We arrived at St. Thibault with Hugo and Paula on Monday although, after the journey, none of us really can work out what day it is or what time. The chimes of the clock keep us on track. It is wonderful to be re-untied with Lady Mary, she is intact – and filthy – after the winter here. So we have been cleaning and sorting and took a short trip along the canal for heavy groceries (wine and beer) and fuel. The motors started up first time.
Hugo is as bewildered by the mysterious electrics and water pump systems as we were. We are playing with the idea that its the vibration from the motor upsetting the pressure switch on the motor. We have established that at least one battery is kaput and will need replcing. It was running at 10.3 volts rather than the required 12.
There were some too interesting and unidentifyable noises when we filled up the water tank. We have had one subteranean flood and a leaky toilet pump but all in all things are in good order and we are becoming more relaxed by the hour. Plenty of bread and cheese and wine and some sunshine do wonders. We had a picnic lunch on the banks of the Loire yesterday and hope to get up to Sancerre to-day before we set off early tomorrow morning. The little port is very busy and there are lots of other boats on the canal. I met some lovely dogs on the way to the boulangerie this morning. The farmer is ploughing the field beside Lady Mary, there is row of swallows on the power lines and it all feels very rural.
Heading up-stream towards Nevers today; have landed up in La Charite for the night. Firefox running on Ubuntu crashes when I try to load photos. Trying again now.
Bittersweet to hear the news – delighted you are on the move and remember La Charitie from previous visits. Finally a row of sunshiney days here – sitting in kitchen with fire blazing and sun streaming in, I could almost pretend it is summer!
Go well friends – time flows by so fast
Love Siobhan
Dear friends, I love the idea of easy days in the sun eating good food on the deck of Lady Mary; here is it cold, rainy and mostly grey skies . Yesterday it was beautiful but it is still winter. On Thursday my bike tyres splinted the ice in the puddles and my feet were frozen when I got to work. But on Friday coming home, I actually thought it was staying lighter, longer. I got as far as the river track before it turned too dark for others to see me and I needed to start being more careful. I still haven’t purchased a decent set of bike lights and now I may not have to. Good, as the ones I was looking at were almost $80. I thought I might take a trip over the hill this afternoon and say hellp to the lamas (from the other side of the fence), tickle the cats and pick some flowers from your garden for my kitchen table. My writer’s group are getting together tonight which will be fun. PS I am having almost to much success with the UK frilivious idea. Happy motoring and I look forward to your next post, Lots of love, Ali
Sounds like a lovely time already, the warm sounds amazing, you are not missing anything here the weather is horrid. It does make it feel very special when the sun does peep out though. I drove to lyttleton yesterday through black storm clouds , streaming sun and an amazing rainbow all at once!
The girls are all well, loving school hols, Sylvie is walking everywhere and has new words every day.
Lucas has a two job interviews this week and I am visiting some new shops with my winterblooms.
Did you get my email about wedding dates? would love your thoughts as we are really keen to move it along, but I want to make sure you are free first.
Happy boating have a wine for me, love to all
xmartha <3
Dear friends, your Lady Mary diary is a pleasure to read. Some more photos please as it helps me to imagine where you are. I guess I should get scholarly and check out a map. I have found a good new science fantasy series that has kept me up past midnight for the last week. I have just put down book three, with regret. My writer’s class would have hysterics – I am expected to read literature not epic journeys with dragons and witches as the main characters. For the last couple of days the roads have icy so I have parked the bike downstairs and enlarged my global footprint. I must say, the car heater is 1000 X more comfortable than woolly socks. I heard that my tenants are moving out – I have put off making a decision about Pesters Road for so long, now it is forced on me. That is probably a good thing. I am off to Kurrow and Omarama tomorrow and Friday, if I don’t feel too tired I will go skiing on Saturday. Lots of love, and keep writing as I will keep reading, Ali