Spring has sprung in a big way here in Bourgogne; cherry blossom is over, magnolias and tulips are in full bloom in the many parks around town. Still a little nippy at night, but most days are mostly magnificent. To wit, I write this dressed in shorts and a tee shirt while enjoying a well chilled beer on the upper deck. Really, the bridge, if I may! 

Several milestones have been passed. Most importantly, our nautical credentials are rapidly improving: we are now both certified as Day Skippers by the Royal Yachting Association. Our ICC license should not be far behind. And our boat has been officially renamed; after 13 years serving proudly as Marie Jean, she is now Patrice in honor of my resident co-Admiral. So we’re official – new name and French registration painted on the boat and le tricolor is billowing from the stern. 

A few short cruises up and down the Saone river has been accomplished without any incident; major or minor. The boat is highly maneuverable, quite remarkable what two powerful engines and a bowthruster can do in that regard: turning on a dime, no problem, moving sideways ditto. However, the owners’ ability to take advantage of this maneuverability remains a work in progress, we have managed to squeeze in and out of a tight (by our standard) mooring berth quite successfully. Watch out -- hubris may be around the corner L!

Social life is picking up; we went to lunch at our neighbors, two boats over, a few days ago. Our hosts’ English language abilities were quite comparable to our abilities in the French language, which is to say mediocre. But the conversation flowed effortlessly, thanks to the assistance of a bilingual granddaughter (theirs), Google translate (our iPhone), and generous helpings of wine and pear brandy. 

Three days of unpacking and organizing, and we are pretty well settled in. As the saying goes: Life is better on a boat. And we fully agree, based on the considerable weight of three days of experience. And now, we're moving on to the boat's user manuals, since we have already mastered starboard and port -- perdon, tribord et babord! Next stage: Sorting out the difference between a generator, an alternator, and an inverter. All three "things" are located right below where I'm sitting, doing their magic, and First Mate Erik is not crystal clear on how or why. Possibly, at this point the boat may be more seaworthy than the owner(s) -- a situation that won't last long! 

Meanwhile, we are exploring the surroundings of our marina to make sure we know where to find good cheese and wine -- the essentials of life in France. Turns out, there are options aplenty in our neighborhood, including a bakery that provides the ultimate croissants and macaroons so fluffy they almost melt on sight. Apparently, portion control is going to be our main challenge over the next few months. The hardship!

PS. Since you asked: Our trip from the US to France was just fine, thanks to Air France. Ans a travel tip: Do not consider flying on Wow Air. Or booking your ticket through Kiwi.com. Never. Ever. Long story, but less than 24 hours before departure we decided to forfeit out tickets with Wow Air, after being subjected to a baggage policy unlike any other airline. 

It has been a pretty hectic last few months; packing up our house in Portland, getting it ready for sale, and going through the sales process while simultaneously "hunting" for a new abode. Sale of Portland home completed this week, and contract for new home signed.

And yes, we have decided to abolish winter, and with it, any kind of weather phenomena even minimally associated with that season. No More Snow! Or sleet, frost, black ice, or shoveling. So next stop is Sarasota, Florida, where we are now in the process of building a new house, to be ready sometime this summer.

Meanwhile, next week we are heading to the Burgundy region of France to get on board the boat we bought last fall, a 44' beauty outfitted for long-term living and in mint condition. Our plan going forward is to spend 5-6 months of each year exploring the thousands of miles of rivers and canals in Western Europe, not to mention the gastronomical and oenological culture of said region. Or architectural delights. Watch this space for updates and travel tips!

And once the fall rolls around, we'll winterize the boat, leave in our marina, and retreat to the hardship of the Sunshine State. Watch this space for beach recommendations!