Week 258: Lights, camera, action

On Monday, we had good weather and decided to spend the day building and filling in the sides of the bed in the stern (crew) cabin. While this task wasn't essential for the impending photo shoot, it let me cut up the large sheets of MDF sitting on the deck, which was needed.

I enjoyed the challenge of creating the side inserts. The bit I didn't enjoy is how it's getting more challenging to work on Delfine now. She is no longer a building site! We don't want dust inside anymore. I set up on the deck to cut, knowing I'd be cleaning it anyway for the photo shoot, but MDF dust still drifted through the hatch and covered everything.

A large 110-meter boat, Ambitieux, pulled up close to us during the day, then alongside Martin's boat. It's amazing watching the experienced pros pilot these huge boats in close quarters. They know what they are doing (and have bow and stern thrusters!).

On Tuesday, we headed into Gent and Portus Ganda. This is getting easier and easier as it becomes more familiar. We're very comfortable piloting Delfine, but it's good to refresh our skills and build our knowledge of the waterways we'll be cruising on. Just knowing exactly what radio channel we need to be on, exactly which bridge needs to raise or spin–it all makes it a more comfortable journey.

As we were pulling off Woulter's boat, a smaller barge headed past us, towards Gent, so we got a wriggle on and spun quickly, then sped up to follow them through the railway bridge. If you miss an opening, they'll make you wait 15 minutes or so before doing it again to let traffic and trains pass freely.

Back in Portus Ganda, after the last visit with Ella, Inge & Gro (Week 253: Doing nothing (mostly)), it was another easy, familiar docking experience. Every little bit helps!

Time to switch from building and cruising mode to cleaning mode!

We've mentioned the photo shoot a few times, but I don't think we've ever really explained it. This is a significant milestone on our journey. Everyone asks, "When will you take bookings?" and the answer is always, photo shoot first.

1. We expect the majority of bookings, especially early on, to come through our broker (Barge Lady Cruises).
2. For Barge Lady to offer Delfine, they need marketing materials.
3. Marketing materials need high-quality photos.
4. And photos, need the building to be (mostly) finished.

Finally, we're here.

Our architects recommended a photographer, Katoo Peeters, who specialises in interior photography, and we are fortunate she was available on short notice.

In addition to the photographer, we also needed Chef Keam to come and prepare food and be part of the shoot, as she's a core part of the experience. And finally, to tie it all together, we needed some models, aka "fake guests"!

For our models, we reached out to several people we know, but unfortunately, no one was either interested or available, or knew people in the right demographic. Karina remembered a couple we'd been told about that live over at Portus Ganda on their boat, and said, "Let's reach out to them."

So I messaged them (after a very brief "Hi, I'm Tim from Delfine"):

We’re doing a photo shoot for our website next Wednesday (we’ll be running small charters with the boat). And we need a couple to be fake guests 😄 There’s free food and drink - I don’t know if you’re available or interested, but if so, let us know. It will probably take a couple of hours.

And the answer I received?

Sounds great. We are available on Wednesday!

The boating community is full of wonderful people, always ready and willing to lend a hand to complete strangers. It's fantastic to be a part of it.

Mieke and Frans live on Dreamer, and it's been great to meet them and learn from them. Mieke is a local tour guide with seemingly endless knowledge and connections in Gent, and Frans has a similar background in technology and is always ready for a chat.

We let them know we were in the port, and they came by around 6 pm for a drink and chat, to get a feel for Delfine and to meet us. We couldn't have asked for better models (and new friends to meet).

Wednesday morning, we rushed around doing final cleaning – particularly outside, getting rid of dirt and moisture, ready for the photos. We put out the seat cushions, plumped up the decorative pillows, Karina did a lot of ironing and finally, we were prepared. Then it was sit, relax, have a coffee and wait for Katoo, who was due around midday.

Katoo is full of life and energy (figuratively and literally – she's eight months pregnant), and is very experienced. She guided us through what we needed to do and made the process very easy. Her eye for detail was excellent. Turn that bottle, remove that, shift that – every small detail was considered to make the best shot.

She spent a couple of hours alone on Delfine, with a focus on the architectural shots, then Mieke and Frans arrived, and we shifted to the more "action" guest-oriented ones.

Mieke thought of everything! She bought a "Rick Steve's" travel guide to Belgium (in which she proudly features too), because she knows that Americans trust it, along with a change of scarf for a different look outside. Frans and Mieke kept us entertained, very good-naturedly allowing us to serve them wine for the fifth time in a row, or place a plate over and over again.

Chef Keam arrived shortly after. We've eaten her food a couple of times now, but this is the first time she's seen Delfine and been in the kitchen. She was excited to see it and very complimentary about the experience and the environment.

For Karina and me, it was a real sense of accomplishment. Delfine was now a home for guests (even just temporary ones) with exquisitely plated food and a comfortable, luxurious environment. This is what we are trying to deliver.

Then all too quickly, it was done. With the interior and guest photos completed and the food eaten, it was time for a quick tour around the harbour so that Katoo could take pictures of us underway, and that was it!

That evening, we collapsed in bed aboard Delfine. Exhausted, but satisfied with everything we've achieved.

Thursday morning, we took our time getting up. Or, at least, we planned to, but Karina called out to me while I was making coffee, "Tim, there's someone on the roof!"

I stuck my head up into the wheelhouse, and there, on the front deck, were two people taking photos! I threw some clothes on and opened the hatch. "Um, excuse me? This is a private boat!"

"Sorry, mister, sorry. Sorry..." Two very embarrassed (embarrassed they were caught, not that they were taking the photos) men swiftly disembarked from the side deck, all the while snapping last-minute shots and apologising. Safely on shore, they turned to chat, asking a few questions and complimenting Delfine.

It was a strange moment of annoyance and pride. We've built something that people want to climb onto and snap photos illegally! It feels like progress?

We've now added to the (never-ending) barge tasks list to buy some rope and private signs to hang over the stairs on the side deck. I suspect that should be enough to discourage people, but I guess we're going to find out!

We then dragged many of the things that we'd taken out to the boat for the photo shoot back to the apartment, and enjoyed a stroll through Gent. Back at the port, we decided it was time to leave the more delightful surroundings of the city and head back out to the shipyard.

We love the shipyard. We love the people there and their generosity. The convenience and the ability to get the work we need done. But, it's also feeling like it's time to move on. It felt a little like a step backwards. If the photo shoot pushed us two steps forward, then the return to the shipyard (and the final building push), felt a bit like a step back.

After tying up alongside Woulter's boat again, we decided that would be enough for the day, and "packed up" Delfine (which is primarily putting a tarp over the dog hatch, which STILL leaks!), and headed to the apartment.

Friday morning, we took it easy. Karina ran some errands in the city, and I worked on the final edits and formatting of a friend's novel. It was a welcome break from boat work. We headed out to the shipyard for a couple of hours, borrowed a truck, and collected the trim for the baseboards (skirting boards), which was ready, along with some paint. Then headed home again and went to see the Formula 1 movie. Top Gun but with racing cars – and very entertaining.

Katoo sent through the early drafts of the photos, and we selected 20 for her to do a high-resolution edit, which we just got back this morning! Here's a sampler of the low-res versions... I'll include a couple of finished ones, but we're saving most of them for a bigger post next week with some before-and-after comparisons.

The following photos have been edited, colour corrected, and so on. I have reduced their size, though, so we don't overload your email!

It's been a relaxed few days. Plenty of rest and recharging after the big push to the photo shoot. This week, we'll be back at the shipyard and pushing hard to complete everything aboard Delfine, updating the website with the new photography and pushing forward on the last few tasks so that we are ready for guests!

Until next time,

Tim & Karina