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Sat 28 April Aberdeen - Dublin - Grenoble where I was met by Pierre Francoise, Adrien and William. We worked on Toni’s garage roof putting up a railing.
30 April Gilbert arrived and - after lunch - took me to Valence where I found that I had brought an old key for Sufiana. I borrowed a screwdriver froma neighbouring boat and opened the door by pushing back the latch. We went shopping for wine, beer, water and other heavy items but could find no bread, The French panic before a national holiday and buy five times as much bread as they need then throw most of it away when the holiday is over. Being sensible souls they have the May day holiday on the first of May. It is about time we did the same. I put all the batteries on to charge and found that the laptop could not read its CD/DVD drive – according to the software it was not there though the DVD would spin up to speed when it was inserted.
May 1 All on holiday even the engine battery. I changed to one of the service batteries and it started right away.
May 2 Fixed the tap but found that once started it would not stop so I replaced the relay too
May 7 I filled with diesel 34L and set off at 1445 for Tournon. With current and a long wait at the lock I tied up at 1910.
May 8 After lunch set off for Sarras arriving at 1620
Rest of May and June I stayed in Sarras and eventually designed new supports for the mast and mosquito nets on frames to cover the hatches. I reversed the hatch so that it would let air into the cabin while Sufiana moved. Also removed sails, life raft, booms and rope rigging to a shed at Gilbert’s house. Just messing about on the river till CNR came to tell me I could only moor at an official port as I was staying too long. So I set off for Tournon where I paid for two days and was able to watch the jousting practice. Then headed down river to Valence where I moored for a week and went off by train to meet Elena and Vic in Monte Carlo
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