It all started with an opportunity to attend an academic writing workshop in Prato for 3 days. It’s now mid-August and we’ve been in Europe for three and a half months. Life on a canal boat is both very similar and very different compared to life on a catamaran in coastal and open waters. The boat itself is everything we hoped for; plenty of space for us and short-term visitors, a motor that seems to be reliable enough, enough work required to keep Richard busy but nothing unexpected or major that threatens to break the bank. After freezing our t-t-t-oes off last winter in Opua, New Zealand, on a boat with no heating, following the sun again has a welcome return to our goal in becoming blue nomads. The 40+ degree days of the French ‘canicule’ were made bearable (just) by wild mooring on the Tarn river, parking under the shade of trees and moving the boat from side to side twice each day to avoid direct sunlight. My request for a swimming platform to be constructed on the stern was met with raised eyebrows and a bicycle trip to the local toy shop to buy some floating donuts… many pleasant hours were then spent cooling off in the river.
Tied up in the shade 
Cooling off 
Tapas on board
In June-July, it was time to head off for the ‘real’ (maybe original, rather than real?) we came to Europe – to attend conferences in England and the workshop in Prato. We combined it with a quick visit to my son in Holland and Richard’s family in the south of France… many cathedrals, castles and a sprained ankle later, we were pleased to get back ‘home’ to Rangimārie. I’m happy with the name we chose… Peace and serenity in Te Reo Māori, and with the Taniwha logo Richard has painted on the side. We hope that this particular Taniwha will be a protector of the peace and serenity of the French canal waterways…
Toulouse – Amsterdam 
Waterlillies in Den Haag 
Rhododendron in Den Haag 
Oops! Fell off a bicycle in Holland… 🙁 
Amsterdam – Manchester 
Castles, 
More castles… 
Ancestry Tour of Scotland Day #2: Dysart Fishing Hut 
Tide’s out 
Ancestry Tour Day #3: Tarbet Isle – origins of the Macfarlane Clan 
Rope window frame carved in stone 
William Wallace’s sword 
Getting our water fix visiting English Canals 
Narrowboat Craft Market in Coventry Town Basin 
The cutest Peter Rabbit! 
Edinburgh – Nice 
A haven in southern France 
Prato… the original reason for the trip 
More Castles! 
Peaceful monastery 
The Ponte Vecchio 
Amazing cathedrals 
I found dragons! 
And more dragons! 
Italian rooftops 
My favourite painting 
Back home to Rangimārie
We’ve been back on board for a month, enjoying the Canal Laterale à la Garonne and the Baïse River. More gorgeous old towns, always so much history to see and new experiences such as the ice-cream restaurant that serves 80 different flavours, including fois gras and roquefort! I wasn’t quite that adventurous and settled for a Poire Belle Hélène… maybe next time. For now, the routine is start the day with a walk along the canal, then back to work on my thesis and consulting work. Trying to force myself to focus on that alone wasn’t working, so now I’m making sure I include at least some writing for pleasure, working on Prime – Book 3 of the Talents of Terra series each day. It’s time well-spent; I’m much more productive with the things I need to do when I let myself enjoy the things I want to be doing. When we’re navigating, motoring for a few hours per day is enough, making sure we stop in time for sundowners. On days we don’t travel, it’s great to fit in visiting some of the towns we stop at along the canals. As it cools down in the evening, a mojito is good motivation to get back to work!
Les 9 écluses de Fonserannes 
Water levels rising 
Heron territory 
Colombiers 
Wine as far as the eye can see… 
Friendly mooring spot 
A vendre 
Nerac 
Nerac #2 
Nerac #3 
Lavoir 
Modern Lavoir? 
Vianne 
Sundowners 
Back to work!