We woke to steady rain, and the forecasts predicted more here and to the north, so we decided to stay put for the day, despite the fact that yesterday was officially the last day open for the port for the season.

We were surprised to find that Viking Heimdal had gone in the night. Either they are very quiet or we are good sleepers.

Since Port Viviers was closing today, we decided to stay and ask for a day’s extension, if and when we saw the Port Capitain. In the meantime, I got to work on this blog while Rita worked on her course notes.

Around noon, we were joined by Dutch Cruiser Robbedoes, who we last saw at St Etienne des Sorts. We explained the port closure situation to them, and they decided to also just stay put and see what happened.

A while later we saw the Bateau Ecole (BoatThe rain eased around 1500h, but by now it was too late to get to another port before sunset, so we stayed here. In the meantime, smaller boats were being lifted out of the port...  School) Magellaan (104m) nose its way into the side-stream and then moor where the Viking Heimdal had been last night.

After about an hour, it backed out into the Rhone and headed back north from where it had come. It looked like fun learning how to handle one of these babies.

The rain eased around 1500h, but by now it was too late to get to another port before sunset, so we stayed here. In the meantime, smaller boats were being lifted out of the port...

and transported to the nearby hard-stands.

Since the rain had stopped, we decided to walk into town again - and were charmed all over again.

While we were on the way home, we stopped at the boulangerie, and were amazed by the range and number of meringues on display.

Given that it was Flis Johnston’s birthday today, we couldn’t resist buying a f***ing meringue for her.

When we got back to the port, another tourist barge, Lord Byron, had moored in port.

So I finally got my daytime shot of Kanumbra and a tourist barge, but it was with Lord Byron (instead of Viking Heimdal).

Lord Byron presented an interesting sight as it left the mooring backwards (after just a few hours in port).