August 2018

We travelled as far as Golfech, and after the drama of replacing our inverter and battery, decided to return towards Castelnaudary. We were feed up with the drips from the plane trees causing horrible brown, sticky spots all over the boat, when we were trying to clean it prior to painting the topsides!

As Ni stepped ashore to cast-off the ropes he saw this snake in the water trying to swallow this poor unfortunate fish.  We left them to it!

We stopped overnight at Moissac and caught up with acquaintances old and new. The weekend of 10th -12th was Boat Rally time on the river Tarn. I 'hitched' a ride with Jacque and his wife, on their pretty little Dutch Tjalk Aramis. David and Louisa were also there to give help to Jacque through the descending locks should he need it, as his wrist was still in plaster. We went for a little trip up the Tarn before we joined all the other boats already moored on the quayside. Despite the threatening clouds, the long awaited rain didnt arrive that night. It very unkindly waited until Sunday when the Grand Fete on the promenade, featuring bands and food stalls had to be cancelled due to the approaching storm!!!

David walking back to the wheelhouse, to check progress on our cup of tea.

Tracing what we thought was a leaking washing machine turned out to be much worse. It was a problem with the frontstem post. So we called into the boat yard at Castelsarrasin for help, and after lifting our front, they the only remedy was welding over the outside, which, for various reasons, wasnt possible for them to do. After an extremely HOT afternoon sitting in the blazing sun, and with the application of some water silicone gel, and heaps of quick setting cement, we now head back to Toulouse dry dock!

So, in the meantime we spend our time moored in the peaceful little village of Saint Porquier, between Castelsarrasin and Montec, while we alternate between cleaning the horrible brown spots of the hull, and just relaxing and enjoy the solitude and view!

Despite being so remote, we've had plenty of visitors: Cary and her two whippets, Nigel (B) minus Alfie, Jo and Steve on their boat Somewhere with their two Maltese terriers, and Jane and Dell with no dogs, in their boat Amethyst, who very kindly shared a bottle of champagne with us.