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16
March
2008,
Sunday,
In
Lymington,
UK.
(Just
me
-
not
Albert)
Quick
bike
trip
around
for
photo
shots
of
bleak
late
winter
scenes
around
Lymington.
Nerves
concerning
trip
out,
and
state
Albert
will
be
found
in.
Last
minute
rushing
round
Hampshire
and
Dorset
"getting"
things
that
might
be
needed
on
the
boat.
Always
attacked
by
this
syndrome
every
year,
cannot
think
why.
France
is
most
definitely
not
a
third
world
country,
and
most
things
are
just
as
obtainable
there
as
in
the
UK,
-
it
is
just
a
question
of
hunting
it
out
in
a
different
place,
in
a
different
language
-
having
looked
up
the
French
word
first!
What
is
the
French
for
"unpowered
4
way
USB
hub"?
The
banner
picture
is
our
sea
wall,
Pennington
Marshes,
and
up
the
Solent.
17
March
2008,
Monday
In
Lymington,
UK.
Still
faffing
around,
but
faster,
and
in
circles.
Single
suitcase
ridiculously
heavy.
Cannot
believe
everything
in
it
is
necessary,
but
cannot
decide
what
to
leave
behind,
so
packed
it
all
"just
in
case"
18
March
2008,
Tuesday
en
route,
Lymington
(UK)
to
Decize
(France)
Lymington
to
Decize
by
train.
I
can
recommend
this
way
of
getting
here.
Total
cost
about
£100.00
the
trip
(incl
taxis)
if
you
buy
return
on
Eurostar.
Took
about
12
hours.
Arrange
and
pay
for
whole
trip
on
internet.
Just
had
a
thought
-
prices
are
for
"seniors"
-
bad
luck
you
kids.
Taxi
05.45,
was
ready
for
it
-
just.
To
St.Pancras.
Can't
see
what
all
the
fuss
was
about
when
they
opened
it
(the
terminal)
-
very
efficient
and
clean,
but,
to
me,
neither
beautiful
nor
impressive.
Seemed
to
be
full
of
American
schoolgirls
-
very
mature,
immaculately
turned
out,
very
beautiful,
but
chewing
gum.
Horrified
to
find
pre-booked
seat
was
in
carriage
18.
Had
debouched
from
steeply
rising
moving
walkway
at
carriage
1.
(embarrassingly
enjoyable
domino
effect
when
large
heavy
suitcase
overbalanced
and
slid
back
downhill
amongst
legs
and
similarly
placed
luggage
of
rising
passengers.
South
West
trains
to
Waterloo
-
the
SW
trains
are,
these
days,
incredibly
comfortable
and
smooth.
What
a
joy
-
no
smoking,
and
no
filthy
belching
steam
engine.
Love
steam
engines
-
but
????????????????????
Taxi
to
the
new
Eurostar
terminal
at
St.
Pancras
behind).
Long
walk
on
"dot
and
carry
one"
legs
to
ultimate
rear
of
train.
On
departure,
rear
of
train
became
front,
very
convenient
for
being
first
in
taxi
queue
at
G.
du
Nord.
Eurostar
super,
comfortable,
smooth,
and
very
fast.
Not
sure
about
refreshments
-
had
own
-
and
slept.
Afraid,
at
this
time
of
year,
spring
has
yet
to
sprung,
French
country
side
looked
like
English
-
cold,
bleak
and
wet.
To
Nevers
-
non
stop
and
fast,
then
local
"Klattabang
all
stops"
to
Decize
-
20
minutes.
Pre-booked
taxi
(well
done
Crown
Blue
Line)
awaited
-
TO ALBERT!
Found
Albert
exactly
where
and
as
I
left
him/her
some
7
months
ago.
Was
greeted
by
boater
from
long
line
of
ex
hire
plastics
tied
up
for
winter
with
information
that
all
electric
points
were
occupied,
showed
me
his,
and
indicated
that
tampering
with
it
would
be
a
capital
offence,
and
suggested
that
the
others
were
sacred,
as
well.
He
retired
back
to
his
own
boat
without
the
customary
offer
of
a
cup
or
a
drink.
Where
do
they
come
from
????
(made
quick
competent
boater
type
plan,
so
all
boats
remained
connected,
and
coupled
up).
The
complete
wrap
over
of
tied
down
sheets
of
cheap
plastic,
leaving
holes
for
the
ventilators
to
poke
through
seemed
to
work
well.
The
cabin
was
dry
and
smelt
sweet.
Bed,
thankfully,
ready
made
down.
Quick
trip
on
bike
to
Supermarche
for
milk,
got
electricity
working
,
sorted
domestic
water,
cabin
heater,
gas
cooking
and
water
heating.
Supper
To
bed!
Quite
a
story
re
cleanliness
of
Albert.
At
last
season's
end,
there
was
a
"lump"
on/in
stomach.
Personal
diagnosis
was
cancer
of
the
gut
and
boating
was
probably
leaving
agenda.
In
back
of
mind
while
clearing
up
was
thought
that
next
person
aboard
would
be
someone
else,
so
had
to
leave
everything
clean,
neat,
tidy,
and
working.
Made
mad
dash
to
Dr
in
UK
on
return
in
Sep
last.
Dr
fell
about
laughing
-
hernier.
Cold
spring
had
got
even
colder,
and
sleep
disturbed
by
extreme
chilliness.
Couldn't
remember
where
blankets
were,
and
far
too
cold
to
search.
Used
sundry
waterproofs,
instead
-
unsatisfactory.
19
March
2008
Wednesday
In
Decize,
on
Albert
Settling
in
again,
to-day
Got
internet/mobile
phone
set
up,
and
bothered
everybody
with
e-mail
telling
them
-
possibly
a
bit
over
triumphantly
-
where
I
was,
Set
up
little
gadget
that
lets
me
play
iPod
over
boat's
built
in
car
radio.
Extremely
pleased
as
record
collection
on
iPod
goes
back
about
10
years,
and
haven't
heard
the
majority
for
at
least
5.
Weather
quite
filthy,
very
cold,
strong
wind,
lots
of
rain!
Too
bad
-
I
chose
to
come!
Couldn't
find
anything
in
the
boat,
until
stumbled
on
the
idea
of
not
looking
-
then
knew
exactly
where
it
was.
Much
progress
but
as
boat
was
in
good
nick,
not
sure
what
in,
although
very
busy
20
March
2008
Thursday
In
Decize,
on
Albert,
Lots
more
settling
in,
and
trips
to
SM
-
both
local
and
big
ones
across
river.
Yellow
Brompton
doing
a
splendid
job
Bought
small
electric
pressure
washer
at
unbelievably
reduced
price
-
probably
rubbish,
but
if
not
could
be
very
useful
if
it
works.
"Made
in
China".
21
March
2008,
Friday
In
Decize
Heavy
rain,
and
storm
winds
all
day.
Only
left
the
boat
for
10
minutes
to
greet
CBL
staff
in
office.
No
sign
of
other
boaters,
although
their
car
-
Mercedes
of
course
-
is
along
at
the
end
of
the
line.
22
March
2008,
Saturday
In
Decize,
on
Albert,
Very
cold
night
-
had
serious
concerns
about
the
domestic
water
heater
freezing
up.
They
can
freeze
up
very
quickly,
as
their
vanes
and
wall
vanes
are
very
thin.
Took
more
excercise
on
bike
around
the
Super
Markets
-
Monday
is
a
holiday
-
and,
believe
it
or
not,
got
face
"sunburnt".
Bitter
wind
blowing
all
directions
at
once,
and
invariably
straight
into
one's
face.
Pictures
show
a
cold
bleak
Decize
base
virtually
deserted
and
closed
on
Easter
Saturday.
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Lymington
Fishing
Boat
Moorings
offshore
-
Solent
Wightlink
-
ferries
to
I
of
W
Bassin
de
la
Jonction
all
among
the
hire
boats
Still
Wrapped
Unwrapped
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