Second day jet-lag was kicking in, so we took the opportunity to have a good sleep in. In late-morning, I got up and watched the Hawks-Crows AFL game from Adelaide. Despite having many players out with injury, the Hawks managed to win and stay in second place on the ladder for the moment.

One thing we noticed as it started to rain this morning was that Nico had installed a fly-tent over the dog-box since I had been here in February. At that time we had noticed a lot of problems with water leakage around the dog-box windows, which was creating problems with the wooden frame and also dripping into the salon below. The new arrangement prevents rain falling on the dog-box itself, allows us to leave the dog-box windows open even when it is raining (we often forgot to close them when a change of weather occurred) and also provides shade when the sun is shining. A very simple but very useful improvement.

Having measured the spaces for the beds in the house, and found that there was generally around 175cm between power points, we were confident that the 160cm queen beds would fit. So it was back to BUT to consummate the deal. In the end, we got our five queen size and four single bases and mattresses, plus feet, for about 5000euro. Luckily, this is what I had budgeted for. It is a lot to pay for beds, but we have learned the hard way that setting up a B&B is not a cheap process when you have to order multiple quantities of everything (beds, showers, sinks, toilets etc etc). They agreed to get them delivered in mid August, after the house had been cleaned and before the band arrives. They also gave us a 100euro voucher for being such good customers! At the checkout while we were paying, we got talking to the manager and explained the whole story of why we needed so many beds. When he found out about the concerts in Moissac, he asked if we had any brochures. He promised that if we could get some to him, he would place them on the checkout counter and make sure he gave one to every customer going through BUT. He suggested we do the same with other stores that we visit, and we have heard since then that this is quite a common practice over here. So, it’s now time to start making some concert brochures.

In the afternoon, we went to the other side of the canal to meet up with Kaz and Iain, the Port Capitainerie, who we had not yet had a chance to say hello to this year. We soon got into conversation with them, and then realised that Peter Canney and Amanda were also in port on Le Piglet. We got chatting with them, but kept an eye on the clock since I had to drive Rita to Montauban for her to catch a train to Beziers and the 45th Anniversary of the Karate Camp that she had attended for many years. I was also meant to be going, but since my cold had not subsided we thought it prudent if I did not go to Serignan Plage, which can sometimes be quite windy and cool.

So, 35 minutes before the train was due to depart, we left Amanda and Peter and started the dash to Montauban. A few minutes after we left, Rita thought she would just check the directions on her iPhone and was surprised (as was I) to see that it was saying that the route we were using would take another 43 minutes to get to Montauban. This seemed wrong, since I had done this trip many times last year, and was sure the whole trip was under 30 minutes. So she checked again, but it still said the same (now down to 41 minutes) with only 30 minutes before the train left. So I just drove at the speed limit all the way (not over it; the last thing I need is a speeding fine) and arrived at the station in 28 minutes, with 7 minutes to go before the train departed! I have no idea where the travel time estimate came from, but I have just compared the estimates from the iPhone Apple Maps and from Google Maps; Apple says 46 minutes (this is the one we were using) while Google Maps says 35 minutes. Both conservative, but Google was a lot closer. In hindsight, I’m glad that the estimate was wrong, but it sure did have us worried for a while.

Before we left Moissac, I had been invited to dinner on Le Piglet with Peter and Amanda, who were wining and dining (mostly wining, I suspected) with the new owners of Somewhere, whose first day out a couple of years ago had ended up with Kanumbra pulling Somewhere off the barrage in the middle of the River Tarn on Pentecote Day 2012. When I arrived at Le Piglet, I was delighted to see that Irene and John Plunkett were also there with Irene’s brother and sister-in-law, with whom they were going on a campervan trip starting on Saturday morning. Although they were only there for pre-dinner drinks, they “grudgingly” allowed their arms to be twisted to stay on for dinner. I learned that Irene and John had just sold their boat Moet-Chandon, but since it was to friends they were allowed to keep using it on occasion. A perfect solution - all care and no responsibility. They still had their renovated house in Moissac and were keen to come and see our efforts when they got back from the campervan trip. As usual, Peter (a professional cartoonist) was making sketches of all and sundry, and managed to captured my spirit precisely.

As we were sitting there having a great time, some people walked past from the next boat and asked if we would like them to take a photo of the group. We readily accepted, and when the lady came up onto Le Piglet to take the photo, I thought I recognised her. I knew I had recognised her after she had taken the photo, when she said "Where is Rita?”. A few words exchanged and then I realised that it was Meryle from Wangaratta, who I had met in almost the exact same spot on the quai soon after we arrived in Moissac last year. The world is getting smaller and smaller.