We were disappointed yesterday about the circus tickets. so Rita rang again this morning to see if there had been any ticket cancellations for the first show tonight. She was told that people rarely cancel their tickets, but often some just don't turn up on the night. So she was advised to just turn up, and see if there were any spare seats after all the ticket holders had been admitted to the tent. So we decided to delay our departure from Ray for 24 hours and see what happens tonight.

In the morning, I was checking our Credit Agricole bank account balance, and saw that GAN Insurance had made a deposit into our account for the first batch of work done on repair of the campervan after the theft. So we contacted IVECO and told them that they could cash the cheque that we had left with them just before we left France last year.

Since we now intend to leave Ray tomorrow, I thought I would cycle ahead and have a look at our next intended port at Soing, since it is also on a side arm of the Saone and would review an even longer additional time if it happened to be full at the port. I then thoguht I would come home a different way via the neighbouring town of Vanne.

Thurs 20 July - stay, GAN $, Soing, Vanne, Wests, Matildas, 4th Test, Circus

The ride to Soing was interesting, but I was glad to be on the eBike when I encountered a big hill between Charentenay and Soing. There wasn't much space at the port, but it looked interesting enough to try and get in early tomorrow. The ride home via Vanne was very different, through farming country, and along the way I got a sighting of Chateau Ray perched on the hillside above the haybales.

We pottered around the boat in the afternoon, wondering if we'd get into the circus tonight, or whether our delayed departure would be in vain. I noticed, as I was in the bedroom, a very pleasing view from the porthole of the river and the trees on the other side.

During the afternoon, I saw that Wests had lost to old-time rivals St George 12-14, which the Matildas had beaten Ireland in a International Soccer Friendly. The 4th Test continued in England.

Around 1800h, we rode up the hill to the Chateau and registered our interest in get any leftover tickets/seats for the circus, along with many other people (so we were still not sure if we'd get in or not). While we were waiting, Rita started up a conversation with a lady who looked like she knew what was going on. It turned out that she was the coordinator of cultural events for the Chateau (such as the circus). Naturally, Rita started asking about performance opportunities for things like, perhaps, a steelband. Luckily, the lady had previously seen, and liked, a steelband. So the conversation continued and Rita eventually gave her a business card, before the lady moved away to attend to other matters. But a few minutes later, she returned with two tickets in her hand, and a sly wink!

So when the "doors" to the tent opened, we were one of the first, not the last, to file into the tent. As the tent filled, we all shuffled across in our seats to make more room for new entrants. At the end, I suspect none of the latecomers were left outside. and then the show began!

There were only four performers, including the two musicians we had heard practicing yesterday. But everyone had multiple roles, as you would expect wth such a small ensemble. Although the entire show was in French, it was not really a problem as their intentions and moods were conveyed by their bodies as much as by their voices. It was a totally engrossing experience, and thoroughly entertaining. The two hours of the show passed very quickly, and the crowd (including many kids) showed their appreciation loudly at the end.

As the crowd emerged from the tent, it seemed that very few actually wanted the night to end. So the pancake and drinks stall did a roaring trade as people queued and chatted with their neighbours about the performance, and life in general. As night approached, we figured we should get a move on to get down the hill in the dying light. We reached the boat safely, happy in the knowledge that our extra day in Ray had not been wasted.