I was awake at 0400h and, given the events of yesterday, I couldn’t get back to sleep. Rita also woke early, and eventually got up and started writing a letter to Marion and Jean-Paul Nunzi, seeing if they could assist us in dealing with the Prefecture (after their kind offer a couple of weeks ago).

While she was finishing the letter in the late morning, Nico arrived at the barge explaining that he had a problem getting a new electric motor for his cement mixer (which he was using to do some work on the new house at Puycornet). Apparently he had found the right replacement motor at Comai in Castelsarrasin but when he went to pay by cheque (the standard method still in France), they refused to accept it because they had a new policy of “No Cheques” after being ripped off so many times with dud cheques. Miyu was away for the day with their credit card, and he really wanted to continue work at the house today. So I went to Comai with him, just before the lunch break, to pay for the motor with my card. This was fine with me, because I owed him almost exactly the same amount for the materials he bought for our work at La Maison last weekend - so now we’re all square.

In the early afternoon, I went up to the port to look at the capacitor box wiring on Hilda May, to get an idea of what I needed to do on Kanumbra. I took several photos and came away confident that I knew what to do. I also discussed our problem with the main engine not charging the batteries and Stuart suggested that the alternator belt may not be tight enough (which is what I also thought). He showed, and let me feel, the tightness of the belt on Hilda May, to give me something to compare with Kanumbra.

While I was up there, Jim called from across the canal and so I walked around to talk to him about mooring layouts for the Fêtes boats. I also enquired where he had got the bunting flags that he used on the Capitainerie, since I was looking for new ones for Kanumbra for the Fêtes. He recommended Hampshire Flag Company as being the best and not too expensive.

As I walked away from the Capitainerie, I saw Tony from NZ working on Anneke (he has been very quick in starting on a total refurbishment). He said he was keen for Anneke to take part in the Fêtes flotilla, and I encouraged him. It would be great to see Anneke on the move again. His only problem is that neither he nor Anneke is registered for cruising, so we tried to think of ways around that. I’m hoping he succeeds.

When I got back to Kanumbra, I immediately checked the tightness of the alternator belt, and it was indeed very loose, but otherwise in good condition. So I got to work tightening the alternator belt, and will see how it performs when we are next cruising with batteries that need charging.

Given the success of our trip with Dede’s family last week, we decided to do a Tarn Cruise with Dede and family today.

It was a glorious day, and so many decided to go for a swim in the Tarn, after I’d turned off the engine and just let Kanumbra drift downstream with the flow.

I think both the boys (standing on a box) enjoyed the opportunity to steer the barge!!

After we got back from the cruise, we got a reply from the translator saying that the 1-page accountants letter would cost €50 to translate, and that she thought we would only need to translate the cover page from the Health Policy with the main details (again for €50). What did I say yesterday about easy money? We hoped she was correct about the Health Policy and told her to proceed.

In the evening, Rita went to a Trad Music practice with Valerie and friends, while I went to Lauzerte Night Market to check out Miyu’s Stall in preparation for the Fêtes. She did good trade all night, and the food was yum. I normally don’t take photos of food, but tonight I made an exception.