Wednesday 19 June

As asked by our neighbouring boat we set off at about 8:30 am.  It has finally stopped raining, but it is very grey and threatening, so we put on our full waterproofs to be prepared, unlike yesterday.  It is not too warm so we are quite comfortable although all kitted out.

We don't get very far because the first lock is only 15 mins away and they don't start to operate until 9:00am.  So we wait 15 mins on the waiting pontoon and the light goes on and we are off.  We are not going far in distance but we do have to 5 locks.  They are pretty close together.  All goes quite well during the morning.  There is no rain and we cope well with the locks until we get to the last one just before Moissac, where we are headed.  I note that there are no lights on the lock and there is another boat moored to the waiting pontoon.  This must mean the lock is not working.  I am right in my fears.  When we approach the other boat they tell us that there is a power cut in the area and the lock has no electricity, so it cannot work.  A little later a VFN man comes along and confirms that is the problem.  He tells us it will take between 1 and 1 /2 hours before we can get through.

There is nothing we can do.  So we tie up to the banks of the canal.  That was a bit interesting.  In many places the banks of the canal are lined with low concrete barriers.  Some of these are in poor condition and have gaps between the tops and the sides.  We have seen people moor to these before by putting lines through the gaps and tying them.  So we try it.  I protest that there is no way I can climb off the boat and balance on a concrete slab about only 1 foot wide and tie a line.  But I do just that and we are secured to wait out the repair to the lock.  It is after noon so we just have an early lunch.

We thought that the time estimate would not be met, but bless them  VFN came down to us at 1:30 and said we could now go through the lock.  We go through with the other boat we first saw.  There are three other boats behind us.

So a bit late, but still at about 2:00pm we get into Moissac.  It is very nice.  We are directed to a good space on the quay right near the Capitainerie and the toilets.  The Capitain is English so we can communicate really well for a change.  We get in touch with the Weymers and they will come to dinner.  To make the boat presentable we spend the next hour or so washing it down and it now looks almost presentable.  We then shower and feel quite human.

We have a couple of hours before the Weymers will arrive, so we go into the town.  It is famous for its church and especially its cloister, which is what is left of a Benedictine Monastry.  So we go to see that.  The church is interesting, not least because of its age (11th to 14th century).  The cloister lives up to its reputation, though it reminds me a lot of the one in the Mont St Michel.  We then do a bit of shopping to get enough to eat over the next few days.  I am still waiting for my dinner out, but must be prepared with something to eat.

Back to the boat and prepare dinner.  The Weymers arrive a bit late, but we are now relaxed.  We are doing a BBQ.  The weather was very threatening a while ago, but the dark clouds passed and the sun came out.  But with our luck, just as we put the meat on the BBQ the rain starts.  Richard is cooking the meat under an umbrella on the foredeck.  But it all works out fine and dinner goes well.

We have bought 2 Euro worth of WIFI and are using as much as we can.  I am now listening to online Radio.  I have really missed Radio 4.