This morning I finished the Fêtes website, just in time for Rita to include the website address before she emailed out the Fêtes Newsletter#1. We then left our powered site at Buzet at 1200h (despite our potential generator problems) and after a short trip for the day, we moored in Damazan on the right bank ahead of Highlander and L’Escapade at 1300h.This gave three Aussie flags in a row along that bank, in our little Aussie enclave.

While waiting for the afternoon shade to arrive from the trees on the western bank, I continued reading the Ali biography. During the afternoon, Walt and Gail arrived on Papillon and double-moored alongside l’Escapade, so we knew it was Tuesday (Night Market day).

In the afternoon, Rita went swimming at the lake, while I attempted to see if the generator would start. Naturally, since no mechanic was looking, it would not start and instead gave the “ C-1 Voltage: Failure” message. When Rita returned from swimming, she joined Walt and Gail as they made their way up to town to reserve tables for the Night Market. Even though they arrived at 1800h (the market doesn’t start till 1900h), our favourite tables were already reserved. So they grabbed a couple of other tables, closer to the band, and awaited the arrival of everyone else. Tonight there was a distinctly ANZUS flavour to our group, with three USA couples and four Aussie couples at our tables.

During the evening, Rita disappeared for a while to get some food, but was a long time coming back. When she showed me the photos of the sunset she had just seen, I understood why she had been distracted.

Photo: Rita Seethaler

Around 2200h, many of the group started filtering away, and so we wandered down the hill to the canal and our barges. Rather than going home, however, we joined David and Evelyn on l’Escapade, where their two guests, brothers Rick and Bob, got out their guitars and started singing, with Rita joining in with some occasional pan music. A nice way to round out the evening.