Boat availability and which direction to go

I just heard from Roger Van Dyken a week or so ago and me informed that our first choice of boats, the 1022Fb is available the first week of October, not for either of our September dates, and only from Argens-Negra. On the other hand, the 1020FB is available for either one of our target dates: beginning September 17 or 25.

The thing about with 1020 is the wasted space on an additional bedroom and bath.

Alternatively, there is the Europa 400, a more traditional-style cruiser, which is a couple of meters longer than either the 1020 or 1022 Penichettes.

While it does have an extra bedroom forward, the rear "master" bedroom is nicely configured and would meet our needs for a week of lazy traveling down a French waterway.

As for trip itinerary, we're  going to be flexible regarding one-way versus round trip. The former might be a bit more ideal for two of us since it's a tad easier handling the locks going down canal than up but it's certianly not a deal breaker.

Also whether we begin at Argens or Negra is not crucial. Cruisin' is the key, eh?

As we finalize the precise boat style and trip direction over the next couple of weeks -- and lock in our early bird discount --  I hope to identify a few places, magical or otherwise, we hope to visit some while en route. Think Carcassone. . .

For those of you who just love to cut n' paste:
The 1022FB: http://www.locaboat.com/314/penichette-1022fb.html
The 1020FB: http://www.locaboat.com/130/penichette-1020fb.html
Europa400: http://www.locaboat.com/137/europa-400.html