exploring

We got up, had breakfast (mum had brought more marmalade with her - yay!) and set off early. We spent the day stopping off at wee villages along the canal, Paraza and Le Somail the most memorable.

Paraza was memorable because I had a great nap on the boat whilst mum and dad wandered around outside :) And Le Somail was great because of the things to do and see. The most amazing experience was its old, antique book shop. It was like something out of a Harry Potter film! When you walked in, it was small and cramped around the entrance, but as you made your way down the hall you realised what it was about to open up in to - a huge room FULL from floor to ceiling with books. Books about EVERYTHING in every language. All antique and all wrapped in cellophane to keep them safe. I bought a few things, including a couple of books to add to this small collection.

We also visited the Office de Tourisme which had an exhibition on, the floating épicerie (which you can just see on the right in this picture), an art gallery and a tea room. Then we had something to eat and headed back to the boat.

We'd been lucky to get the boat moored earlier in the day as it was so bloody windy. It hadn't let up by the evening and we were battered all night by the gusts coming off the Black Mountain in the distance. Luckily dad had the ropes well secured to the bank, or so we thought...