Small towns along the way

Barge Date:  07-27-2019

Small towns along the way

Just a short addition to Epinal.  Lots of flowers in boxes on bridges and below windows.  I took these pictures so I know what to put in the hanging baskets back home.  Want to look too?

Tied up next along a rusted out metal canal in a village called Melomenil. The end of the day so a good spot but also we were told of a nice inn just next to the water. If you look at Marianne's FB page I am sure she must have some pictures of a Frenchman biking along the canal. He visited with us over 2 day as we passed locks (said I was an expert at the lock work; nice guy). Anyway, he added his approval of the inn for a good country meal.

So we tied up and went into the village, checked the inn and told them we would be back for dinner.  Then we walked the streets.  Just a lot of interesting buildings, barns and houses. Some showing age, some with the face of modern updates.  Many, I think, might be weekend/holiday houses.  So take a look.

Table saw powered by tractor.  Firewood

This was on an old barn.  Think it was from 1826..

After dinner we returned to the boat to find it beginning to hang up.  Someone was letting water out of the canal.  Had the same problem the previous night up stream.  Then I noticed it  during the night when I found a door swung in the wrong way.  So this time I pulled out some tricks we have not previously used.  Standoffs.  I have three but used just two.  Here is how they work.

From the gentleman that wrote the 2 books and those that followed, our boat has everything you need and standoffs are a good example.

It has been hot.  How hot?  France has their 2 hottest weeks on record this year.  For those back home, over 100 degrees. How to survive?  The new screens for the boat that I made last Winter help a lot.  Good ventilation. But surprisingly the cabin stays "comfortable" most of the day.  We use a fan but I think a larger one would help. A cold shower does wonders. And even with the days very hot the nights can be cool so there is some help.  Keep the boat moving; a little breeze.

Flies can be a problem.  Through the wheelhouse windows to make their way down below. Will work on this.