We have arrived in Longueil at the time of their annual Pardon de la Batellerie festival and are invited to take part. Many commercial barges have stopped for the weekend and are busily draping large flags all over their boats. We find every pennant we've got on board and hoist them from our two masts just in time for the bishop to come by on a highly decorated peniche and give us his blessing for a safe year to come. Every boat taking part gets his fleeting attention and when all have been blessed, the festival really gets under way with much singing, eating and drinking. All very French.