Introducing our guests to Guernsey and Herm

When settled into St Peter Port harbour, what on earth can you do? Well, firstly you find that your liner curse has struck again and that 2 of the things are anchored off when you wake up:

This meant that St Peter Port town was overflowing with people toting camera bags, dodgy cruise liner clothing and a generally overstuffed with food expression. It also meant that the perfume shop had an extra 10% discount on offer and this pleased Irene. It also pleased Linda (remember Andrew and Linda, the Nordhavn 43 folks who used to "own" our forecabin?) when we SMS'd her. She gave us her order....

You have to take newcomers to Guernsey on the round the island bus trip to get a £1 flavour of the place. so we did that. You also have to take them on the ferry to Herm:

shown arriving in the harbour there.

Archie the Lakeland terrier was like a dog possessed on the island. He even did a little running around but concentrated on looking intelligent and cute:

The island continues to amaze us despite many visits over the years. Here are some images showing you why:

(Jethou island)

Even canoeists get a look in here:

The northern beaches are still to die for, or to park your boat on:

One way of avoiding mooring fees we suppose but not too practical for us. Normally people find their dinghies stranded far up the beach after landing from their anchored boat, this guy seems to have it the wrong way around:

Enjoying lunch at the island's one hotel we met a very friendly waitress who hails from Dunbeg in Scotland - the little village next to Dunstaffnage Marina where John and Irene keep their boat and where we have boarded the local bus to Oban. Small small world. Herm is a generally a very friendly place, even the warning signs are nicely expressed:

Back in Guernsey, a walk through the woods to Fermain bay is always a joy. Especially for lunch at the little kiosk there, a local institution:

On the way back, we found that that sailing on dry land is not just a sport reserved for Herm:

One other good walk is out to Beaucette marina after a bus ride to St Sampsons. You get a nice quiet lane to use too:

and lovely views over to Herm etc:

We also did our ritual fuel fill up in St Sampson's harbour with Kevin the nice Rubis fuel tanker driver man. This year we took 4,600 litres at 45.5p/l. Quite a saving. It was, as usual, dosed with Stanadyne stabiliser stuff and the boat was, as usual, a little harder to steer after adding a few tons in weight. We were allowed into the Victoria Marina despite our size and canine crew member and so had a couple of nights in there before our departure.