Barge Date:  08-20-2018

End of Season Boat Work

Marianne has departed the boat and Europe.  End of year for her.  Back to help Jinglei get ready for her first year of college.  Jinglei had a wonderful trip to China and I am looking forward to some details when I see her again.

Big sister LiQiong was also in China, living with a Chinese family in Beijing and teaching English to their 10 year old. When she returns, she will have missed seeing her younger sister and she will soon head off to do her last year of college.

So I will just sit on the boat watching other boaters go by. Or maybe not. Marianne says "what is there to do?" A boat is a living thing and it needs constant care. If I lived just down the road and could visit over the next 6 months, I could get everything "ship shape". But since I don't, the care of the boat must be handled in some way and staying longer seems like a good idea to me.

Marianne took the fast train to Brussels to visit family, then flew home from there. I purchased
supplies for the work.  Had a little go around at the Brico.  I was wanting to use the US card to pay for paint but it was rejected.  Called the card company while in line and they say they don't even see an

attempt to purchase.  Tried another cash register.  Same thing.  OK, use the Belgian debit card.  Rejected.  What is going on?  I was told to go to a cash machine across the street.  Rejected.  Tried several others with same result.  Remembered I had my US bank debit card and, lo and behold, it worked for cash.

Don't know what the problem was with the credit card;  it works elsewhere.  And yes, the Belgian card was low on funds, so that was explained.  Makes you feel like a crook to be in line and have this happen.

Was out in the suburbs of Strasbourg to purchase a fishing float tube that I think will help me paint the boat.  Picture and results to follow.  But as I am waiting for the return train, several pass not needing to stop. If you don't pay attention they can really sneak up on you. The platform is maybe only 8 feet wide and these trains go zipping by.  Take a listen and look.

On the boat, I installed an outlet and a switch in the forepeak.  The switch to power a new LED floodlight at the very tip of the bow.  Our last trip through a tunnel could have used good lighting. This is a 220 volt line but wired like we would do in the US for 110 volt.  The light works.

Not wanting to paint while in the marina, I plan to retrace some distance back west.  I scouted out suitable painting sites as we headed east so have an idea where to do some of this.  Can't afford to have my paint get on some nervous boater's boat.  Will take it slow, practice my single handed boating and move on when I want.

Did some painting in the spring but most of the hull needs to be done as well as the wheelhouse. Also want to varnish wood in and outside the wheelhouse. Varnishing comes first and I have to say it makes everything look better.  The wood was in need of several coats.

As I need supplies, I venture into any town of size and stock up.  All this year I have made a commitment to try to add info to the mooring guide our barge group has available online. Let me make a plug for the DBA, The Barge Association (the D is for Dutch but we don't use that anymore). If you are doing anything on European waterways, this is the group to join.  Take a look at the site:  barges.org. If you have a problem with your boat, someone will have the answer.

So I also scout out stores, restaurants, bars, bricos, etc. as I bike around.  This info is then added to our online database.  Here is an example:  http://barges.org/knowledgebase/waterwaysguide-k/waterwaysguide-search   It is nice to know what is available at each stop along the canal.

One tie-up had the benefit of having a shooting range just beside the canal.  Makes you feel you are

back home in the US of A.

As I moved to tie-up in one small town, I made the suggestion to the boater just in front of my approaching bow (he is just standing there) that he take my line and put it on the bollard. You never know what language to use, so I did a little movement with the rope and pointed to the bollard.  He gives me this "what" look, like he has no idea what I could possibly want him to do.  So I say in English "Hey, you're a boater, it has to be obvious what I want". Since I didn't back down and further, had thrown the line to his feet, he had little choice to do what a boater should do.

Turns out he is German and explains, in German, that I am doing it all wrong.  I should make the first tie to my center boat bollard. I said, in English, that that may be fine with a little boat like you have, and then powered against my forward line letting the line stop my boat before it sinks his.  Then I tie up stern and middle. Some boaters are reluctant to lend a hand in circumstances that they understand.  I don't understand it.

I think I stayed one night.  There are lots of rental boats on the water.  You can easily ID them by the

multitude of fenders that are hanging all around the boat. Most of these boats show a lot of wear. Saw one that had the bow totally caved in;  but still working.  They get to take out the boat after 15 minutes of instruction;  I had to pay to take a test and needed to pass. So in the morning I try to let most of the rental boats get moving before I venture out. It is also easy to see/hear boats rented by 8, 10 or 12 men/women as a party boat. Do not get close.

I end up with another boat in each of the locks I am going to pass.  Turns out they are Kiwi and are living the dream. Always had boats in NZ, bigger than what they are on now. We had time to talk as one of the locks just did not want to let us out. We were both headed to the basin below the inclined plane.  That evening we shared some drinks and learned about how our lives crossed. They are in Europe for 6 months. 

Ready to paint

Time at the basin seems well spent. I did take a bike ride over the hill to Niderviller to scout out possible food stores.  Not a one.  Don't want to be unable to buy supplies but there does not seem like there is any to be had.  Running low on some items. I did visit a new restaurant just below the basin.  Very nice and I added it to the DBA info.

And all work and no play....  so I visited the glass blowing shop which has a small eatery.

Funny thing happened with 2 hotel barges.  I was asked by Lilas (notice the small swimming pool at the bow) to save a place for Madeleine that would arrive soon;  beat off anyone else trying to use the space to my stern. When Madeleine showed up, they did not like the space and preferred in front of me but it was not big enough.  So I had them put someone ashore and we pulled our boat back.

Guess that made me a friend because around 7pm the lady from Lilas wanted to know if we used propane; their tanks were empty, someone had failed to take note and they had arriving guests. So we confirmed it was the same style of tank and I gave them my spare with their promise to return it in the morning. But in the morning I see them take off to go up the inclined plane only to come right down and set off down the canal. I yelled to not forget me and they promised a new tank in the evening.  I never saw them show up but after thinking about it, I checked the gas cabinet and a new, full tank was in place.  Then the following morning as I prepared to paint I found a bottle of French Rhone wine under a drop cloth. Nice of them.

My next leg of travel has me going up the inclined plane to Niderviller and through 2 tunnels. I was able to test the new floodlight at the bow and it did a fine job of illuminating the tunnel. There was a hire boat behind me on the lift and I suggested he pass me by in order to avoid the diesel fumes in the tunnel. I was able to talk with him as we needed to hold at the entrance to the tunnel. Just his wife and two kids on board. Later, in Niderviller, his kids came over on a paddle board to make an offering of a small ball fender they recovered. Offer accepted. The young boy's English was very good.  Several days prior, I was able to recover another type of fender that was floating alongside my boat.  Always useful.

First bad weather day this summer.  Woke to grey sky and rain. No painting today.