Winter Saint Jean-de-Losne

This winter in Saint-Jean-de-Losne is quiet - not so many people over-wintering this year. That’s the way of things - we are an itinerant community.

Nice picture of Slo-Mo - thanks Nigel

A welcome initiative from one of the restaurants in town was Saturday evening live music and tapas. We missed the first one but enjoyed the second evening - two girls playing harp and guitar and singing. Great evening - unfortunately we’ll miss the next event towards the end of January as we’ll be seeking the sun in Bertie. 

Pete with the help of Ian, ran another knotting session and managed to make the local press! 

And Ian ran a decorative rope-work session - really good fun.

Georgie, started an art class - we both went along and enjoyed exercising some long lost skills and it was quite a challenge using pencils and paintbrushes instead of a mouse. 

The wooden barge, Aster, is still residing down-river from us and is suffering from the wet weather. Funds have been raised to purchase a cover (bit a like a poly-tunnel) and a group of volunteers have been working over the past few weeks to erect the framework before the worst of the winter weather. All the tubes are now in place and the cover will go on next week.

Pete on his 'yacht'

Once again we were persuaded to take part in the Saint Nicholas Parade - and we STILL don’t know what we’re meant to be in our white robes and flaming torches; but the children love it and it certainly puts you in the right mood for Christmas.

No Christmas party this year - but a very sociable three days. Christmas Eve with Helen and Steve, Robert, Jane, Kelly, Freddy, Nick and Ben in their apartment above the stables. Then Christmas day on Slo-Mo with Helen and Steve and Sandy. Seven courses - lasting nine and half hours - think we’re getting into the French way of things...

Then Boxing Day with Robert and Jane and family and friends at the farmhouse, lunch with a Mexican theme - a great sociable afternoon.

A quiet New Year - and then to the Opera at Dijon for a musical concert entitled 'Bye Bye Berlin'. Cabaret style music from the 20’s era. A very entertaining afternoon followed by a delicious supper and, of course, vin chaud. It was a fine evening and gave us the opportunity to walk through Dijon and enjoy the Christmas lights and ice skating. A great start to the New Year. 

Sunday 11th - we head south in Bertie to seek some sunshine.

à bientôt

Return cruise to Saint-Jean-de-Losne

 Because of the risk of wild cat strikes by the river lock-keepers, instead of heading towards Toul as planned, we retraced our steps on leaving Nancy. This time we took it slowly, taking in the scenery and lingering at some very pleasant stop-overs.

"La Maison qui Bouge"  - bit like us really!

We enjoyed some picturesque wild moorings, waved at a horse-drawn home, and explored some very attractive towns and villages.

We spent a week in the welcoming port of Epinal. The town was really interesting with a great history and culture. We walked into town most days and enjoyed people watching, drinking coffee and visiting the museum of print.

The weather and the scenery were fantastic and we thought the next leg of the Canal des Vosges and the Sâone was the probably the best.

At Fontenoy-le-Château we discovered ancient WMD's! We also stayed an extra day to shop at the market, which was promoted in our guide book.  

Sadly, it turned out to be one man in a van - but he did sell very good meat.

Scey-sur-Saône is a delightful port adjacent to a delightful little town - one of the 'Petite Cités Comtoise de Character' which happened to have a great brocante, a good supermarket and a bevy of kingfishers who gave us an amazing aerobatics display.

Ornate - but lethal!

Kingfisher paradise

Tunnel de St.Albin - Glenny at the helm for her first tunnel

Before we reached the town of Gray we spent a wonderful night in the secluded backwater of Soing, whose thoughtful inhabitants provided a sturdy wooden pontoon with an honesty box for electricity and water. We were treated to another flying display this time by swifts - they skimmed so close to our windows, we thought they would actually fly through the boat.

The little port of Savoyeux provided us with another delightful stopover and in the neighbouring village of Seveux, we discovered one of the prettiest lavoirs this trip.

We then spent a few days in Gray, a good mooring in the town with free electricity and water. Here, the tourist office has been created around the old lavoir. Helen and Steve joined us for the day and after a good lunch, we visited the Baron-Martin Museum which was hosting an exhibition of Impressionist paintings - really enjoyable.

Man at work!

As in so many towns in France, Gray has a large number of empty shops. We were very taken with their way of dealing with what so often is a depressing high street. The windows are filled with life-size printed images of shop interiors - very effective.

Back to Saint-Jean-de-Losne via Auxonne - where we spent a very pleasant few days with Roy and Carol - and the sun was still shining!


Then it was straight into helping Steve and Helen prepare their new (1909!) boat 'Jonge Jelle' for launching and her voyage to Belgium for refitting. 

Bon Voyage