Yet More Rain

Cool éclusier

We know we're British and we really should know how to deal with rain - but it's cold as well! The forecast for the next week is more of the same so we've decided to do short trips and moor up at any little village that takes our fancy. We're currently in Fleurie sur Ouche and hopefully the rain will stop long enough for us to explore this (we think) picturesque village.

We were cheered today but the arrival of our 'cool' éclusier, who accompanied us for 3 locks. He insisted on wearing his wrap-around shades even though it was grey and lashing it down and his moped was equipped with a set of Harley Davidson leather panniers, complete with fringes. He disappeared over the horizon before we thought to take a picture!

The slower pace does mean the patchwork is progressing... and by the way, the pimping of the fridges did get completed.

Finally - we're off!

The idea was to leave the Gare d'Eau and start the season's cruising at the end of April. But the best laid plans and all that…. A few days very heavy rain combined with snow melt from the mountains caused the worst floods for 30 years. The river Ouche overflowed its banks and caused widespread flooding - in turn debris was washed into the locks and towpaths damaged and in some cases washed away. 

So the Bourgogne Canal has been closed (together with other canals) and the rivers flowing too fast for navigation. All very reminiscent of Upton and the River Severn…  And of course, boats have been stuck at various moorings along the canal system. So we left it a few days after the canals re-opened for things to settle a bit before venturing onto the Canal.

We enjoyed a surprise visit from Heinz and Ingalill. They were returning south after visiting Sweden. It was so lovely to see them both and to enjoy lunch together.

During April we went along to the Lions Wine and Produce Fair at the local Community Centre, which was very well attended and enjoyed tasting local food and wine. A really good turn out and lots of fun.

Followed by a brilliant birthday celebration for Pauline. 

Then the River Rats BBQ - bright sunshine, good food (including the 46 beef burgers Pete made) and a wonderful festive spirit. 

That was when everybody was sure Summer had arrived - we all dug into the depths of our cupboards to bring out the summer clothes - only to dig out the winter wear again a week or so later.  

Not sure about the hat Steve...

But the combination of warm weather and heavy rain that followed resulted in Spring arriving almost overnight. Beautiful and lush. 

The birdlife is wonderful around the Gare d'Eau and thanks to Caroline and Matthew and the Monday morning walks we now recognise the nightingales singing. We were also privileged to see a long eared owl residing for the evening in one of the trees in their garden. 

April was also the month for Vide Greniers - car boot sales. They're great fun and often have hot food for sale, so you can combine mooching around with lunch. 

Our late departure from the marina meant we and Pauline and Richard were still around to celebrate Helen's birthday  - a fishy affair, garlic prawns followed by moules frites and Eton Mess to really finish us off.  A great evening. 

Helen and Steve are now offering B&B on the Jubilant - it's really luxurious and a good base from which to explore the Burgundy and Jura regions - and they are great hosts. We were really pleased to be able to help them create a new brochure for the venture. 

So finally left on Monday 13th but only to lie alongside Jubilant for a 'send off' meal together.  Then on Tuesday in the sunshine, numerous locks (ah yes, we now remember how to do that) and overnight mooring at Bretenière by Lock 65. 

A great spot close to fuel and supermarket. Grant and Susan on Chocolat had emailed us details of their trip up the Bourgogne which is really useful - lots of information on good places to moor, depths and availability of water.

Ready for the next lock

Then on Wednesday - raining - a relaxing trip to Dijon. Slight delay getting into the basin as the novice éclusier got his paddles and gates in a twist and had to go and seek instructions. Sure he'll get the hang of it eventually. Moored alongside the public quay opposite the island with some very noisy neighbours. 

Now due for an extended period of rain so Dijon town calls.

Saturday 18 May

Unusually for us, we're in the right place at the right time. Our track record is for us to arrive just after a concert, exhibition or fun event has taken place.  But today we got it right. It stopped raining and Dijon was celebrating the pedestrianisation of one of its main streets. It was a bit of a carnival really - and great fun.

Mad Max!

Don't Ask!

Easter 2013

Well, it's almost Easter and no, we haven't sunk or emigrated - apologies for belated blog...

Even though we've been in Winter mode and not doing that much, the time since Christmas has simply flown by.

Our New Year's Eve party aboard The Jubilant was a great success, good curries, good wine and great company - thanks Helen and Steve.

The weather has been pretty mixed, not great, but not as bad as we were expecting. We've had some grey days and some rain, but also some sunshine and not the very severe frosts we had been told about. There has been some snow but not enough to cause any problems, but it looked pretty for a while. Looks like we got away with it this year.

A snowy Saône

We've been walking as much as possible and driving to some local attractions and doing a little bit of shopping, sometimes for ourselves and sometimes for the boat.

I was persuaded to buy a warm hat for winter

We have visited Dijon several times and we have enjoyed some reasonably priced lunches at a small but very busy café. Dijon has some beautiful architecture, some of it quite surprising and not what you might expect.  

Dijon or Asia?

Towards the end of January, we were invited to a birthday party and spent a great lunchtime enjoying wonderful home cooked food in good company - thank you Uschi and Steve. 

Unfortunately, the same day, a local boat caught fire. 

No smoke...........

An elderly gentleman, living alone on his boat, was lucky to escape the inferno. The boat is gutted and most likely a total loss, but the local community, both residents and boaters, have been wonderful, finding him clothing, accommodation and generally helping him to put his life back together.

There's a lesson for us all here.

We entered one of the Wednesday cookery contests with our Broccoli and blue cheese soup. We didn't win but it was great fun.

Glen joined the Patchwork Group. Somewhat unexpectedly, she seems to be enjoying it and is taking great trouble to produce us a pair of cushion covers for our front step which doubles as a seat much of the time. However, this, she says, is probably a one off - 
Slo-Motion is unlikely to be festooned in patchwork, she hasn't got the patience.

Those of you who know, will remember that we planned to "pimp" our mismatching fridges. Having paid over the odds for a silver door on our new fridge before we left Upton, we were dismayed to find that it was totally different to our existing silver fridge. After lots of research Glen found that young guys wrap their small, old cars in vinyl to personalise them, it's called "pimping your ride".

We've had the black vinyl for some time, but have only just found the courage to attempt the job. BUT - with a scalpel, a hairdryer and lots of swearing, the transformation is complete.

Pimp away!

Half way!

We're also continuing our objective of everything on the boat serving a dual purpose - the clothes airer makes a great drying rack for our painting and varnishing jobs.

Airing cupboard (doors) ?

Helen, from Jubilant, has started a T'ai Chi class which we are attending twice a week. Although we find it difficult to memorise the movements, we do enjoy the exercise and the discipline and she's an excellent teacher.

We were invited to house sit for the month of February, in the South, near to our friends Les and Jude. We didn't need much persuading!!!!!!!

We spent the month in a wonderful, beautifully converted farmhouse with a big cook's kitchen and a huge log burner. Bliss.

It was great to catch up with old friends and to visit the coast and some of the towns we know from previous visits.

Grau du Roi

With Nick and Val

The weather was often cold from the North wind, the Mistral, which seemed to blow for most of the time, (we even had snow one day) but the blue skies certainly made a welcome change and we did enjoy some warm sunshine. 

A girl could catch her death here!

We enjoyed some friendly cook-ins at the farmhouse with friends old and new, Tapas just down the road and seafood on the coast.

Old and new friends together

Heaven or what?

Reunited

Seaside food

A very memorable meal was lunch with a friend who lives in a wonderful apartment high up in the rooftops of Nîmes. 

Great lunch in Nîmes, thank you Judy

The views from her terrace are breathtaking and the apartment is full of light.

This could be a film set

We always find Uzes a treat to wander around. 

Place Aux Herbes

But in the winter, with the strong shadows and absence of tourists, it's particularly enjoyable...

So very French...

Or what??



Then back to Saint Jean de Losne early March.

Last weekend was our anniversary and we decided to treat ourselves. We booked a night away in the Jura, which is very close to where we are but is an area we haven't explored.

We visited the Royal Salt Works:

This was a factory

Followed the River Loue to its source and stopped at several small towns along the way...

Ornans

It was warm and sunny on Friday and we did the old people thing and took our Tupperware to the riverside!

OK! I know! Give us a break.

Our overnight was at a Spa Hotel in Salines Les-Bains, where we swam in the brine pool and enjoyed a good meal in the restaurant.

Happy Anniversary Glen

Happy Anniversary Pete

Saturday was cool and grey but not raining, so we continued our touring and visited scenic waterfalls, lakes, dramatic gorges and acres of vines. We had a great time and really enjoyed ourselves. Just the thing to set us up for our preparations for the new season.

Box Canyon

Cascade de Hérisson

So we're varnishing and painting and generally getting ship shape and looking forward to beginning our waterborne adventures for this year. 

Watch this space….

Happy New Year

Yup, the Christmas Party was really good - everybody had a great time. Lots of laughter and fun - and to top it all, a surprise visit from Santa and the Snowman (aka Paul and Maralyn). Together with their Piratical helpers (Jo and Janna) they really made the party swing.

The socialising continued on Christmas Day with drinks and nibbles at Ann and Lawrence's in the morning (Ann had even made a selection of gluten free pastry and polenta dishes) . They laid on a brilliant spread that got everybody into the Christmas spirit. We later joined Jo and Janna (and Tache) for an excellent Christmas dinner. Good company and good food - a great way to spend our first Christmas in France.

The partying continued on Boxing Day - we thought it would be a good idea to have an open house for a few hours on board Slo-Motion. We had twelve people on board for the Queen's Jubilee Party in Upton - how many could we fit in this time? (it turned out to be 18!)

Pete did a brilliant job of cooking hot 'finger' food and the black pudding and mini burgers were eaten as fast as they came out of the frying pan. 

It was really good fun and good for us to be able to say thank you to all the people here who have been so friendly, welcoming and helpful since we arrived. 

Thank you everyone!

The weather has been kind - very welcome after all the rain, and we have managed a couple of walks along the river to enjoy the winter sunshine.  

So a great end to 2012 and wishing our family and all our friends, old and new, 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!