July
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The warm dry weather meant that all the exterior woodwork was revarnished……….very satisfying. Chores are inevitably but happily interrupted by social activity and the arrival of new friends Margaret and Geoff, (who also have a historic Dutch luxemotor) was a welcome break. We enjoyed a companionable few days together including the Quatorze Juillet celebrations and we certainly hope to meet up again. Another chance visitor was Jonathan on “Izula” with his crew Marianne from Australia. They are cruising in France for the summer and he will sail back to London in the autumn. He has an enormous flower garden on top of his beautiful ship and two ginger cats who travel happily with him.
Jonathan with George and Gordon
Our annual Barge Rally took place at the historic picturesque town of Briare in the beautiful Loire Valley. Due to flood damage to the canal system, only half of the barges booked could access Briare. However, it was a very enjoyable and successful event. We collected our friends Nils and Torild and travelled there by car. Chris and I were hosted by Pam and Rob on Sojourn, whom we met last year; it being their first season and first rally. What a brilliant weekend we all had, thirteen barges and sixty guests made an impressive gathering in the port and the weather was fantastic. Many interesting events were organised to entertain us including wine tasting, museum visits, wonderful French cuisine, boules, a rowing regatta, etc. All enormous fun and very sociable.
The bunting goes up on Sojourn
Alfresco French lunch for 60 guests
As many flags as possible
Boules with Pam and Rob
Port de Plaisance, Briare
The Bosses
The following week we celebrated France’s National Day on 14th July, always fun and lots of fireworks. It was great to share this with Margaret and Geoff.
Montereau Bastille Day
Margaret and Geoff
Esme and Soraya at Montereau
At last we set off down the Seine pausing again at Melun where we made some new friends, namely Kate and Mark on their beautiful new Polish barge “Victor”, also Hans and Tineke who cruised with us down the Seine and hosted us a lovely duck supper on their cruiser “Tinus”. We then headed up the Marne to Lagny where Bill and Genevieve welcomed us on board “River Pipit” for a delicious “cocktail dinatoire”; just lovely to meet them again. Also at Lagny we met Mike and Roe on “Riverdance” a beautiful Dutch cruiser. They accompanied us to Meaux where we all took a day out to the local Great War Museum. While at Meaux we randomly encountered old friends Bob and Bobbie who were passing by car and we just caught their eye! What a small world it is.
Four freightships on the Seine in close convoy!
Cruising down the Seine
Tinus, Hans and Tineke’s boat
Place de la Fontaine, Lagny
With Mike and Roe at Meaux
After a very sociable few weeks we said goodbye and set off alone up the Marne to continue our summer cruising, one or two meetings planned further along the way. Beautiful summer weather as we saw the lovely champagne vineyards again. Has it really been four years since we were last here?
Jonathan with George and Gordon
Our annual Barge Rally took place at the historic picturesque town of Briare in the beautiful Loire Valley. Due to flood damage to the canal system, only half of the barges booked could access Briare. However, it was a very enjoyable and successful event. We collected our friends Nils and Torild and travelled there by car. Chris and I were hosted by Pam and Rob on Sojourn, whom we met last year; it being their first season and first rally. What a brilliant weekend we all had, thirteen barges and sixty guests made an impressive gathering in the port and the weather was fantastic. Many interesting events were organised to entertain us including wine tasting, museum visits, wonderful French cuisine, boules, a rowing regatta, etc. All enormous fun and very sociable.
The bunting goes up on Sojourn
Alfresco French lunch for 60 guests
As many flags as possible
Boules with Pam and Rob
Port de Plaisance, Briare
The Bosses
The following week we celebrated France’s National Day on 14th July, always fun and lots of fireworks. It was great to share this with Margaret and Geoff.
Montereau Bastille Day
Margaret and Geoff
Esme and Soraya at Montereau
At last we set off down the Seine pausing again at Melun where we made some new friends, namely Kate and Mark on their beautiful new Polish barge “Victor”, also Hans and Tineke who cruised with us down the Seine and hosted us a lovely duck supper on their cruiser “Tinus”. We then headed up the Marne to Lagny where Bill and Genevieve welcomed us on board “River Pipit” for a delicious “cocktail dinatoire”; just lovely to meet them again. Also at Lagny we met Mike and Roe on “Riverdance” a beautiful Dutch cruiser. They accompanied us to Meaux where we all took a day out to the local Great War Museum. While at Meaux we randomly encountered old friends Bob and Bobbie who were passing by car and we just caught their eye! What a small world it is.
Four freightships on the Seine in close convoy!
Cruising down the Seine
Tinus, Hans and Tineke’s boat
Place de la Fontaine, Lagny
With Mike and Roe at Meaux
After a very sociable few weeks we said goodbye and set off alone up the Marne to continue our summer cruising, one or two meetings planned further along the way. Beautiful summer weather as we saw the lovely champagne vineyards again. Has it really been four years since we were last here?