LAID BACK? ANOTHER LEVEL........

We arrived at Épinal at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Having moored up we went in search of the Capitaine to pay our fees. We saw La Capitainerie and headed for it. It looked very impressive with a big restaurant and bar which we thought was very enterprising of the Capitaine, and assumed his office was at the back or upstairs. 

La Captainerie Restaurant

No, he wasn't there at all but lived (and worked) on a boat on the other side of the canal.

The Capitaine's office/house

Off we went to find his boat. When we got there we were stopped by a woman sat outside saying 'No, he's having a siesta, he's asleep. You can't disturb him'

It was 3.30 in the afternoon. 'What time does he close......?'

'In half an hour.' 

'But we want to pay him.' 

'Oh, in that case.......Pierre........! Pierre.........! Pierre..........!' 

Eventually, he appeared and after inviting us in for an aperitif, he decided our boat couldn't be as long as we said it was, so he charged us 7€ for the night including electricity.....can't complain at that!