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Here is the small raft of boats starting to mass alongside Waterdog while most of the boats set off on a parade on the Friday afternoon. This was followed by the first of 3 champagne receptions which were used to give talks on promoting the new marina and re-opening the Sambre as a through-route to France. They also announced a move to bring commercial freight barges back to part of the Sambre, called 'Water truck', that should be interesting. We almost don't want the Sambre to get busier as it is nice for us at the moment, but it isn't very sustainable as it is.
I looked more relaxed than I actually was as this American longhorn was on a pretty long leash and the horns looked mean. The circus had camels, lamas, lions, tigers, goats and ponies. We were not used to seeing these types of animals held in captivity for entertainment so we were a bit uncomfortable with it.
They presented an artist's impression of the new marina with floating pontoons for 60 boats, quayside space for 3 peniches and dolphins for 3 commercial barges. Later they plan to make dry storage warehouses for 250 dry stack boats but that won't be for a few years yet. We feel it is too big a project for Hautmont but we shall see if we are proved wrong.