We layed in again til 8.30 when I got up and went shopping whilst Collette had a shower and started some ironing. The forecast was for an overcast day and was accurate. I got some filetted sardines some huge prawns and two large bits af cod fillet. We had not had fish for a while and it all looked lovely so went a bit wild. Got the baguettes from my little boulangerie lady. She had sold out of the gross pain I had come to love but had 2 still hot baguettes which we enjoyed with fried eggs and coffee.
I topped the water yet again and we prepared for leaving Saverne finally. It had been our longest single stop by a long way. 3 days longer than anticipated but with the weather not being great, it have served a good purpose and was a lovely town to be in for a week. Still we were ready to move.
We drifted through the morning with crew ironing and me pottering. Pottering is defined differently by crew and skipper. Skipper defines as getting on with essential odds and sods. The crews is somewhat different. Doing sod all! At noon the crew announced all ready. I still had some pottering to do but soon popped my head out to take in the electric. It was at this point that a Dutch guy opposite who had come in yesterday on a Bavaria 34 sport, which would be more at home on the med than on a canal, opened up conversation. I was warning him of potential smoke issues as Doucette had been dormant for a week, but it went on from there. And so it was that just after 1 o'clock we cast lines.
Trouble was the first 2 hire boats had come past 5 mins earlier and were now waiting for the lock so we would have further delay. We took the opportunity to have a cuppa and take some last photos of the chateau. we're also impressed at the complete clean up job which had been very quietly completed.
"it's ok plenty of room in front of you, we are going their"
I watched as he hurried round to get bow lines ready. Wind was blowing hard and straight onto us. I thought it was a bit close and then to my absolute horror realised he had left his wife at the helm.
It was inevitable. Luckily he realised his folly too and grabbing a fender he just got it down in time to save a direct collision as his bloody great heavy barge stern quarter glanced off of my bow. His bow crashed into the pontoon swinging the great stern rudder towards Doucettes tender grp bow again. He screamed at his wife to power forward which she did in the nick of time and I was left speechless. Why oh why had he not waited a couple of minutes and why oh why leave his clearly nervous wife to bring the barge in in such a tight gap with the strongest wind i have yet encountered on this trip and worse still in a beam on direction pushing him straight onto me. I could see His wife still waving and apologising as we entered the lock 10 mins later and incredibly I was still smiling and offering "pas de problem" I was obviously still drunk on the euphoria of last nights fireworks.
We locked through Saverne courting many snaps from the ever present new tourist influx and enjoyed a straight no hold ups run to Lutzelbourg. Still as breathtaking as the first time but took us a third of the time taken last week. Weather was mixture of cloud and sun with no rain but we were into the teeth of a force 4 wind.
We were determined to eat at the bar restaurant so unfortunately closed last Monday so at 7.30 we drifted down. Thankfully it was open. The man with the dog with no legs was in his customary position and I am sure he had not left his seat all week. His beer glass was a magic one, always two thirds full. It was not busy and we sat in the same table as last week. At this juncture I started to wonder if I had some sort of nasty creature of habit disease as deja vu thoughts invaded my concentration on what drink decisions.
I had beer which did not help and Collette had Ricard. This was getting serious! I ordered a pichet of votes du rhone to break the sequence and felt all the better for it..
The crew went for 3 course menu. Me not being a big eater went for just a main of duck breast in blueberry sauce. Collettes first course of warm quiche Lorraine ( when in Rome) and salad was a meal in itself and she forced me to share it. Lovely, possibly the best quiche I have ever had. Her main was a turkey breast cord on blue. Basically stuffed with ham and cheese in a peppery sauce. Again both meals were fab.
Truth is the crews choice of menu had been based solely on a desert option of Creme brûlée! I was reminded of that old cadburys flake advert as she caressed and savoured every lingering morsel of heaven slipping gently across her lips. I ordered a jug of cold water!
After settling a bargain 48 euro bill we strolled down the towpath in the moonlight. The wind had dropped, the only sounds were from night critters busying themselves into their shift along the canal banks and the tumbling waters of the zorn heading across the weir and down the valley. A young girl in a flowing nightdress came whizzing past us on a tiny scooter, it was 11pm we turned to see mum and dad and even younger brother drifting along way behind. They too out for a late night walk along the towpath. The night demanded it!
I retrieved the left over bubbly from the fridge and put on some palm quartet porn film musaac and we sat and watched tomorrow arrive.
No comments:
Post a Comment