Chapter 4
Before our big trip from Montauban to Brittany 2014/15
As you see from the photograph, we were at Montauban by Autumn 2014 and Bigdad was already preparing for winter by re-constructing the polythene sheeting which encases the stern area - making it into a kind of conservatory. The pots of lemon trees are brought in out of the reach of jack frost. It's the first time I have experienced this idea and I am very curious as I watch him huffing and puffing as he messes about with hole-punchers, pieces of string and odd bits of wood. He seems quite pleased with the result in the end and I must admit that having a conservatory on the stern does keep the rest of the boat really warm whilst at the same time giving me a place to observe what goes on outside without having to risk confrontation with “Rosie”, the cat-eating Jack Russell belonging to Alex Melville on the neighbouring barge “Busted Flush”. For more about this relationship, (Click here!)
Mum and Bigdad have already become friendly with Alex and Rosie - I have not - and nor do I try! It's just one of those things which will never happen and we remain sworn enemies throughout our stay in Montauban. But Alex is a very generous neighbour; we share the supply of logs for the wood burner and there are many a winter's evening spent in his company – laughing and drinking lots of red wine - watching the International Rugby on television and so on whilst I sleep by the fire. Mum and Bigdad often go out with him in his car to see the delights of the surrounding area.
Rosie is not the only dog in the port and I make good friends with Alfie – another young Jack Russell, who belongs to Tricia and Nigel. They are a lovely couple too and there are many social occasions in all three of our boat-homes in turn. Nigel, being a professional electrician, helps Bigdad solve an electrical problem - Something to do with his solar panel regulator. I daren't ask!
Mum and Bigdad also have problems with the wifi signal which apparently comes from a box in the port office, causing loss of connectivity to the outside world - but that seems to be the case wherever we go, causing much “aggravation ”. It was ages before I realised that "bloody wifi" was actually two words, not one and I am tempted to ask what on earth happened when they didn't have a computer at all ?
Apart from having to be careful with Rosie, I find our mooring here very stimulating. I am allowed the freedom to roam wherever I like. The huge floating pontoon, to which all out boats are attached, is held away from the canal bank by four 10ft long metal girders – each one being about 6 inches wide. No dog - not even Rosie - dares to walk on these "arms" lest they fall into the canal but, being a much more nimble person, I skip along them to get ashore where there are lots of big trees to climb and safe places to hide. I soon claim a wide territory to call my own. I get to know all the boaters and often visit them. They all get to know me. I just love to tease Rosie by sitting in the middle of one of these arms with my back towards her, pretending that I haven't even seen her and hoping that she'll fall in whilst trying to reach me.
Bigdad keeps checking his water filtration plant which he seems very proud of and all our water - normally from the town supply is passed through the system (or when no mains is available, from the canal - delivered by an immersible pump which he throws over the side) . He insists that our drinking water is always filtered from the town supply and boasts to the world that it is "five times filtered". He says it is delicious and very good for making homemade beer.
Apart from the incident with Rosie described already (Click here!) I did have a nearly fatal clash with a galloping golden retriever who I hadn't seen in time to scuttle up a tree. Watched by Bigdad, I escaped almost certain death in the jaws of this brute, by a matter of 2 inches, jumping over a ten foot high reed bed and straight into the canal. I heard his teeth snapping behind me as flew over the reeds and then plopped into the freezing water. Fortunately I can swim and Bigdad hauled me out by the scruff of my neck. Mum had the warm towel ready and I was soon to recover my dignity but one can never be too careful! - Another lesson learned – I am a survivor but as Bigdad always says, It ain't all plain sailing, is it?