contentedsouls

Having recovered the car we drove in to Charleville Mezieres, the first big town/city since crossing the border into France as we desperately needed to sort out MiFi access. The very fact that I’m posting means we succeeded and we are immensely pleased with ourselves as we had to conduct the entire transaction in French plus body language/gesticulation. We finally selected our preferred tariff in the first shop and went to pay for it only to find that it wasn’t possible without a French address or bank account. We re-grouped outside the SFR shop and started the conversation with the fact that we had no address as we lived on a boat and only had English bank accounts although we would probably be here for several years. Again no English spoken but, with a couple of referrals to the French/English dictionary, here I am. I love the fact that our English mates said they all speak English and, if in doubt, use Google translate. They DON’T speak English and Google is no bloody good to you if you’re not on line. So, mission accomplished, we had a little explore; checked out the moorings (we’re heading this way) and had an excellent lunch in the sunshine which has returned after two days of rain.

Again we have found a wild mooring outside Montherme. Wild mooring (d’accostage sauvage) is possible now as only the small 300 ton peniche pass us on the Meuse and, if you can find one bollard or some kind of post as an anchor point then the rest is safe on pins.

The electric bike is worth it’s weightt in gold; not just for retrieving the car but also sending G out for the morning croissant and baguette run to the nearest patisserie – leaving me to brew the coffee and shower in peace. We pop it inside the boat at night and on the bow when we’re travelling so it’s nicely out of the way.

I guess the blogs will come thick and fast now whilst I catch up but, in the meanwhile, I have a French football match to support.