(#8) Picture yourself in a boat on the river with tangerine trees and marmalade skies
Time to get onto the boat but first the car must be returned to a town about 30 Km away. We don't get the boat until 16:00 Hr so lots of time for the chore, you would think. It was a pleasant drive until we try to find the train station and fight with Evette, our GPS cut her off at the ankles this time. Followed the signs, which was more like a Where's Waldo episode as the signs were so visible. Left, then right, feels like a Uturn, down an alley, along the sides of cliffs (in the city) there in the distance is the holy grail but how do you actually get there.
The rental office was supposed to be in the train station but the info map indicated it was on the end of the building. Phone GPS indicates it should be across the canal on the other side of the plaza, I ask in a tour shop about the office and get told that office is closed and it is now out at the airport. Meanwhile John had asked at the train info window and was told they would take the keys if I had a copy of the contract.
Ah the luck of the Irish because as I was passing over the keys we just missed the next train we needed by 1 minute but another one would be through in a couple of hours. Coffee, croissants and a stroll through town to pass the time until our 23 minute trip back to the boat. With the baggage safely stowed away lunch is calling, then we split up with some returning to the boat for orientation while others went shopping for provisions. Wine, water, wine, some food, wine, do you know how heavy liquids are! By the time we reached the boat my arms felt like I had been an anvil salesman they had stretched so much. I felt like I could just use my arms like crutches and swing merrily along the way.
Orientation would not begin until thre full party was present. We got that gong show over with 3 people giving instruction to different groups in the same small counter area. 'You understand, Yes', understand what, what she said or he said or the other one said.
Next up on the water orientation, I think I understood the operation of the GPS better. Through two buoys , back into the dock area and we got out of Dodge. Our impression was that we would not get far but at least we would be away from the bean festival ( Cassoulet Festival) You know, beans, beans the magical fruit, the duelling band stands, rock, rap, traditional or what ever it was and of course the hordes of other 'boaters'.
Part of the bean festival
The crew
Made 7 locks before we had to pull over for the night as the locks do not operate after 19:00 Hr. On the canal you can stop just about anywhere so we pulled into shore, someone made the leap of faith actually landing on terra firma and not into the canal. We staked the boat, dropped the gangplank and began quenching our thirsts We rearranged the ballast on board during dinner that John & Deb prepared, a very delicious pasta. However the following day we had to take on more ballast and make certain we were moving forward on an even keel.
Lock operation
Coming into the canal side to stake the boat to shore
One of the many sunsets awe enjoyed
As we all know, a holiday is not a holiday without something going amiss. For us it came as we were merrily moving towards our next destination, where ever that was to be, and as we slowed down for a passing boat the bow thruster went on vacation. Or maybe it was just lunch time since just about everything shuts down about that time of the day in France.
Pull into shore, stake the boat, call Le Boat, give our location and wait for a technician to arrive. We had travelled about 4 - 5 hours , including the lock times but it only took the tech about 30 minutes to drive to our location. Turns out the switch is not functioning 100% so to correct the difficulty the lower switch was swapped out for the top switch. Other discrepancies were discussed with a few being amended, but not fixed, think of, if you can recall, a farmer or someone doing repairs with baling wire. Off we set again on a Three Hour Cruise, a three hour cruise.
The rental office was supposed to be in the train station but the info map indicated it was on the end of the building. Phone GPS indicates it should be across the canal on the other side of the plaza, I ask in a tour shop about the office and get told that office is closed and it is now out at the airport. Meanwhile John had asked at the train info window and was told they would take the keys if I had a copy of the contract.
Ah the luck of the Irish because as I was passing over the keys we just missed the next train we needed by 1 minute but another one would be through in a couple of hours. Coffee, croissants and a stroll through town to pass the time until our 23 minute trip back to the boat. With the baggage safely stowed away lunch is calling, then we split up with some returning to the boat for orientation while others went shopping for provisions. Wine, water, wine, some food, wine, do you know how heavy liquids are! By the time we reached the boat my arms felt like I had been an anvil salesman they had stretched so much. I felt like I could just use my arms like crutches and swing merrily along the way.
Orientation would not begin until thre full party was present. We got that gong show over with 3 people giving instruction to different groups in the same small counter area. 'You understand, Yes', understand what, what she said or he said or the other one said.
Next up on the water orientation, I think I understood the operation of the GPS better. Through two buoys , back into the dock area and we got out of Dodge. Our impression was that we would not get far but at least we would be away from the bean festival ( Cassoulet Festival) You know, beans, beans the magical fruit, the duelling band stands, rock, rap, traditional or what ever it was and of course the hordes of other 'boaters'.
Made 7 locks before we had to pull over for the night as the locks do not operate after 19:00 Hr. On the canal you can stop just about anywhere so we pulled into shore, someone made the leap of faith actually landing on terra firma and not into the canal. We staked the boat, dropped the gangplank and began quenching our thirsts We rearranged the ballast on board during dinner that John & Deb prepared, a very delicious pasta. However the following day we had to take on more ballast and make certain we were moving forward on an even keel.
As we all know, a holiday is not a holiday without something going amiss. For us it came as we were merrily moving towards our next destination, where ever that was to be, and as we slowed down for a passing boat the bow thruster went on vacation. Or maybe it was just lunch time since just about everything shuts down about that time of the day in France.
Pull into shore, stake the boat, call Le Boat, give our location and wait for a technician to arrive. We had travelled about 4 - 5 hours , including the lock times but it only took the tech about 30 minutes to drive to our location. Turns out the switch is not functioning 100% so to correct the difficulty the lower switch was swapped out for the top switch. Other discrepancies were discussed with a few being amended, but not fixed, think of, if you can recall, a farmer or someone doing repairs with baling wire. Off we set again on a Three Hour Cruise, a three hour cruise.
Comments
Post a Comment