Aleau proudly displaying her name while moored in Chalon-sur-Saône.
In Montreal, Jeannie and I live across the street from the Atwater Market. In summer, it’s half-indoors and half-outdoors.
In winter, glass walls are installed – and what was once an outdoor market, becomes an indoor market.
In December, the parking lot becomes a giant Christmas tree lot.
In spring, it becomes a flower market.
When we bought our barge, we thought “Atwater” would be the perfect name. It would remind us of home – and the market we love. In addition, it described where we would be – At Water. But then it was pointed out to us that since we would be in France, the name should be French. So “Atwater” became “Aleau.” We have discovered that the French are purists when it comes to their language. Without the accent and the apostrophe, they don’t understand that “Aleau” is really “À l’eau.” I still get asked by the French what the name means. Even if they don’t get the name, we’re hoping that as we cruise, the occasional person on the towpath will read the name and shout out to us “Allô.”
