We had more storms overnight, and awoke to a much cooler morning. In mid-morning, one of our apero friends came to our boat to let us know that they had been visited by the Mayor of Mantoche this morning and asked to leave the port, because they had overstayed the maximum mooring duration of 48 hours. We wondered why we had not been visited as well, having been at Mantoche for 72 hours! But we took the hint, and so, soon aftermost of the other apero boats had departed, we also packed up and set sail up river. Mantoche looked very empty after all but Cochon Noir had left!

Wed 12 July - storms, eviction, Gray, bike repair, pizza, walk, sunset, streetscape

We stopped at Gray for lunch, and also because Rita had arranged to take her old bicycle (from Bern days) into Intersport for repair. As she went there, she noticed Phillipe moored further up the quai and stopped for a chat. He had been the first to leave Mantoche this morning (some hours before us) and had encountered trouble along the way, as his alternator fan broke, and his starter battery ran flat and his engine stopped mis-stream. He simply had to let the boat drift to the side of the river and then attach it to a tree trunk. Luckily, he had a spare alternator belt on board (reminder to myself!) and was able to fit it and get underway again. But it was a salutory lesson to carry essential spares on-board for emergency situations.

Because the port was fairly full, we had moored down the back of the quai, opposite the Pizzeria on the adjoining road. And as evening approached, the smell of the pizzas become irrestistable. So we succumbed and went there for dinner. But then we felt guilty, and decided that we should go for a walk around town to work off the pizza calories. And it was worthwhile, because I got lots of great sunset photos, but this one including Kanumbra, as we got back to the mooring, was my favorite.

As night arrived, and the street lights took over from the sunlight, Gary came alive. The local authorities have cleverly arranged the street lamps so that the facades on both sides of the river are illuminated. And, combined with the tree silhouettes, this gives the town a fairytale appearance. Very pleasant evening sitting on deck with a drink, watching the streetscape evolve.