No point going into town for a boulangerie. It's Monday. Closed on Monday's. I start to get Doucette prepared for an early start when dapper drifts down blowing smoke rings from his black cheroot. He strikes up conversation complimenting me on Doucette. Ok so he turns out to be a bloody nice guy.
He and his partner find there old steel boat hard work maintaining and would really like one like mine. Hands off matey. Your not bloody coming near me. Paranoier is closing in I fear. He studied as a student in Birmingham, he was a Protestant vicar.
Right that's it, enough already, " I think the lock is opening for you vic"
He explained that as vicar and president of the Swiss tall ships,
"Yes, I was responsible for all the Swiss seamen on the tall ships."
" I bet you were vicar.............umm i think your partner is ready to let go lines"
Ok so I must be off now and with a last smoke ring spiralling skywards he saunters off but not before
We say our Bon voyages and swap phone numbers and he tells me where I can buy some very slim fitting yellow crimplene slacks!
Actually joking apart, what a really sweet guy!
The weather is stinking again and I am incredulous at the first lock of the day when the crew ask for an umbrella during lock duty. Not sure if I am happy with this but she seems comfortable with the look.
We approach another lock which turns out to be a museum of ecluses lock. Gardens very nice but the free entry museum is not actually open and to be fair is showing signs of delapidation so we are not delayed.
The next lock proved to be Andrews nemesis. I was so unlucky. First on approach I have more issues with tosspot fisherman refusing to look at me as I pass their precious rods at 1/2 knot per hour. They really need help! I am thinking of setting up a fishermans anger management consultancy group. Think I would make a fortune. Now the fact that they go off to fish all day on their own could keep me busy for years but add to that their serious issues with people passing in boats and there are tv and radio series and books a plenty. Nice little earner I reckon!
So clearly with concentration wandering, I enter the lock which has an audience of four and 3 Vnf men in attendance repairing one of the gate mechanisms. They all watch me enter. Trouble is Doucette is suddenly keen to enter sideways on. I push the stbd engine to straighten her and ease off the port. I have forgotten to turn the stbd engine on and so Doucette holds her line. I am helpless as she slams into the lock wall taking a chunk of 200 year old masonry with her. Gasps from the audience hanging over the bridge force me into fisherman like behaviour as my eyes seem glued to my feet. I cannot even look at the Vnf chaps. Of course the crew is hysterical. We will have words later! Yet again I find myself scurrying off with a reddened face as we exit the lock at a slightly quicker speed than normal and a head down merci to the eclusier. We both know exactly what he is thinking as he smiles a Bon journee to me!
At the following lock, We are right next to the runway of the Dijon airport and as we pass directly under the runway approach lights we are buzzed by what looks like an airforce training jet. Must of known we were here! Picture makes it look miles away but honest guv it was right over our heads and we smiled at the pilot as he passed. Like the bloody fishermen, nothing in response though.
Early evening we strolled into the old town. It was just a 10 minute stroll into the heart of the old town. It was cooler and we soon stumbled on a buzzing packed square rammed with restaurants and each one lucky enough to have people waiting for a table. We spotted a Belgium beer bar with some stools outside and grabbed the only spare one. Ordered an 8% kasteel rouge for the crew and a large pils for me. Been told off today for too much ranting but I have too say what a waste of time it is ordering a large beer anywhere outside of Britain. Instead of 25cl you get 35 cl and 15cl of froth. I was too tired to offer up complaint. Just settled for the fact that I had made a schoolboy error. Mood was not improved when the bill for 11€ was presented too me. Luckily there were free mixed nuts. I gorged myself!
It was pretty late so we had an easy dinner. A large tin of beef something in carrots and wine. I added some chorizo and cheese to thicken the sauce and it was actually spot on cedric!
I drank too much gin but my fabulous crew still poured me a stiff glenfiddich snifter with a single cube of ice to watch the stars for a while and see in tomorrow before joining the now slumbering crew in the aft boudoire.
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