The 14th of July.

Yesterday was the 14^th of July. And that is better known as Robert’s birthday. We are moored at Montereau where the Yonne river meets the Seine and the French decided to join in our celebrations and mount a wonderful fireworks display. Similar to Australia Day on Perth Waters, the mortars, squibs, rockets and other firepower were loaded into two barges and embedded in sand. The barges were tied up less than 75 metres from our mooring.

As the evening twilight stretches to after 10.00pm the show did not get going until 11.00 but there was no pre or post show entertainment, and the locals kept themselves amused. They were allowed to buy their own fireworks and so there were rockets, roman candles. penny bungers (and much bigger) going off all over the place till early morning.

We took our place in our deck chairs and watched a 30 minute display that was as good as I have seen outside Perth (Australia Day) and Sydney (New Year’s Eve). Not bad for a small town of 17,000 people. We were really too close to the display to get good shots - my excuse and I am sticking to it.

Happy birthday, Rob.

Of course by a coincidence - the French celebrated Bastille Day as well.   

Keep in touch.