We did it

We did it!

We brought this old barge home!

It was completely bonkers. No one knew if the boat would stay afloat for the journey. No one knew if the old engine would carry on running day after day, or the generator (necessary to run the pumps, toilets and galley), or the compressor (needed to start the main engine).

We painted

and painted

We put her in dry dock, painted and caulked the hull and strengthened the rudder fixings. The machinery, which had not run for twelve years, was all serviced and started, toilets were unblocked and repaired, we managed to get the hotplates working in the all electric galley, (but not the oven) and brilliant Steve, our systems officer, even rigged a shower in a cupboard!

Just doin' the toilet

Dry dock

You'll see from the Museum website that we did the trip in seven days. We, in our leisurely cruising mode, would take two weeks or more to cover the same distance.

Steve under the floor again

Please start

We were up at seven, under way between eight and nine and ran until seven each evening. 

The strain on the boat, its machinery and systems, not to mention the crew, was considerable.

The Aster is very unusual in two respects, the propellor is at the back edge of the rudder and she also has a Bow Rudder. These together mean that we all had to learn a new style of boat handling and control. 

Matthew on the helm and Steve on the bow rudder! Hell who"s driving this rig?

We, together with Helen and Patricia, had signed on as catering crew. We leapfrogged three vehicles, so that we could shop for supplies each day and get back to the boat to prepare lunch. Mealtimes were a chance for all the crew to relax and have fun.

Lunchtime

Helen's Chicken Basque

It was the best adventure. We left Decize in a frenzy of local media and officialdom, and set off for Aster's new home.

TV interviews

Janine and the flag

Glen designed the T shirts, (but did NOT choose the colour), A retired 86 year old (lady) bargee presented us with a hand sewn flag and the Museum had produced two banners for us saying "Let's save the Aster".

A rare moment of relaxation

I can do this

We were completely worn out at the end of each day. We enjoyed the companionship of a lovely group of people, we were apprehensive about fulfilling our obligations, but most of all, we had such fun.

Washing up will never be the same!

It was a one off. It could never be done again. We were not even sure if we had the correct paperwork to make the trip and were prepared to abandon the barge if challenged by the Waterways Police.

We wouldn't have missed it for the world!

So, thank you to a very special group of people - we will remember this trip forever.

A great crew

AND - thank you Charles, you seer of visions, we would never have done this without you.

Shine on you crazy diamond

We're on the move again...

It's the first week in August and we're still in the marina! We'll be leaving tomorrow heading towards Nancy. It's a very late start for us but we have had a couple of adventures to keep us occupied.

Spain and Portugal

We had a fantastic two months in Bertie. We enjoyed every minute of it - the freedom, the variety, the landscapes. It's just like cruising but by road. 

We wild camped on headlands and beaches; visited cities; travelled across wonderful landscapes and met up with friends. 

Mediterranean boats at Bouzigues. Spent great couple of nights with Les and Jude...

On the road to Spain - we enjoyed almost traffic free driving and found the sunshine!

Seville rooftops. We loved this city and will need to return sometime to explore further

Great to spend some time with Neil and Angela, thanks for showing us the ropes and introducing us to some lovely places

Seville Plaza de Espana

We visited Cadiz on Carnival day, everyone was dressed up.

A couple of Cossacks 

This was the view from our window at one of our overnight stops

Of course we both loved seeing, hearing and smelling the sea, we have missed it.

And...we often had the beach to ourselves.

Another wild camping location, Carvoeiro. The lighthouse beam swept our roof lights all night

These two had bagged the best perch in town, on the roof of the supermarket

John, Allison and Shakti. Thank you for your hospitality. Lovely to catch up with you and to enjoy a few days of luxury

It's obvious why we'll return to Portugal next winter 

The Lands End of Portugal - Cabo de Sao Vicente

Looking across to Cabo de Sao Vicente - the view from our overnight stop

Obidos - west coast beyond Lisbon. Beautiful walled town and a 4 day Chocolate Festival taking place - a chocoholic's dream. But our plan to head north and travel the Atlantic coast was changed as the weather got colder and wetter. So headed back south to the sunshine. 

Alhambra Palace, Granada. A must see. Following a great reunion with Pauline and Richard in  La Cala de Mijas, we crossed the mountains to Granada. A spectacular - if very windy - drive.

Pete said there had to be a picture of me in this blog otherwise everybody would think he'd pushed me over the edge at Cap de sao Vicente....

Alhambra - we were lucky, the previous day there had been driving rain and high winds, but we had sunshine.

Heading north - Delta de L'Ebre. Fantastic birdwatching, walking and cycling. Saw Glossy Ibis, purple heron, marsh harriers and many others.

It's lunchtime and preparing the rice fields has to to stop. Instead of white vans all the guys arrived on huge tractors.

Back in France, the instructions for this campsite said 'drive through the bull ring'....

Typical overnight stop provided by the local commune.

Vichy - a glorious day and great architecture

Autun - the Amphitheatre just behind our overnight parking spot.

Autun - and our view across the lake

Chateau de Sully - we saw the signpost and what a great place to visit and have a lunch stop.

That was it. Back to our lush green hills and forests, Burgundy feels good.
We just had time to clean and unpack Bertie before starting on another madcap adventure, we were about to help rescue the last wooden barge in France......

Let's save the Péniche Aster

The Aster is the last surviving wooden péniche in France. She was built in the early 50's and was later converted to a passenger carrying vessel, working the Canal du Nivernais. She has been unused for the past 13 years or so and was steadily rotting away. You can find the full story, a blog of our journey and the hundreds of pictures we took, on the Saint Jean de Losne Museum website (there's now an English version)

http://www.musee-saintjeandelosne.com/projetaster.htm

The Aster in her heyday

And now twelve years later

Sad but repairable

The Museum of Barging here in Saint-Jean de Losne purchased the Aster for a nominal sum and intends to restore and maintain her as the only surviving example of a wooden barge.

At a boozey barbecue some while ago, an impassioned plea was made for volunteers to join the project.

So it was that we both found ourselves alongside seven other sixty plus adventurers who formed both the advance work parties and the delivery crew.

To be continued............