We cast off around 10:30 after settling a few minor issues with the rental outfit.
We decided to head up river 25 ks to Beaucaire which is the start of the Rhone-Sete canal, which we are on, and Sete or close to it is our ultimate destination.
Shortly after setting out Dave suggested that I have a try at steering this boat. Easier said than done. It is a single diesel inboard engine, the steering of which takes a bit to get used to. The steering is what I call, Slow to Respond as when you turn the wheel, nothing happens and it depends on now fast you are going, the current and I later found out, the wind!
In the five hours it took us to reach Beauraire we encountered everything imaginable except a torpedoing and Somalia Pirates. After a few harrowing minutes we were all laughing about the experience but it was heart pounding at the time.
In the first and only lock today I got to boat completely turned around. Captain Dave got it straight again. When pulling out from our canal-side lunch, the stern went aground and I sharpened the propellers on the shore of the canal. There were several challenging to me experiences at the helm of this boat. I am not sure why Dave has such confidence in mu steering skills as they were nonexistent this morning and by 4:00 I was still sporting my Novice sticker that I wish I had.
When we finally made it to Beaucaire the canal was like a Chinese finger trap, once in the harder it was to get out. Later in the afternoon some wayward Brits came up the canal looking for a mooring for the night. Dave indicated that they could moor alongside us, which they did.
We had an interesting hour or two of cross-boat conversation before going below for a meal made by Alyssa that absolutely was made for the occasion.
Great day...
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