Spring Start 2015

Well, we thought we’d give up on all this blogging stuff this year, as we were under the impression that nobody reads our efforts! But we recently re-met two separate boating couples who do read them and would like us to continue. Two actual readers?! How could we resist? But perhaps in a slightly different format than hitherto. We’ll see how it goes.

Today’s youngsters want postings on Facebook, but that’s not our style, so instead we hope to give mostly pictures with fewer words. (“Thank God” I hear you say “A rest from some of the drivel”.)

Passing through shitty Charleroi just south of Seneffe!

So . . . we set off from our winter mooring in Seneffe and despite heavy flow against us on the Meuse we arrived a few days later at the mooring where AURIGNY had chosen to carry out some painting. This was a very low quay which gave us both easy access to the lower parts of the barges to apply a new lick of paint.

The sides were fine to paint of course, but the bow and stern presented a challenge to be overcome!

Kneeling the plank!! for a lick of paint!

The two barges look great with their new coats of paint

While on this mooring we were boarded and investigated thoroughly once again by the gendarmerie and all our documents checked. Insurance? Policy document found to be out of date –we’d just forgotten to print out the recent one for our file!!!!  But everything else was in order.  Thankfully.

Could be autumn with those colours

Also at this point our ancient dishwasher decided it had had enough, and died on us. Peter kindly offered the use of their car and we paid for a new machine from the Belgian equivalent of Curry’s. All good so far. But they would only deliver to a proper address, i.e. not the ‘Quai St Something’ in Dinant! So we gave them the address of the IBIS hotel in Dinant as we knew we could moor just outside! Travelling up to Dinant we took on water in a lock only to discover when we came to use it, that it had made our whole tank taste of rubber (and we had been charged €3 by the lockkeeper – strictly not on, we are sure). So disgusting it had to be used up asap and a refill located. Unusual on a barge to be profligate in the use of water which is such a precious commodity, but we had showers and baths and washed clothes that hardly needed washing etc!!! The dishwasher duly arrived as promised and we were ready to set off again.

Ploughing up the fast-flowing Meuse took a few days longer than anticipated, so suddenly Rob and Amy’s arrival in Reims seemed imminent. At last we had used up the foul water and were able to take on fuel and fresh water in Pont-a-Bar, ready for the 27 locks downstream, and a few days later we were in Reims.

Ready to set off tomorrow for the 27 lock chain

Rob and Amy join us in Reims

But on the way, an overnight in Asfeld acquainted us with a true marvel of a church. Built in the shape of a viola at the whim of a wealthy Baron, we arrived just as the morning service came to a close. We said our “Bonjours” to the 8 lady parishioners who were astonished to see us standing quietly at the very back, respectfully waiting for the service to end.  Then had a quick look round, which revealed the splendour and uniqueness of this marvelous building.

Viola shaped Asfeld church - quite stunning

Rob and Amy duly arrived in Reims and we gave them a short trip up the canal for 2 overnights and then returned to Reims for them to catch their train home. We ourselves had booked a week’s mooring with electricity for our own quick trip back to the UK for the usual dental and medical checks – this time carried out in London, so not so very far to travel. We managed to see two of our 7 grandchildren and their parents, so even if it was a short stay it was lovely to see them.

Near Reims at Sillery we spotted John and Martha’s boat DE GROENE LEEUWE (The Green Lion). An impromptu overnight was needed! After all, it is 3 years since we have seen them, so a lot of chatting was absolutely necessary. This was also a good place to replenish empty gas cylinders at the nearby Intermarché supermarket.

Surprise - John and Martha at Sillery!

Through the Billy Tunnel and down to Condé. We had decided on two nights there as this is one of our favourite moorings, but this time we were inundated with mosquitoes. Little bastards! Alex counted 15 bites on him despite an early retreat indoors and nets over portholes and air vents. He is usually unaffected by mozzies. Louise on the other hand, took slightly more defensive measures and only got 2 bites, though they did need a few days’ of anti-histamine medication as usual, whereas Alex’s 15 didn’t!!!

The weather has been good to us on the whole these past few weeks but here at Condé it reached over 40C! a bit hot even for us.

Cooler weather at the quay of a former silo (silo now demolished) at Epernay provided a more comfortable mooring, and as it is upstream of the official Port de Plaisance and almost at the ‘top’ of the navigable Meuse, we thought a quiet night was in store. But no! At 11pm we heard the sound of a boat engine and a fully-laden restaurant boat sailed upstream, to be followed of course, by the same boat 10 minutes later retracing its route!

So now we are following the Marne down to Paris, though we are taking it very slowly - not good to rush through such a beautiful area.  

Lovely skies follow lovely days

Champagne terraces are all around us and make for lovely scenery, with little white vans dotted amongst the fields as the proprietors and workers tend to the vines.

Lovely view of the vineyards from our mooring

A high spot of this part of the trip however, has to be the beautiful memorial in Dormans to the dead of the battles of the Marne in the 1914-18 war . We had missed this entirely on our trip up the river in 2009. And what a magnificent memorial it is: truly memorable.

The long view

And inside - just so peaceful

That concludes our first blog with the new layout.    It was easier for us to produce, but do let us know if you prefer it!