Maybe Etang Neuf is busy in summer but today it is one of those places that feels less populated than the south pole. The snow has gone and it’s a balmy 4C as we set off along attractive green countryside towards Corlay where Ali buys milk and bread. We have a good journey down the N12 with a lunch break at Carmoran aire de repose. As we park we see a chap sitting in the passenger seat of his car strumming his guitar and singing. We make up a song for him:...

At first light large flakes of snow are falling heavily, but despite the temperature being zero it dosen’t stick. Inside is 8C but within 30 minutes the heater raises it to 18C and we get up for breakfast. The main road is running freely and by 10:00 everything is melting. Annick comes out to say goodbye and we set off just before 11:00. Once we are outside of Brest the amount of snow is surprising with the land white as far as we can see but the roads are ...

We get up late having had the heating on for an hour just as the forecast snow starts falling. Although it is too wet to stick we decide there is no sense in travelling anywhere today. Jean-Michel connects us to the electricity and Annick comes in for a few hours, including lunch of left over tarteflette. Further flurries of snow, some quite heavy, occur through the day and the temperature never goes above 3C. Warm and safe we have a quiet evening and plan an...

As peaceful as we could wish for last night. The morning is bright with the odd little shower. Ali visits the boulangerie to buy pain aux chocolat for breakfast. Canoeists and paddle boarders stroke their way up the channel and two loopy springer spaniels stalk wagtails on the grass. We use the service point and head through Taule to join the N-route towards Brest before stopping in a supermarket for wine and presents in Landivisiau. We stay in the town for ...

Twas quite a rolling sea but our cabin was well aft so peaceful despite sliding about in the bunks. At 06:00 the wakey-wakey announcement comes over the tannoy in French, English and Spanish. We get a coffee in self service and watch the familiar shapes of Port du Bloscon [Roscoff] hove into view. Disembarkation goes well but at passport control Ali is checked for a second look due to her recent hairstyling being much shorter than the photo. It is showery and...