We have worked hard to get everything back in place and do necessary works before we start cruising.
- External woodwork has been re-oiled
- Rust spots (remarkably few) zapped
- Wasp nests jettisoned – they started another after we got rid of the one under the table – identified them as paper wasps from me little ‘I spy insects’ book
- Bimini positioned and tested out yesterday afternoon – briefly
- Barge fenders re hung
So we are ready for the off!
And the port authorities here decided to hold a party in our honour – OK so a port party was planned for last evening anyway…. Rather like the Bastille celebrations in Paris coinciding with my 60th bash and the french airforce providing a fly past as we cruised arounf Paris in Misty Morning.
It was an interesting event – started out with lots of long trestle tables arranged outside. The poster said it was from 17.00 hrs – not a soul until 18.30 when a steady procession of people converged & installed themselves at said tables – complete with umbrellas. There was intermittent rain which became increasingly determined so there was an almost unspoken signal and tables were lifted and transferred into the boatshed behind the office. Everyone retrieved there seats, wiped them down, returned to their tables and their food and glasses and carried on the important task in hand – eating drinking and chatting. It was most enjoyable and we got to meet others from our pontoon.
Food & wine were shared. A little inter nationality competition – compliments & then surprise regarding our cheese (english cheddar) so we were then presented with Compte and chocolate by a Swiss couple. He looked uncannily like a comedian on the telly whose name I just cannot remember!
The evening broke up rather earlier than it might because a real storm hit! Thunder, lightning and torrential rain. The lightning was spectacular and it was difficult to distinguish the fireworks across the town form the lightning flashes. We got soaked running (well hurrying) the 100 yards or so to Peidaleau and practising quick lowering of the biminis which were sagging under the weight of the rain.
We towelled off and went straight to bed!
Piedaleau 