We HAVE TO come back to the boat in Puerto Penasco:  Some work wait for us in as the hulls are already sand blasted, waiting for a complete epoxy protection and it's take usually 3 weeks to be perfectly ready to leave for a full season of autonomy on board of our cat.  Squeezing these 3 weeks of preparation in one week is possible but not suitable regarding our way of travel. We must anyway leave Mexico (Puerto Vallarta) before the coming of next western Pacific hurricane season.  

ALCYONE fully sand blasted in P PENASCO, waiting for us before epoxy safety treatment..

Next trip is probably the last long (9 months) cruise with Helena, we welcome on board for the first 5 months part to Tahiti Pierre from Belgium; being 3 on board open a lot of possibilities ! We expect some strong improvement about the covid fight, with a world freedom resurection before summer ...Wish or challenge ? Herunder our guideline:               

- 22 february: beginning of work in Astilleros CABRALES in Puerto Penasco                                          - 14 march: (if we manage to watch our new dream rugby team playing England on 13th) leave Puerto Penasco and cruise southward sea of Cortez to Puerto Vallarta.                                                                     - 3rd april: Leave Puerto Vallarta for south pacific, sailing as as much as we can even slowly.                   - 30th april: Arrive in Gambier (french Polynesia) and sail Tuamutus.                                                         - 30th june or later: 3/4 weeks stop in Tahiti-Raiatea) for Helen covid-vaccin ...and Heiva festival.       - 1 august or later: cruise the north island of south pacific                                                                           - 23 october: Arrive in new zealand, second home place of ALCYONE in Whangarei        


The previous months in France show us how stronger are the link with our friends, mostly retired too now; this push us to change soon our strange way of life where we cannot be seriously involved in any activity and have to cut our best relations for many month...In fact, french life is so soft with time, friendship around naturesports and good food ! This last week was pretty intense, in fact a good news after so many hours on the sofa !

ANOTHER MORCYCLE DEATH...YOUR FATHER IS OFTEN RIGHT !

Perfect mould for my left knee !
   Monday 15th, 7h00, one of the rare Croisette frozen morning: I drive slowly westward on my way to the medical lab...suddenly, nearly opposite of famous steps of festival palace, a working van cut my way; Jose the driver could not see me long enough as the motorcycle was hidden by the parked cars along the avenue...too late...    

 This time I prefer to stiff my body and control the crash than to fall on right side... BANG ! I'lay stupidly down with the moto on my left leg; i get immediate help of local workers, including police...early morning birds are often friendly !
   
What a luck ! the form of my left knee (picture left) is incrusted in the right front side of the Van's plastic bumper, (much better as reverse if the bumper was in metal) ! Motorcycle large handlebars, helmet and special gloves protect well; result : top of right hand swallowed, left tibia bleeding but nothing deep... I was so lucky to drive below 50km/h, but mostly in winter wearing all protection gears : Jacket, helmet, gloves... and not summer bermuda)!

The beloved 2010 Yamaha YBR is much more badly wounded and cannot move anymore with broken carter...not the best news when you have to leave for 9 month 4 days later ! Through honesty of Jose, the van driver, the quick moves of all insurance actors,  all was solved in 4 days: I received some euros as the price of repair excess the value of the motorcycle.  Driving a moto is now probably finished for me ...
 I bought this toy 10 years ago; this is such a cheap, nice and efficient way to use in a crowded city, but I got almost one accident per year: Never my fault... but who get the physical problems ?  I already missed good events as in the hospital and this time I was not very far to miss our return to the cat...                      When I was 14yo my father told me; "you ll never get a mopped , I ll offer to you now a nice bicycle and you ll get a decent old car at 18yo, but if I see you on a motorcycle before, ll break you your both legs ! "...My father was right !
   
"Notre Dame" pick up: Last trip for this exciting but now too dangerous little laddy.


SECOND VACCIN PARTY: NO REASON TO WAIT

  With the "pathetic privilege" to be 65yo with 4 case of comorbidity, I could receive a second dose MODERNA vaccin on 17th february; this was not as soft as the first injection with a bit of fiever; but nothing bad regarding such a short (less than 20 hours) desagrement regarding a real feeling of freedom ! 

Let's hope this covid ll be old story a a few months...his is our challenge too ! Helena (so young with 60yo!) could not get so far even a first dose and ll leave without protection, as Pierre our friend from Bruxelles.

Left picture: "Odette", 90yo leaving proudly the "Palais des festivals". Our solid building senior  got the privilege to receive her first injection of Pfitzer on 14 january in the Croisette vaccination center... 

  In Cannes, some guys know how to move very fast and sometimes we feel to live in an island of common sense !

 

Jean Louis never use a plane, but is one of the most active nautical guy in the whole Cote d'Azur; he knows how to wish you a good trip...and to give best motivation you for an happy return !


Last step and less fun: compulsory PCR near Cannes town hall : well organized but...