September 11

The day started out with a bang, or rather the loud noise of metal on metal! I checked my watch at it was 12:38 AM. Now, the emergency alarm was not sounded, so no need to grab life jacket and head up on top. The engines were started and then everything seemed to quiet down, so I went back to sleep.

In the morning we were schedule for our home hosted visit. The company arranges small groups to be dropped off with a local who provides light refreshment and to talk about their life and we get the chance to see a somewhat typical French home.

My host was a woman named Sophie, born in Lille France, raised in Corsica, now living in Rouen with her partner.

After lunch it was time for our guided walk through Rouen which would include the cathedral which had been painted many times by Monet. Rouen is also the place where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.

Just before dinner there was a daily port talk of what would be happening tomorrow. Two things happened during the time. First we had a moment of silence in remembrance of the events of 17 years prior. Then the captain explained what went bump in the night.

The Seine when you get to Rouen is tidal, so you could see the affect of the water and current rising and falling. It was especially strong at lunch coming on to high tide. Well high tide had occurred  around midnight the night before. It was so strong that one of our mooring ropes broke, causing our boat to shift and the gang plank to fall between the two boats. It was an all hands on deck but the crew got the ship all tied up properly. The Captain also said that because the current and tide were so strong he was going to start the engines around midnight to help hold the ship in place during the worst of the flow. The tide was so strong as it was a new moon and we were approaching the fall equinox.