It was a cool night again, enabling us to catch up on some much needed sleep. In the cool of the morning, I took the opportunity to catch up on this blog, which I had been neglecting for a while. I had continued to update my DayOne file each day with whatever activities were occurring, but never found the time to write the text or collate and edit the required photos.

in the late morning, Pomme de Mer and L’Escapade had booked their times to go up the double lock to head off. Nick and Sally were showing the new owners the ropes for the very last time, and they managed very well to enter the lock without touching anything.

When it came time for David and Evelyn to leave in L’Escapade, I thought I’d have some fun. Based on an idea suggested by Phil Tyson, I filled a plastic bag with water and then went to the top of the bridge over the bottom lock as they entered. Unfortunately, Dave saw me as I lined him up, and just managed to evade the water-bomb as I dropped it. As they entered the top lock, he also found the hose on board and tried to retaliate, but I successfully evaded him as well.

As they waited in the top lock, I went down to say a heart-felt goodbye and ask for my plastic bag back to use for the recyclables. Surprisingly, Dave gave it back to me but not before he tore a hole in the bottom of the bag! But a quick knot in the bottom made it water-holding again and I refilled it on the canal quai. When I returned (see photo) Dave was ready for me with his hose, but he forgot that Evelyn controlled the flow from a tap in the wheelhouse, and she must have decided he needed a shower. So I had a free shot at Dave, until he took Rob Brewer as a hostage. So I lined him up anyway and let fly, but he and Rob went in opposite directions, and the water-bag went straight between them. By now, Evelyn must have thought I’d had enough chances, so she turned the hose back on, and Dave proceeded to give me a thorough soaking as I was trapped by the fencing around the lock. I just stood there and enjoyed it!

A nice way to say goodbye to a good friend. Catch up with you next time, Rothers!

Given that we were playing at Damazan Night Market tonight, we thought it would be a good idea to get some stage lighting (just in case), so we went out to Weldoms to buy two spot lights.

In the late-afternoon, we headed off to Damazan with Phil as a passenger in the camion. We got there about 1700h, and then had a 2-hour setup, as Stuart arranged all the mikes and cables. But times must be tight in local government, because this time there were no Australian flags, or indeed any flags, flying, as compared to last time. Also instead of a banquet dinner with wine for 20 people in the band, we were allocated 10 euro each for food. We had a 2030h start for Dindi Moon, and while there was a big crowd present, there was relatively little reaction to the music. Everyone was more interested in eating, drinking and talking, as often happens at Night Markets.

After us, KickShins did their set, and managed to get a few people up and dancing. It was a very late bump out and we arrived home well after midnight after the hour's drive back from Damazan. Even though the weather was fine this year, I think it safe to say that the whole experience was not as enjoyable as in 2014.