Today, we plan to leave the beautiful Glènan islands and head for Belle Ile or Ile Croix. But first, we need to make a stop at the Belon river and have some seafood in Chez Jackys. They should be something out of the ordinary. We leave the archipelago through the south entrance and go towards Belon. As we approach, we get with the common sight of kids learning to sail. Wonderful to see the joy and the determined spirits. Chez Jackys are located a mile up the river and we steam and try to find a buoy to tie up to. The ones outside the restaurant are too close to each other so we tie up down the river and take the dinghy ashore.

Another sailing school. Brings back fun memories

Going up the Belon River with oyster beds all around

Chez Jackys

Melody tied up at the large Visitor buoy

Chez Jacky is all about seafood. They have a shop where you can get the seafood and the pools for oysters are next to the restaurant and the shop. The restaurant in itself is a pleasant surprise with nice interior and good view out on the river Belon. We share a seafood platter and what we get is a huge collection of seafood framed by Belon oysters. Just to dig into the juicy things. I feel bad for Birgitta who as a vegetarian has to settle for a salad.

Seafood platter that deserves its name

One of the oyster pools overlooking the river.

Feeling stuffed, we release ourselves from the buoy and go back. The lunch took far longer than expected so we decide to stay the night in Lorient or Port Louis instead. As we read more, we decide to stop in Port Louis that seemed like a nicer town.

Lorient was originally founded for the French East India Company which explains its name – “L’ Orient” (The Orient). During the WW2, this was the headquarters for the German submarine fleet so this city was also heavily bombed but stayed occupied until the end of the war. The bunker complexes still stands at the entrance to the harbour. We enter the modern Kernével Marina next to the submarine base for a service stop. At the entrance, we see the futuristic “Race for Water”, the largest solar-powered vessel ever built. When we stop, we also meet the international crew from Kapitan Borchard again. We have a chat before their guests return to the ship and we over to the much more basic Port Louis.

Leaving the Belon River

Windsurfer making good speed outside Lorient

The submarine base

Race for water

Meeting old friends

Port Louis is dominated by the large Citadel and the small town looks nice sitting in the afternoon sun. The harbour captain directs us to a place in the fishing harbour and settle down for the evening with a dinner on the boat and the evening sun shining in.

The sun sets again

Nice setting for a fisherman harbour