Le Weekend Cygnet

 Well what a weekend we had... Magnifique!!

So the background behind the weekend...(.c/- The Cygnet Association..TCA)
This weekend we will celebrate and commemorate our deep connection to legendary French explorers Bruni D’Entrecasteaux, Jacques de Labillardière, Huon de Kermadec and Nicolas Baudin. During a remarkable decade between 1793 & 1803, their expeditions visited and mapped this then pristine region. It was D’Entrecasteaux who sailed into our bay and named it “Port des Cygnes Noirs” and if things had panned out just a little differently, we’d all be speaking French!

The lovely Sandra (CWA) and her fabulous husband David do a late afternoon change over of our bunting to the tricolours

And they do the Town Hall too!!

The TCA committee add to the show...

Christine our resident French shop owner at Near and Far gets into the French/Valentine spirit..

 The Museum digs out an old but appropriate sign..

Our State Premier Will Hodgeman is a good spot and does a photo shoot for The Mercury Weekend Magazine to help promote the weekend..with a number of our 'famous' local friends..

Posie Graham-Evans (Author and of McLeods Daughters fame)

 Peter George (former ABC foreign correspondent/ journalist)

 Bob Brown

 And Bec...Tom's boss at the Garden Larder!!

I put together this outfit for the weekend.. (any excuse to dress up)

 John and I set up a table out front of shop selling books about D'entrecasteux's interaction with Tasmanian Aborigines at Rescherche Bay. (and Bob Brown Books)...Oh and my crocheted Hearts for Valentines day...to raise money for CWA..

 Madame Defarge...I am asked numerous times "Where is the guillotine?" Maybe next year

 Tom and I do a wander around town..

 The Opening Ceremony begins with the Premier cycling into town!!.

 Getting into the spirit..

 Two girls from St James read from the Diary of French explorer...describing visit to Port Cygnet

 The Rescherche Baybes perform....very clever songs..

 Helen makes quite an entrance and sings the French National anthem

then sings Australian anthem words to French anthem tune to the delight of the Premier(far right)

 Smiles after the ceremony... with Rosalie (our dear friend and partner of Paul our architect/builder) and Liz..

 Bob joins in

 And Posie..

Oh ..and me!!

 Dear friends Winsor and Tereza Dobbin

 There are French cars on display in the carpark

 John and Judy (of HaHa fame)

 Pat and Sylvie and Paul Thomas(Bob's partner) in the stripes

 Peter George introduces Bob Brown speech  "We could have been French" about Rescherche bay and French interaction with Tasmanian Aborigines ..particularly Oura Oura ..a young aboriginal woman...at Randalls Bay area. Fascinating history

 Special guest Jean Phillipe has co-written a book about the French Garden at Rescherche Bay and presents wonderful anecdotes..

 We are booked on the Twilight cruise on the Lady Neslon ..

 Captain Mal greets all passengers with the double kiss before boarding (although Tom manages to avoid his turn)

 We are invited to assist if we like so I give a hand to set the sails..

 The Rescherche Baybes entertain us..

 Beautiful out on the water..

 We head back just avoiding the rain

We are invited back to Lisa and Rob's place for supper with fellow passengers Vicki, Adrian and Trevor. Really lovely end to a great day

Sunday is promising to become windy...

Tom is decked out to do the inaugural Tour de Cygnet Family ride with me..and Goldie gets into the act too.

 We head down for French Breakfast at the Sailing Club...very classy it is too...Thanks to Judy and John for co-coordinating such an elegant affair.

 Tom and I go and register for the bike ride then take in the flags..

 The ride doesn't quite go as I'd thought..
Tom and I start off in the pack together...then I don't see him for dust!!
Oh well.. I enjoy the 17km ride...although some of my fellow riders are worried about my skirt getting caught in my wheels.. One fellow suggest I . 'tuck it into my nickers'..
I make it back despite Tom taking off with my water supply...and the strong headwind...feeling a bit wobbly on my legs as I walk the bike back to the shop  after returning my bib.

Later that afternoon, I am awarded best dressed rider!! What fun.. (Two bottle of wine that I donate to Hannah and Jark...a Valentines gift!!)

 Tom also received a best dressed award...a drink bottle...then is luck enough to be drawn in the prize of a much coveted yellow jersey (that I will probably make use of) Only 3 given out...

A fabulous weekend...what an amazing town we live in..