This was the third edition of what is locally known as the fête des plaisanciers, organised by popular couple Tony (Aussie) and Rita (Swiss) from Kanumbra barge. They were about to leave Moissac after nine years here, and what a send-off it turned out to be!

Day One

The three-day programme was launched at 3pm on the Friday with registration of the boaters who wanted to take part in the flotillas planned for the Saturday and the Sunday, followed by live music.

This featured a rendezvous des violons – from all over the country, apparently – together with an unusually large number of accordions.

Later followed “curryoke” at the Sunbeam bar– €10 for a plate of chicken or veggie – fuelled by gallons of swimming pool rosé. Roy sang  Sweet Caroline, and the crowd roared out for more.

Day Two

As arranged, Lindsay (Kiwi, Tui) arrived  with his Aussie friends Bryce and Helen, to join us, our friend Anne and her son Victor (French, Hodie) for the upstream flotilla event on the Tarn river.

All other participants were double-banked on the Tarn quay, ready for the 1.30pm departure. We were the only boat coming down from the canal port through the double lock on to the Tarn, which takes a bit of time.

I revelled in not having to do a thing,  as Bryce and Lindsay were manning the ropes.

We were a bit late joining the flotilla, just managing to catch up with them near the chateau, where we all turned to sail back to Moissac port. There was much hooting, some terribly childish spraying with hosepipes, and it all went extremely well.

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Everyone reconvened for dinner in the square overlooked by the 11th-century Abbey. Those who didn’t crack the nod for Le Fromage rît, including us, had outstanding pizzas and lots of red wine at the pizzeria right next door.

Rita and Tony’s “Dindi Moon” Steel Pan Ensemble gave a great show, followed by Stuart Barry’s Kick Shins barn dance band.

Day Three

A walk down to the Tarn mooring revealed that we had just missed the Biggest Tosser rope-throwing competition – dang! – which had been won by Clive from narrowboat Le Cochon Noir.

We were also looking for an offer to join another boat on the second and final Sunday flotilla event, down the Tarn, into the Garonne and back. (We’d decided to be lazy, and not to take Karanja this time.)

So it was that we cast off on the lovely old Artemis with our Dutch friends Sanne and Jack. Also on board were Laurence and Patrick (French, Zag), and Kiwis Trish and Tony.  A few weeks ago, they bought the 100-year-old Anneke from Iain and Cas Noble, have virtually gutted her and are doing her up to live on.

One by one, the boats left the Tarn quay, headed towards the 15th-century Hôtel du Moulin and went through what used to be a lock, thereby avoiding the weir, and then rejoined the wide and beautiful Tarn river.

 

Three hours later, back at the Tarn mooring, Jack could finally have a drink, and out from the freezer came a tray of oude jenever (or corenwijn) in little glasses complete with lids. Wonderful stuff!

With a strong storm in the offing, the Sunday evening  programme had been reduced in scope – no food trucks, oh woe! – and moved from a spot near the Tarn quay to a function room at the Moulin.

We caught the end of the prize-giving, where Rita and Tony got the huge applause they deserved, before the Kick Shins started their final gig. And here I must say that allowing ourselves to get roped into the final barn-dance number was a terrible, terrible error of judgement on our part.

Nevertheless, huge thanks to Rita and Tony – and to Captain Jim and Sandra, Iain and Kaz Noble and everyone else who helped make it all happen.

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