After our harrowing experience we are safely tied up in Namur, Belgium. The problem was a bad regulator on the main engine generator. Wilco has gone home for some well deserved R & R. He took the regulator, generator and four starting batteries that we think were fried due to the bad regulator. We have our first guests arriving soon, so Rabelo needs to be in shape and start behaving herself. Wilco will be very busy when he returns.
This is the third time I’ve been to Namur, and we’ve always tied up in the same spot. Next time I’ll have our name stenciled on the mooring. Namur sits at the confluence of the Sambre and Muese Rivers. Overlooking the city is the Citadelle Namur strategically located on a rocky promontory. The impressive (80 hectare or roughly 200 acre) fortress is within musket shot of our mooring. This strategic outcropping has been a military outpost since Roman times, and upgraded continually until 1977 when it was turned into a tourist attraction. Lisa and I finally decided to climb the multiple flights of stairs and take a tour. The Roman improvements have long disappeared. There are a few building from Medieval Times, but most of the remaining fortress was built in the 1800’s.
“Citadelle Namur taken a block from where Rabelo is parked.”
“Exploring one of the many tunnels under the fort.”
“Sure footed Lisa.”
Last winter we added a large solar array to Rabelo at the urging of my son Randy. All I can say is when the kid is right he’s right. I love our new solar panels. Last night and this morning we used the electric heater in our cabin. Lisa did a load of wash and even used the electric dryer. She also cooked us lunch. When we got back this afternoon even though the day had been mostly overcast with some rain showers our batteries were charged to 98.9%. I think that’s pretty cool. When it’s sunny out our solar panels put out more power than many of the shore power connections we used last year in France.
“Rabelo tied up in Namur. Note my beautiful solar panels on the pilothouse roof.”
“How much are the escargot?”
When you live in Europe for six months you end up spending a lot of time in the markets. It’s always a challenge because… well everything is so foreign. Lisa brought along a roll of U.S. toilet paper and took this picture.
“Europe verses U.S. toilet paper.”
Guess which country is full of it? Eggs are even different. Note how they come with their own feathers.
“Can eggs really fly?”
We went to the open market today. I asked Lisa if she wanted chicken, duck or goat for dinner.
Look at the picture below and tell me honestly, a juicy goat burger is the first thing that comes to mind?
-Tom Miller
Author of “The Wave” – a Chuck Palmer Adventure novel
JUN
About the Author:
Tom Miller graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in Geology. He is a consummate adventurer with over 1,000 dives as a recreational scuba diver, and an avid sailor who has traveled 65,000 miles throughout the Pacific including the Hawaiian Islands. Miller has also cruised the canals of Europe on his canal barge and given numerous lectures on cruising the canals of Europe, as well as sailing in the South Pacific. Piloting is also an interest of Miller's, and He has completed over 1,000 hours flying everything from small Cessnas to Lear jets.