. We had a great lunch then boarded the boat, whizzed past Portovenere towards the Cinque Terre, and stopped at the red caves for a swim
We retuned home around 6 exhausted. What a day!

Last day in Corsica -part 2

Corte was the capital and is placed in the centre surrounded by mountains, running rivers and lots of greenery. It's very popular with walkers. All along the roads there are cars parked where the owners have scrambled down the river for a swim. If you get a look over, the river has bodies splashing and lying around on rocks.

W decided  to take the little tourist train! I know it's very naff but we had limited time to see the sights and it came along so we jumped on. It appeared we had joined a group of bus travelling tourists and before we knew it we had driven out of the town towards a car park where a big bus was waiting! Trust us, on our first train,  to choose one that was a "special". We had to wait for a real train to come along to get us back into the town.

Just then we heard rumbles and before long it started to rain. The first rain we've had over 3 weeks and 4 islands. I think in Corte it captures any rain going around.

We continued on to Bastia, where the Tour started and spent the afternoon wandering around the streets, before choosing a cafe for our aperitif and then dinner.
Back to our cave sized room and an early night for the early departure of our boat to Italy .
Off to see Bertie, Fabio, Cleo and 3 month old Demi.

Last day in Corsica

Steve with my new bag

Walking the stairs at Corte

Our last morning swim in Ill Rousse was lovely. Refreshing and alone. It was so peaceful, something the surf doesn't give us in Australia. It crashes and threatens , mostly with sharks! It's a very different way of swimming and playing in the water.

Breakfast at the hotel was ordinary and I always question why the French hotels charge for breakfast.
On the way out of town we stopped so I could buy a basket. We needed something we could carry our few more fragile purchases and I thought it should be something I would use. So I'm now the owner of a brightly coloured striped bag- a type of market bag. Steve looks great carrying it!

Tuesday Il Rousse

Woke to a very warm day after. A lovely dinner last night on the beach. Usually restaurants on the beachfront are a little bit of a rip off but this one had great reports on various websites so we gave it a go.
It was just lovely. We choose a table just on the edge of the decking - not the sand for us! It was a lovely night and we had such a lovely meal. The fish here is great. ........

On the deck

relaxing dinner

This morning we went for walk and Steve found a rather steep walk down to the water for a swim. I had thongs on so was too scared to venture down . He set off and I thought he would never stop swimming. Almost disappeared! and attracted a crowd of interested spectators.

SO i left him to it and walked back towards the hotel and found a more sedate rocky cove to enter the water. It was quiet and I was the only one swimming. Its funny.....I would never do this in Australia. with sharks and rips etc. Here my greatest fear is the STINGER! by the way my face has almost recovered. Mind you the sea urchin spikes in my knee haven't all fallen out just yet!


After breakfast we took the road behind ill Rousse and discovered the Artisans trail. It's a little like visiting a French style Maleny. Several hill towns with people working away in their little houses - caves really. We did our bit for the economy and bought a few little things. Music boxes, folk music CD, pottery jug, and a lovely lunch with a view back towards the coast. Steve would loved to have been driving his MG but it was hair raising enough on the narrow roads for me.

Just a little squeeze. No traffic people. Just you and the digger!

One little place Pigna has at least 10 craft "shops" to visit.     Perfect!

Music boxes from Pigna

We drove back to town and headed for the hotel. After a little rest time ( we are getting used to siesta) i decided another swim would be good and I took off to people watch on the long sandy beach .
I TOOK MY GOGGLES AND HAD A SWIM AND IM SURE THE LIFESAVER WAS HOPING I WOULDN'T GET INTO TROUBLE (oohs capitals!)
the lifesaver was walking up and down the busy beach carrying large fins. I guess if someone got into trouble he could don the fins and swim to them faster.

I wandered back and we prepared for our aperitif . I have developed a slight addiction to strawberry mojitos! The strange girl at our hotel bar came with it and after a few sips I decided it was sans alcohol ! I went in and said it wasn't very good (not like the night before) and so her friend took many slurps and said "its ok! " and handed it back. At this stage I almost laughed out loud and said I'd like a fresh one. I got it and I really hope she didn't spit in it!. AND it was definitely with alcohol the second time.

Dinner tonight was at a place highly recommended and the fish was so fresh it was jumping. We had the choice of fresh fish  - escorted to our table by the owner and we found it hard to choose. The cute pink one? the slightly shy looking pale grey one? the sturdy looking one with multiple fins or the grand one for two!

What a fish. Delicious. with a beautiful caper sauce.

And so to bed.........

Me enjoying the fresh fish.....and the wine

Calvi to Ile Rousse Monday

Today we were up and off to the beach not far from our hotel.
Lovely white sand and a really nice place to spend some time.
After a swim a little petit dejeuner - cafe, baguette and orange juice. I'll have to get my fruit intake later!

Then it was off to the Citadel and with an audio guide we found out about Nelson losing his eye, Christopher Colombus being born and then dying in Calvi (after he discovered America), and other stories about how the French won everything they ever went in!

Then it was down the road 22km to Algajola where our friend has an apartment. Its a gorgeous little beachside village. Not pretentious, just quiet and charming and would be a great place for a holiday. Almost wish we were staying here with Inky (aka Ian) and Ali so its a pity he couldn't come from London and host us. The wind had whipped up a little so no swim - we just had to move on to a lovely lunch at one of the beachside cafes. When in France have a salad Nicoise and or Moules - mussels which we did with a fresh Rose.

Of course Steve had to check out the life saving arrangements at the beach - and I think the lifesavers (the Sappeurs Pompiers)  thought it was a spot inspection by the French lifesaving movement!

There were lots of camping areas to stay and a great set of cabins just on the beach which kind of looked like "Binna Burra by the sea"

We continued into the next village where are staying for 2 nights and are right on the water and it sounds just like Caloundra. We roamed the shops before checking in and Steve once again "won" the shopping. He bought two shirts and a pair of shorts. I managed just one cotton dress.

Now is afternoon siesta time and catch up with the blog and emails before we walk along the promenade into the Ville for dinner.

This is the life!

Dinner by the beach

Lovely evening dinner by the beach 

Porto to Calvi. Sunday 7 th

Now the swim trek has finished we are enjoying our time in Corsica..

It's spectacular. If you watched the first few days of the Tour you would have seen it then. The road we are travelling is so winding and narrow. Very slow going but so beautiful. We went on a 3 hour boat trip up the coast to the Scandola National Park. It was lovely on the boat just cruising along. Saw some spectacular rock formations, assorted bird life and fish. Had a swim at Giralato where we stopped for half an hour.

gorgeous scenery

Back to Porto and then back in the car for a drive along the winding coast road to Calvi.
It was very warm and Steve's school friend now living in London (with a holiday house in Algajola near here) told us about visiting the Fango River for a swim. We had to scramble over rocks but getting in was a joy. All bubbly and a little like a spa.

Enjoying the free spa in the
Fango River

We dried off and continued to Calvi which is a port attracting the most incredible leisure boats. We sat in the late afternoon drinking cocktails, admiring the super yachts (and sometimes laughing at the antics of the owners). Boy! there is some money wrapped up in these big babies.

Steve's favourite yacht . Classy!

Walking further along the port, music from the "party" yacht attracted our attention. It was a party for Diesel and all the beautiful young things were boarding for a good time. Great fun watching them wobbling along on super heels to party central.

Sat at another bar and some of the owners of the super yachts came in and air kissed everyone in sight. Not us - we are invisible tourists! They are a type. All tanned - thin, brown, wrinkled, fair haired women; and fat, longish haired, long sleeved linen shirts with the sleeves rolled back, sunglasses perched on head top men. I love looking at them!

A Calvi style welcome for the Tour de France.
Note the bikes used are real!

Dinner was lovely - at a little place back from the glamour port. But it was attracting quite a young crowd so not sure about that! I had a great grilled sea bass and Steve had lamb.

Walked back to our hotel and were walking against the stream of young people heading to the bars along the waterfront. Made us feel just a little old.

Few observations:
- the latest for girls out on the town is short shorts and ankle boots - preferably with studs.
- White waffle bath towels
- Crazy drivers
- French not quite as warm and friendly as the Italians

Pictures of Cosrica

Amazing views from the water 

Boat harbour at Bonafacio

Beautiful scenery in Corsica

Bonafacio to Porto

Had a great nights sleep and nice breakfast (for 15 euros - why we have to pay in France I don't know)
Then a taxi to the airport to pick up our hire car and away we went.
Oh boy , what dramatic scenery along the way. Winding roads, sheer cliffs, breath taking views. We really enjoyed the travel and hopefully Steve enjoyed the driving! He's having a few beers now to recover.
We had morning tea at Propriano, a lovely little very French boating village, and lunch at the much larger Ajaccio which reminded us a little of Nice. Lots of boats, shops, cafes and gelato.

Propriano 

We moved on through the coastal route to Porto and it was so dramatic climbing hills and dropping down to the coastal towns. Some really lovely sandy beaches. Corsica is proving to be a well kept secret. It's really lovely.

We arrived in Porto at 4.30 and our hotel is well located on the little harbour. We booked a boat tour tomorrow to explore the coast by sea and will head up to Girolata where there is a National Park and the Sandola Gulf. Hope we can get a little swim in. I am missing our time on the boat and even miss the swims!

Porto - mountains meet the sea

Just completed a survey from Swim trek. All good comments from us!

Saw the results of the Lions Wallaby game. Dismal result and Robbie Deans could be out of a job !

Had a beautiful dinner at La Mer -right on the front of the harbour with the most beautiful view. Steve had duck and I had just had the first meat meal since I left. Pork ! And very nice it was too.

Goodbye Sardinia

Last day in Sardinia started with a 1km swim at 7am,  which I did with the diehard swimmers out the front of the hotel with Francesco in the front (with his little tiny yellow boat) and Gleno in the back. No stingers was a bonus. 

Then back to the hotel - breakfast all together and then the goodbyes started. It was such a great week and so many really nice people. 

Francesco and his little yellow boat

My last swim

Memories include: meeting all the swimmers first night and discovering so many coincidences; finding I could manage to swim at least half and more of the distances; making new friends; laughing hysterically at Chris G's ballad of Gleno - a very funny poem which started with Glen our guide but then moved on to mention everybody. This was backed up with boisterous singing led by Chris, our French American party boy. Oh how cute is he! Then there were the crystal waters, great lunches, interesting walks, funny beer sessions after the swims ( Francesco couldn't get over the number of beers the group could go through) lovely dinners out with the group, and of course our lovely Francesco who hails from Rome and speaks English so well and has a great sense of humour. Last but not  least was the encouragement I received from everyone and to my surprise being presented with the Capo Bianco. 

I really must keep swimming! 

We packed up and, with the Freemans and the Ambroses', caught the midday ferry to Palau where we then caught a bus to Santa Teresa for the ferry to Corsica. It was magical travelling across and arriving to see the rugged cliffs of Corsica and Bonafacio perched on the top. 

Our hotel, the Santa Teresa was high on the cliffs and our room had a birds eye view. We wandered the town - the old one which was interesting with its old gates, but its quite touristy. Had a great meal with local wine and got back to the hotel quite early as the sun went down at around 9.30! 

The 3 islands swim

Biggest swim today -for me!

We arrived at the first island and admired the "pink" beach then moved a little down the coast and off we went.

The first swim was 5 km and I started a little behind the first group, swam the channel, had a little break then finished with the group at the most gorgeous  bay - Santa Maria. I must have swum about 3.5 km . 

We stopped for lunch and rest time and swam a little in the crystal waters then set off at 2.30 for the next 2km along the coast to the lighthouse. I did more than half - so all up around 4. 5km! 

There I go 

Lunch was a gorgeous pasta dish with salad. 

Francesco making lunch

The ride back was just a little rough as the wind has come up a little. 

Now in the hotel having a coffee followed by a Aperol Spritz. Dinner out with the group tonight.

Tony, Kerrie, Chicca, Steve, Isabelle, Liz and Peter

Swim trek Day 3

Group at rest

An early morning start. 6 a.m. wake up, dress, down to breakfast and ready to go by 7. We had to beat the wind for an inter-island swim.

We headed down the sea to the right of the hotel and the swim was across the sea to Spargi Island. I decided not to do the channel cross. It was a 4 km swim all up. A 2km across the channel and then another 2km to the bay we were going to. It's interesting travelling with Francesco in the rubber duckie. He gives me lots of insight into the swimming styles, points a out areas of interest and its good fun. 

The Yellow Caps are off to Spargi!

The yellow cap girls, Isabella and Liz did a great job, keeping a perfect line across the channel. The orange group with Steve did a little detour so ended up getting caught by the pink group headed by Clare from Canada, a real ball of muscle. I have taken to calling her Action Girl.

I joined them for the swim along the coast, around the headland and into the bay where we were having morning tea. 

After the break we headed off for the top of the hill, a walk though stony prickly bushes to the top where the bunkers from WW2 still exist. It was a half hour climb up then some sight-seeing and a half hour back. So quite energetic.

Th group on Spargi hilltop

They decided the wind was too strong so we headed back across the channel to La Maddalena where we moored for lunch.

Only problem. - Glenn had to drive the rubber duckie back to the hotel to get the rice, and on the way back the engine failed so Franceso - who was preparing our lunch had to take off to rescue him. So Marco the big boat driver took over. 

our lunch beach

We got to laze around or swim in the crystal waters. Finally they arrived and we enjoyed a lovely lunch of rice salad full of lots of goodies like olives, tomatoes, capers, artichokes, mushrooms and soaked up with bread. Yumm

lunch before the second swim

We then had to wait the required time before beginning the afternoon swim. Off set the yellow group of Isabella and Liz and they decided to explore each of the bays and coves and really enjoy the swim. The orange group, followed by the competitive pink group, were soon hot on their heels - they had cut some of the explorations of the bays and cut across them. Francesco just shrugged his shoulders and said" they are missing out on the best scenery"

Once again I hopped in half way through the 2.6 swim and really enjoyed the last 1.3 km. I'm getting a little used to it now and feeling stronger.

We returned to the hotel for showers and a wrap-up analysis of our stroke. Quite a funny but informative critique of our swimming style taken with an underwater camera. Francesco was great and handed out lots of hints.

Isabella in the yellow group has the best style but needs more strength to go fast. He said I had a great style for only 4 months swimming and gave me a few hints on how to improve.

We did this over a few shared Proseccos - so all was good. We watched Australia win the stage of the Tour team time trials and are now in the room catching up before dinner.

Tonight the whole group are going into town to La Perla Blu for dinner.

So far swim trek is going well. Not so nervous now!!!!! And the group are so encouraging.

Swim trek Day 2

Today we started at 9 am so no real rush.Breakfast with some of the group and then a walk to the jetty.Our bigger boat arrived with Marco the driver. We all squashed aboard and towed the 2 rubber duckies as support vehicles behind.

Crossed over to another island and Franesco explained today's plan. A 4 km swim, lunch, walk, rest then a 2.5 swim. Ohhhh I thought another ride in the rubber duckie with Francesco as 4 km is beyond me. I dropped in half way and it was probably the hardest part if the swim. I missed the beautiful sandy bay near the closed down abandoned club med style resort.

I made it! Yah to me. Then we had a rest and lunch - a lovely pasta salad. Then a walk up the hill to see the view and the stone statue of Ciano, father of Count Ciano, Mussolini's son in law. Amazing stone statue in 3 parts now. Lots of photos.

Back to the boat and motored off to start the next swim. Only 2.5km! But by now it was quite windy and the current was running - fortunately in the direction of the swim.

I dropped in half way and swam probably 1.5km

Back to the hotel for clean up and a few drinks, then short rest before a group dinner at the hotel.

Lovely day and the swimming was fine. Getting used to it little by little.

Writing this before dinner. So more news later.

Arriving at La Maddelena

The fun has begun . Swim trek has started.

Our  hotel is fine. Just by the sea about a Km out of the town . 

View from the hotel

Beautiful bay views

Our terrace

We met the group last night and had a dinner together with our guides Francesco and Glenn. Let me describe.
Three couples from Sydney. One couple from London. All friends. Turns out there are multi coincidences. They are ex-water polo players (with their wives) from Sydney Uni and although in their 50's know Rob from Syd Uni water polo. Then turns out one of the ladies knows my sister Catherine as her children went to Catherine's school and even got the Library prize! Liz also knows my niece Helen because they swim together at Bronte swim club where they live!
So many coincidences from the Sydney crew.
The others are Emily - 30's from UK; Clare - 30's from Canada, Isabella - 30's a Swiss doctor. All 3 have done swim treks before. In fact there are 3 doctors, a nurse and a radiographer, so medically we are fine.
Then there are 3 brothers one from Paris,one from London and last from California - they are half French and range from 30-40. All married, but on a brothers bonding week. This is there 3rd swim trek. Last swimmer is the class clown Chris from London. Very funny, very pale and now quite red from sunburn .

We started with a 300m test swim, to group us. I got a yellow hat! Then breakfast and we were given our hats. I'm naturally in the slowest group with Isabella and Liz. So off we went for our 1.7 km swim around the beautiful bays to our picnic spot - an unused convent only reached by swimming or by boat. Had lunch and rested and wandered around then at 2.30 we set off for a 4 km swim. I cleverly stayed on the rubber duckie with Francesco and dropped in half way through the swim. We finished at a jetty then had to dress and walk 2-3 km back to our hotel. Talk about tired! And it's only day 1! Poor Chris our one Englishman -turns out he is a very good swimmer but so pale he burns easily . He has burn marks on various parts of his pale skin.

Small local  beach for a little training!

When we finally got back to the hotel we had to swim 4 short laps by ourselves to be videotaped for analysis of our stroke! More swimming!

We cleaned up had an hour off then walked a km to our restaurant for dinner.
To bed by 10.30 and a Sunday sleep.

Tomorrow start at 7 am for a crossing from island to island.