I flew from Oz to the UK where I picked up the boat I had purchased over the net in Tassie.
I worked on the boat and admin for heading to France - then, after months in the UK - I crossed the channel and arrived in Calais 2 hours before the EU closed the borders and France went into tight shutdown.
Only been let out in the last weeks - I am now on the move.
I am certainly gaining a lot of experience atm - indeed, it feels exactly like every day moving is like learning a new job - it's bloody tiring and has been stressful. Getting the locks down pat isn't easy --- they are easy as pie once you know - but, learning isn't at all easy ------ they don't explain much at all - but, thankfully, they are very helpful when they work out you are a dumb Ozzie who cannot speak any French.
I have probably struck it really lucky with Covid - because once I got off the commercial canals - I have almost the entire place to myself - I am torn about Paris - which I will be going through - I have a feeling that it will be very very very quiet on the boating front for pleasure boats - there's no foreigners about so far (zip, haven't seen one) ------------ so, it would never be a better time to stop in Paris - but, I had no intention of stopping - I'm definitely NOT a city person. But, I'm torn because everyone says Paris is special - and, I have basically this amazing opportunity that is pretty much once in a lifetime to see it like this. My plan atm is to drive straight through in the one day without stopping -- but, I'm open to ideas if I meet someone who has a place there or similar - I could be pursuaded if the conditions are right. Every time I think I should - I look up the costs and see difficulties that I have none of if I give it a miss - so, I just say - na bugger it - then, a few days later I think?? am I being silly here.
Normally I don't have deadlines at all - but, I want to be a bit south before next winter and even pulling in somewhere - it's so easy just to stay for 3 or 4 nights - do that twice and a week has gone ------- I also want to stop in places for a couple of months at a time - it's hopeful that I will find places I want to do that fairly soon - I'm a very slow traveller.
