October 4 & 5 - The Seine River and Bay of Biscay

I've been without an internet connection all day. Perhaps Seabourn needs to make a deal with Elon Musk to use Starlink as Royal Caribbean will be doing.  It's no great loss though because there’s not a lot to report today. We've had two nice relaxing days on the Ovation.

Tuesday morning around 11 AM we set sail from Rouen for our journey back down the Seine, out into the Channel at Le Havre and then around Brittany to the Bay of Biscay. When we sailed it was clear but cool, much better than yesterday.  The countryside along the way was very picturesque with lots of farms and orchards. Many of the houses were half-timbered, some that must be quite old because the roofs sagged and they just looked ancient.

It was interesting that on our port side there were more grand  houses than on the starboard.  There were lots of pastures with some very happy-looking cows and sheep. All and all it looks peaceful and almost idyllic.  It’s hard to imagine what it must have been like less than 80 years ago when war was raging across this countryside.

I played trivia at noon both days.  We have a team with one British gentleman and the rest of us women with a mix of American and one Australian.  On Tuesday we finished in last place. Today we did better (third out of eight).  But, after all, it is only a game.

The captain had told us yesterday when we sailed that the weather conditions would be deteriorating and he was true to his word. Tuesday evening we started moving around a little and this morning we were doing some pretty good rocking and rolling.  I don’t mind it but we all looked like drunken sailors (how unfair to use that expression) moving about the ship.  It was also rainy and very windy.  I had an appointment for a pedicure at 10:30 AM and as I was sitting in the chair with my feet soaking a beautiful rainbow appeared.  A good omen I hope.  This afternoon the seas have calmed and the sky has brightened.  I hope that’s a sign of good weather tomorrow when we’re in La Rochelle, France.

We solo travelers are getting invitations every night and usually with the same staff member so we're getting to know one another well.  The retired aeronautical lady I wrote about earlier is from Virginia originally and since she lived on the Peninsula for a long time we can talk about a lot of memories we share. Tonight we dined with two of the singers on the ship.  The young man is from Fredericksburg and the young woman is from Maryland outside of DC. Neither is married and since they only perform evenings they are able to go ashore at nearly every port.  I thought what a great way for a young person to see the world.

Anyway, that's about all for now. Boring, I know, but I thought I should report in.   I'll add a few pictures from our trip down the Seine.  Adieu!

The last picture is one of the two tall bridges we sailed under on our way to the sea.  They are tall enough that we and small freighters could pass under but one of those big container ships couldn't make it.