Tuesday 2 September 2014

Signing off for 2014

We set off early from Auxonne, with Diana already scrubbing the shower room – pausing only to help us through the only lock of the day. Cleaning, tidying and packing continued as we sailed down the river for a couple of hours, before arriving at St Jean about 10. The town was looking very cheerful in the sunshine: quite an irony that after a two month holiday dogged by rain and grey skies, it should be beautifully sunny on our final day.


We continued the cleaning and tidying operation and got everything sorted. The car wouldn’t start – flat battery – but the marina people have a jump starter, which I needed last year and which worked again this time. We left the engine running while we loaded everything up, by which it was lunchtime, so we walked along to the Amiral restaurant by the bridge next to the church, and had a reasonable meal:


After that it was time for final checks, and bid farewell to Saskia, tucked up in her berth for the winter. Next year I think we may go south in search of the sun! Then it was on the road for the five hour run back home to Provence, where we arrived about 6.45.


I promised a few statistics before we go: I calculate that we have covered about 1,580 kilometres, and negotiated 243 locks. I didn’t keep an exact check on fuel consumption and purchase, but I think we spent between 500 and 600 euro on diesel.

And the final statistic is that according to blogspot there have so far been 741  page views of this blog: not sure who they all are, but I hope you have been at least mildly entertained. Certainly we have enjoyed keeping this diary, and will aim to do the same next year.


Aurevoir to one and all.

Monday 1 September 2014

Swan song?

We got away punctually through the second tunnel on the river, and set off downstream. The going was good, with no holdups at the few locks and we made excellent time. I had thought of Gray for lunch, but we were too early. We did note that the hire boat base there didn’t seem to be doing booming business. That matches our experience on the river – not many hirers this year:


Gray was under a grey sky: not sure why it’s called Gray. Seems rather English, but probably not:


Mantoche, where we hoped to moor for lunch, was fully occupied, not least by two large barges taking up more than their fair share of space – a common phenomenon, regrettably. They are more than twice as long as Saskia, but still only have two people on board. Anyway, we found a fisherman’s jetty to tie up to for lunch, and sample the wine bought yesterday: a Chardonnay from Franche ComtĂ© – not something I had encountered before, and probably won’t again. But not bad, well chilled.

The sun came out at last after lunch, and there were even a few people gingerly bathing – that is children putting a toe in the water, and a couple of boys disporting themselves from a floodgate for the delectation of a girl up above.

Somebody’s dream house on the riverside caught our attention: lovely view of the river and a boat moored below the house. Can’t be bad.


We had expected to spend the night at Pontailler, but got there at 3.30, so pressed on to Auxonne, where we are now. The new Port Royal marina was excavated from scratch by H2O, the people who run the one at St Jean where Saskia is based (which means we get to tie up here for free).  Find a bit of land, get cash from the regional government and Brussels, dig a big hole - right under the city walls, built by, you know who, Vauban -  fill it with water and boats – can’t be a bad business!

Auxonne's other claim to fame is that a young gunnery officer called Napoleon Bonaparte was posted here for a while.

Tomorrow morning we will finally get back to base, in the morning, since it is an easy run from here. Meantime I will do a few calculations of how far we’ve actually travelled etc. for tomorrow’s final post.