2016-08-18 Plage de la Courtade, Ile de Porquerolles to Calanque de Morgiou, Provence, France

 Fort Ste Agathe overlooking Plage de la Courtade and the main town, Port de Porquerolles
Fort Ste Agathe overlooking Plage de la Courtade and the main town, Port de Porquerolles
Plage de la Courtade, beside the main town had many yachts mooring overnight
Plage de la Courtade, beside the main town had many yachts mooring overnight
 From Le Pradeau, where the ferries arrive, diving trips from here on 2 shipwrecks are very popular
From Le Pradeau, where the ferries arrive, diving trips from here on 2 shipwrecks nearby are very popular
 Ile du Grand Ribaud off the west coast
Ile du Grand Ribaud north west off the coast of Ile de Porquerolles
 We leave the Iles d'Hyeres and continue west along the coast
We leave the Iles d’Hyeres and continue west along the coast
 Approaching the harbour of Toulon which is the 2nd largest naval base in France
Approaching the large harbour of Toulon which has the 2nd largest naval base in France. Toulon with a population of under 200,000 is dominated by Mt Faron and boasts one of the most perfect Mediterranean climates in France 
We motored into the large naval and commercial harbour however we decided to continue along the coast
We motored into the naval and commercial harbour which is one of the largest natural harbours in the Mediterranean. We decided to continue along the coast as we preferred to anchor out rather than go into a marina again
Nearby are the communication towers and lighthouse on Cap Cepet
Just outside the port are sophisticated looking communication towers and also a lighthouse on Cap Cepet
We pass some amazing striated cliffs
We then pass some amazing striated cliffs
The amazing Cap Bec de l'Aigle by the town od La Ciotat
The equally as amazing, yet quite different cliffs of Cap Bec de l’Aigle by the town of La Ciotat
Cassis a popular  small tourist town which is situated close to the Calanques
Cassis a popular small tourist town which is situated close to Les Calanques
The spectacular high red cliffs of Cap Canaille east of Cassis
The spectacular high red cliffs of Cap Canaille east of Cassis
The wind has increased dramatically and the sea has become very confused
The wind had increased dramatically and the sea had become very confused

0Q1A9874 (Copy)

 We approach the amazing coast with numerous calanques which are narrow inlets with steep sided limestone cliffs
We approach the amazing coast with numerous calanques which are narrow inlets with steep sided limestone cliffs
 At the entrance to the  easternmost calanque called Port Miou, bathers make the most of the incredibe limestone slabs
We approach the entrance to the easternmost calanque called Port Miou where bathers make the most of the incredible natural limestone slabs
 We enter Port Miou
Entering Port Miou
 Visiting yachts can pick up moorings at the the entance to the calanque and then tie a line ashore to one of the rings on the cliffs
Visiting yachts can pick up moorings at the the entance to the calanque and then tie a line ashore to one of the rings on the cliffs

0Q1A9905 (Copy)

 Further in the calanque there are two yacht clubs who administer the area
Further in the calanque there are two yacht clubs who administer the area
 Very few spaces are available here
Very few spaces are available here today
We turn around in the narrow calanque and return to the entrance
We turn around in the narrow calanque and return to the entrance
 With no spaces available near the entrance we head out towards the entrance
Unfortunately with no spaces available near the entrance we head back out 
Looking back to the amazing anchorage
Looking back to the quite unique anchorage
 As we leave Port Miou we see ancient dwellings carved into the limestone.....and rowers
As we leave Port Miou we see the remains of ancient dwellings carved into the limestone……..and a team of rowers!!!
We pass kyakers braving the rough conditions as we continue to the next calanque
We pass kyakers braving the rough conditions as we continue to the next calanque
We enter the narrow Calanque d'En Vau and decide to continue
We enter the narrow Port Pin and then Calanque d’En Vau (pictured) however decide to continue as with the weather conditions and the narrowness of the calanques we thought it might be a little tight and uncomfortable for the Tangaroa
0Q1A9934 (Copy)
Continuing on we experience the most wonderful scenery 
The coastline along Les Calanques is one of the most spectacular coastlines we have seen in our travels
The coastline along Les Calanques is one of the most spectacular coastlines we have seen in our travels in 6 years

0Q1A9939 (Copy) 0Q1A9946 (Copy) 0Q1A9947 (Copy) 0Q1A9948 (Copy)

We enter Calaque de Morgiou
Finally we enter Calanque de Morgiou
Calanque de Morgiou is a much larger and wider calanque than the others we had entered
Calanque de Morgiou is a much larger and wider calanque than the others we had entered
 The surroundings in the calanque are quite stunning with pines scattered around the limestone cliffs
The surroundings in this calanque are really quite stunning, with pines scattered around the high limestone cliffs
0Q1A9963 (Copy)
A few other boats arrived in the peaceful surroundings
0Q1A9967 (Copy)
A traditional small fishing boat heads out of the bay

0Q1A9968 (Copy)

0Q1A9964 (Copy)
A perfect, safe and quiet anchorage for us overnight
We decide to stay the night here in Clanque de Morgiou
Another yacht arrives to join the few boats in Calanque de Morgiou
 At the head of the bay are a few buildings
At the head of the bay there are a few buildings, of which one is a restaurant during summer months
 Full moon tonight
A full moon tonight

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *