The oenologist's dilemma

At week three, and all’s well aboard. The dilemma: when you get to a fork in the road -- hesitate not, take both -- if the choice is between Pouilly and Fuisse! Bliss.

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.