The repaired heater is much quieter and mains power meant the boat was indeed toasty warm and everyone slept well. We’ve had a gentle cruise today, about 7km or so to Villesequelande. This village boasts a wine co-operative and an all-in-one Grocery/restaurant/newsagent/campsite. The veal in wine sauce with chips then strawberry & apple crumble were very satisfactory.
I am glad we are cruising out of season. The weather is excellent – I wouldn’t want it any hotter during the day, even if the nights are a bit cold. And I don’t think we’ve seen another non-stationary boat today; I don’t think I’d enjoy dodging around and between flotillas of stressy Brits, for example. But that said, the villages are virtually deserted, which adds to the aura of neglected grandeur, but a) is rather inconvenient when you’re after an open shop or bar and b) makes you worry that the local economy is a bit unsustainable.
The boat moored behind ours is a wonderful live aboard vessel and I’ve just learned its owners are British, the husband is an actor recording audiobooks so they like quiet surroundings and there were terrible floods in Carcassonne and Trèbes last year. Apparently 12 people died in the floods in Trèbes “on top of the shootings the year before”. I get the feeling I could have done more research on our itinerary. Well, I couldn’t have done any less, frankly.
Villesequelande boasts a tree which has been here since Henry IV’s time. Golly.
Timsformational 