Monday 16th July Saverne

Up at 9 and topped up water. Collette wanted to do some more washing to get right up to date. We postponed brekky as I suggested a walk to the supermarket to get a few needed vittals. I finished updating my blog and we generally chored til noon. We strolled into town via the capitinnaire. Collette had shown a degree of interest in trying to get away with paying for the extra 3 days we had stayed here waiting for tonight's Bastille fireworks and fete. I am far to honest for that though and so we went and paid the 30€.

We checked out the preparations for tonight. The marquees and stage were close to readiness. Masses of benches and tables were being readied and the firework crew were busy preparing the chateau gardens.

Summer was back and it was turning into a lovely day. The town looked nice in sunshine as we watched two hire boats slipping into the lock we would be going back through tomorrow. We passed the cafe bar I had come to consider one of my two locals. We opted to stroll round the back of town following signs for a match supermarket. I was after sardines for tomorrow.

Match was disappointing. Half empty shelves on the back of the weekend and no sardines. Collette had fancied avocado and prawns for lunch. No prawns.

We got back via a stop at the sapeurs pompiers. I enquired as to where I could dispose of my calor gas bottle which had stayed on the bow since smeds and frammo had left. The stores were just not interested in taking it and I felt the fire station was my only hope save ditching it irresponsibly.

Not a word of English it was a bit of a tester for me but 20minutes later I was back there with the bottle and now had to explain to Gilles and 4 other firemen what the issue was. I recognised them from yesterday and their chief who was one of only 15 females in the alsace force of 608, funny enough she was the chief. Some things are the same all over the world. She was a nice young thing and was Clearly keen to sort me out. Still there was long discussion over the regulator and incomprehensible stuff and I wondered what was the issue. I decided it was just classic French stuff where a bit of a drama has to be enacted to satisfy all participants in the decision which suddenly was made and they all stopped talking at once and looked at me as though i should have left ages ago. She chief smiled and said "ok bon vacance, aurevoir". I left minus one calor gas bottle grateful to finally see the back of it and to the sapeur pompiers of Saverne.

We lunched on chilli and a pave bread washed down with merlot. I had to top the water up again and then we sunbathed and snoozed for an hour or so. I was woken at 5 by the first band starting at the fete. Time for a beer on the poop.

At 7 we went for a last stroll round the town. It had clouded over a bit. We walked along the banks of the zorn. A hidden little gem right in the centre of the town.

We had tried to eat at the barons restaurant twice with no luck but at least I was able to take a picture of its lovely location. Seems weird but this is just 300yards from the gare.

The high street, we had walked many times, the Chinese on the first floor we had visited a week ago.

Back at the quay, it was slowly filling. The stage was set some 250yds back.

We had a couple of drinks at our favourite quay bar. Bit of an incident as we had a couple of merguez hotdogs. Collette came back with them steaming as we only got 1 sausage each when they had been serving 2. It got sorted!

We strolled up to the stage. The music really was a bit dodgy but loads of people were dancing. The queues for the tarte flambé and drinks was horrendous so we drifted back to Doucette and sat on the poop for an hour drinking very cheap beer and bacardis.

By 10.30 the place was humming with people. It is no exaggeration to say literally thousands had turned out.

We strolled down for one last try to get me a flambé gratinee, an Alsace speciality which I was desperate to try. The queues had died down and I swooped. Magnificent but we had no time to get back to the boat as the fireworks suddenly kicked off.

Managed to get a good view and of course it was a superb display.

But it was all over all too soon. We had waited 3 days for it but we agreed it had been worthwhile. Great to see an event so unanimously supported and with the backdrop of the chateau, a pretty special night. Thousands of euros up in smoke and thousands of people drifting off home. We returned to Doucette and sat on the poop with glasses of merlot and listened to the band finish at midnight with what is clearly an Alsacian favourite, the Beatles let it be. Sadly the crew used the same line when we retired some time later.