November 2023

Back to Australia

After a summer of surprising temperature variations, I'm back on board Banana Split in Australia, where it's spring. I said goodbye to Paris and its Wallace fountains (named after a British philanthropist - according to Wikipedia - who financed them).
An "airport day", as Michel Berger sang, and back to kangaroo country. Banana Split waited patiently for me, moored to a buoy, and I took her to the beauty salon , (the refit site) , from which she emerged superb, and at full speed, as if she couldn't wait to get back in the water (non-accelerated image)!
With the sun promising to be aggressive this season, I bought a very stylish hat at the Saigon stopover, which, along with my colourful T-shirt and shopping bag, gives me an elegant look.


In Auvergne, I had left the farm for a moment to visit a company whose products have always accompanied me around the world, Wichard, which manufactures deck hardware in Thiers, including my genoa furler.

I left Auvergne after picking the last zucchini flowers, the poupetons. Will have to wait until next year. In Australia, I met up with my friends Claudie and Serge, who had taken good care of Banana Split; from their house, surrounded by spectacular Eucalyptus trees, you can easily reach beaches where the only footprints are those of birds.

There is one thing we should learn from in France: in Australia as in New Zealand, when you go to the supermarket, the checkout is equipped with hooks where bags hang, the cashier places everything you've bought on them with virtuosity, and as soon as you've paid you leave without having to scramble around with all your junk loose on the carpet; it's really very pleasant, and in the end everyone saves time!

I wish you all the best for November, from the anchorage at Wangi Wangi, where the sunset this evening is particularly colourful.

Antoine

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