Getting Back to The Barge

As most of you good readers know we have been in the barge-build process for over a year. What is that expression...good things come to those who wait?  I don't think that expression refers to times like these but we are adopting it today. We have actual photos of the barge being moved out of the inside yard to the outdoors! The exterior is fully painted and with the exception of window glass in the wheelhouse doors the exterior is complete. From all the communication back and forth to the yard we know that engine room work and some final interior painting is still required and we are uncertain of what else. The good news keeps coming...we will be in Heerewaarden next Tuesday to see for ourselves. In the meantime, we are looking at the mostly finished result of our 4-year dream. It does seem a long time ago that we first read a blog called BillandNancy, about a couple from San Francisco, who spent over 10 years barging. We read their entire blog and looked at every photo and just knew that was what we wanted to do. We are going to try and reach out to them although their barging blog is now closed and the boat sold some time ago. We would like them to know that they have been  our inspiration. 

So, we say good bye to the beautiful pink city of Toulouse on Sunday. We move to the north of France and the city of Lille, closer to the boat yard. We look forward to Lille and a whole new set of experiences as we find our way in that city. Today was bittersweet as I walked with John to his pool so that he could make a final swim and then walked on myself to take the Canal du Midi path one more time. The plane trees are losing their leaves, the light was golden and the air warm. We shall miss Toulouse and all the people we have met. We shall be back at some point and take the canal versus walking alongside as we make our way to Carcassonne and beyond...but that will be next year. Right now we are packing up...we have our paperwork in order (and there is a great deal of it) for our meeting with OFII tomorrow and all the proper timbre fiscaux are purchased and at the ready. We know the city well after almost 2 months of reconnoitering and will be back as it is most enjoyable. We are sorry to miss all the illumination for the season of Père Noel, however Lille and barge beckon. 

Here are a few pictures from this week. 

Forty Roses III stern end..note the traditional red rudder moving out!!

Bow seeing the outdoors!

Forty Roses III emerging from the chrysalis

Port: Hull as you can see is black with the traditional red "mustache" of a Dutch Barge, topped by a deep blue band and above that white.  Although difficult to see in this photo the wheelhouse has a deep blue accent stripe.

Starboard

The name still must be applied and a great amount of discussion and research is underway on that subject, with  much help from our good friend and graphic designer John Teager. How fortunate we are that he is a patient man!






 And I say this is what we need to store on deck and lift off as required! All electric and no license
required.






Note from November 18, 2016

Today was a fabulous day as we are all documented and stamped legally for our long term stay. We thank France for its very thorough, efficient and excellent review process and all the very kind people who helped us interpret and decipher requirements.  We shall celebrate tonight at a local restaurant on rue de la Concorde, then pack up tomorrow for our journey to Lille and a real time look at the barge. We cannot verbally express how excited we are. Maybe, just maybe we will be on her by Christmas.