For the past month or so, I have been going to bed a bit earlier than Rita, as she continues to study late into the night for her upcoming exam. She got her reward today when she snuck into the bedroom after midnight, after I had fallen asleep, to Pinch'n'Punch me for the first of the month. All's fair in love, war and P'n'P!

In the morning, while Rita was on a call to Australia to Di Gaylard, who will be playing in Scotch'n'Dry with Rita later this month in France, I saw something that I haven't seen in many years; a horse-drawn rubbish collection cart.

While the boat was still being shaded by the Music Conservatorium this morning, I decided to do the remainder of the Ziffing of the paintwork on the port side of the boat. When I was finished, it looked like a new boat (well, not really). Just after I had finished and was relaxing in the wheelhouse with a cool drink, I heard a call from the pathway above. I poked my head out, and saw Matthias and Melanie from Henriette, a couple we had first met last year at the Moissac Barging Festival. I particularly remembered them because they had come second in the Petanque tournament. They came on board for drinks and nibbles, and we caught up with each other's activities over the past year.

After lunch, we went down the river to the Capitainerie and paid our mooring fees. We then went for a walk through town to find a fete that we'd been told about, that was being held behind the Time Museum that we visited a few weeks ago. So we walked through the quadrangle beside the Time Museum to find the Instant Gourmands fete that was in full swing, with lots of people and lots of food and drinks stands. There was also a band that finished playing just as we arrived, so Rita asked them if they were playing again, and found out that they were on again in 30 minutes. So we had a drink and some crepes, and waited till they started again. It was worth the wait, with a good little jazz band and some "lindy-hop" dancers providing some extra entertainment.

After the band finished their set, Rita went up to talk to the band leader on the trumpet about something musical. Meanwhile, I noticed the double-bass player pointing in my direction, and signalling for someone to come forward. I looked around to see who he was pointing at, but couldn't see anyone. When I turned back to the front, I noticed he was still signalling, and looking directly at me, so I pointed to myself and he nodded his head. So I walked forward, not knowing how I would communicate with him in French, but when I got there, he said, in perfect English, "Did your wife give you the T-shirt?". I was uncertain of what he was talking about, until I realised what t-shirt I was wearing; the one I had got made with my logo design (with credits to comedian George Carlin), before I left Australia, which consists of two musical notations. The top notation indicates that the note should be held indefinitely, until told to continue by the conductor; the bottom notation on the staff lines indicates a rest. So, I had got it made for my "vacation", which I was thinkig of as an "indefinite rest".

The double-bass player was the first person to recognise the musical meaning of the t-shirt, but he had a different interpretation (which I had also read about on the internet). He interpreted the indefinite sign the same as me, but he called the lower symbol a "silence", so that the whole thing said "indefinite silence" or "shut-up". Hence, his question about whether my wife had given it to me! We continued to chat and other band members joined in, in a mixture of French and English, until one of them said he had also noticed me in the crowd, but for a different reason. He had noticed my phone when I was taking pictures of them, and had liked my custom phone cover, which consists of a 20euro note under the clear plastic cover. I had created this as an emergency wallet, because I often forget to take my wallet when going for a walk, but never forget my phone. Now, I always have enough money to buy a beer, or a baguette, or both, while I'm out and about. He saw a different advantage, in that he felt it was a sure way of getting people to look at the camera when I'm taking a photo!

We would like to have stayed for their next set, but the afternoon was moving on, and we wanted to explore another part of the town while we were here, especially the gardens we had seen on maps on the western side of the old city in the loop of the River Doubs. After wandering through a few of the streets behind the Time Museum, we soon found our way to the impressive entrance to the Parc Charmars.

The rows of plane trees and the relationship with the Doubs, was very impressive, and I could see why the Guide Fluviale raved about entering the city on the river by coming around the loop, rather than going though the tunnel. Next time!

We walked through the park, then along the Doubs to get a new view of the Citadel walls near the river...

... and on the hill.

As we walked alongside the river, we noticed a gateway through the wall, and decided to investigate. Inside, we found a lake with fountain, with a cafe (featuring musicians doing a warmup). After having a drink at the cafe, we found a bench on the other side of the lake, and just decided to sit and watch the passing parade for a while. Clearly, this area was a very popular destination spot for walkers and cyclists on a balmy Sunday afternoon. But the guy we admired most was the paraplegic in his upright wheelchair making his way through the park to join his friends. Inspiratioal.

As the afternoon drew to a close, we decided to make our way home. So we continued to walk along the river until we reached the lock at the entrance to the tunnel under the Citadel. The water lily pads in this area captured the relaxed mood we were now in.

As often happens when Rita is in a quiet, enclosed space and no one else is around, the flute made an appearance as she walked through the Tunnel. Sadly no boats were going through at the time, but some walkers who entered the tunnel just after she started must have wondered what they were hearing.

When we got back to the port near the Conservatorium, we were treated to a very different type of performance. We often hear and see students rehearsing outside the Conservatorium, but this was the first time we had seen break-dancers. Their skill, dexterity and fluidity was amazing, especially the guy on the left who put on several different kinds of "show" as we watched spellbound.