Update from Dunquerque

Sorry we're a bit quiet on the blog - we've had a  busy couple of days:

Monday
Skipper went ashore first thing and, armed with his nautical vocab list and the Foster trait of getting things done, he managed to negotiate with 3 boatyards to get a good price on getting the mast down - I know, no surprise there!  Demasting is set for Friday at 2pm. 

We then set about locating the VNF office - the organisation from which you buy a licence to go through the canals.  We got there at their lunch time so went and had a bite of dejeuner in a quaint cafe run by an elderly couple and to whom the locals seemed to gravitate - always a good sign. Service was slow but charming as Monsieur was hard of hearing.  It was so funny - Mrs Overall sprang to mind and, true to form, when he brought out our order, half the cafe au lait was in the saucer - bless! 

Then back to the VNF which was like pulling teeth!  Essentially, after our discovery at Calais that two locks were closed, we wanted to ensure that our proposed route was open before buying a fairly pricy licence - it wasn't easy but I cracked one of my winning smiles and Madame seemed to come on side.  So we need to check our proposed route and, if all clear, we will go back on Friday to buy the licence and set off into the canals on Saturday - yippee!

Comms was next on the list: we sourced a local SIM card as it seems we have to call some of the locks ahead of arriving - rather than using VHF.  Less locks are using VHF these days so a mobile is a must.  We also bought an Orange Domino which is a device that gives temporary wifi access to holidaymakers, no contract, just top up as you go.  Thanks to Mick's cousin, Claire, for putting us onto that! xx 

So, there we were reflecting on the day on our sunny aft deck when the gas alarm went off!!!  Skipper leapt into action and checked everything - twice.  He has a testing kit and checked the entire system: the unions, the regulator, the caps, the pipework, etc.  No leaks.  We ventilated the boat as sometimes you get an accumulation of gas in the bilges and figured that the system is under stress as we're living aboard and using it all the time.  It is likely that the pipework is original (i.e. 20 years old) so to be double-sure we've ordered some new pipe from the brilliant Marlec in Ramsgate which will arrive courtesy of our friends Dave & Roche who are visiting us in Paris mid-end May - thanks to the Lewises for that.

Tuesday
There's no avoiding it - today is laundry day!  The Young Ones sketch sprang to mind (I know my brother, Chris, will smile at this reference).  It involved a bit of a trek as the Marina's washing machine is broken.  On the upside it gave us the opportunity though to visit the lovely St Malo beaches: long white sandy beaches and dunes.  We also came across the first traditional boulangerie we've seen on our trip so far - Mum - you'd have drooled at the gateaux!  I resisted and stuck to a French stick instead. 

The afternoon was spent cleaning and tinkering on the boat and as we'd had a busy week we decided it was time to go ashore for dinner and enjoyed Moules et Frites - delicious with a carafe of red wine!

Wednesday
All quiet on the gas front thankfully so kettle went on for morning cuppa.  Today's task is preparing for the demast on Friday which is quite a big job: releasing rigging screws (which hold shrouds and stays which in turn secure the mast); undoing the electrics for the mast gear and assembling the A frames (which Skipper prepared before we left) to support the mast as we go through the canals as there are height restrictions in many parts of the canal system. 

So that's about our news for today.  Tune in next time for the next chapter of The Owl & Pussycat Diaries.

Over & out!