Cannes, France, seems a` suitable place for a baby to celebrate his first birthday. It’s a hub of activity; people, boats, dogs, markets, music – everything a high-energy baby enjoys, so we were pleased to sail into Cannes harbour today to celebrate Leif’s 366th day of life.
We’re celebrating Leif’s birthday with some of his favourite treats. Though a very fussy eater, his favourite foods are not what you expect – licorice, smoked mackerel and olives. And, since he loves music, we bought him a tambourine for a present.
The new head gasket for the engine is holding strong. The job seemed to get more and more complex as we disassembled the engine with the most basic of tools. By the end, it seemed the engine might never run again. Miraculously, the diesel rumbled to life with a turn of the key, and it’s been running smoothly ever since.
From Cassis, the coast of Provence has been a treat for sailing. We’ve been able to anchor in small protected bays – sometimes near larger cities like St. Tropez, other times in marine parks with just a few boats for company. One such spot was Ile de Port Cros – a storied island about ten km from the coast. It was first occupied by the Greeks, followed by the Romans. Now it’s a park, and Julie and I strolled through pine forests exploring the ancient ruins. Amongst the ruins we discovered a plantation of old twisted olive trees. We collected a few samples so we can later learn their origins through genetic testing.
We’re near the Italian border, and will be enjoying Italy in a few days.

Many varieties of olives can be found in local markets