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The port in Paris is located on the right bank, close to place Bastille, with two metro stations, the shops of the Maria’s and a huge market on Sundays all within walking distance. We were initially concerned about the port environs and safety, after a number of negative reports from fellow bargees. In 2022 the… Read more

We could have taken the Nivenais canal and continued our trip south, but our schedule includes a booking for the boat pulled out on the 2nd October, to have the bottom repainted at Diksmuide in Belgium.It had taken almost 3 months to make out way to Auxerre so we turned around and retraced our steps,… Read more

As Peter will tell anyone who will listen, it took us 2 1/2months to travel from Bruges to the DBA rally. Well I’m telling you, it was well worth the trip, not only for the sites along the way, but this was certainly the best organised get together that we have so far attended. There… Read more

The river Yonne is a tributary of the Seine. It flows from Auxerre to the confluence with the Seine , at Montereau. The river beyond Auxerre was canalised in 1784 in order to aid the floating of timber from the local forests to Paris. It soon became an important transportation route and only lost this… Read more

As we were navigating upstream I was initially concerned about the current that would flow against us as we navigated upstream. But this concern was misplaced, as our speed only dropped by about 1 km per hour. We navigated from the Marne which joins the Seine a bit to the south of Paris, to the… Read more

Still travelling on the Marne, we left the gentle rolling slopes of vineyards behind, and now enjoyed the cooling green of the forests as we meandered along the river We had ordered a taxi to transport Jo to the bus station but when it did not arrive she started a run up the hill. Luckily… Read more

We farewelled the Mellets, left our lovely mooring at Epernay and took to the river. Next stop was Damery, and yes we are still in the champagne district. It was time for a couple of days break from cruising at our next port of Dormans. There are a number of war memorials throughout this region,… Read more

The visit to the Mumm cave educated us a little on the history and production of champagne, but now we were travelling into the heart of the area we discovered there was a lot more to learn, other than just drinking it. The other most common abbreviation is CM Coopérative de manipulation. Cooperatives that make… Read more

We were now on the Canal de l’Ainse a La Marne which literally means the canal from the Aisne (the river that provides the water for the Canal du Ardenne) to the Marne. It is 58 kms in length and rises to the city of Reims before descending to the Marne valley . Our first… Read more

Leaving Charleville-Meziere in our wake, we cruised up the Meuse, turning right into the Canal des Ardennes. This canal was created in 1831 and enlarged to carry larger 38 meter barges in 1846. Although it mainly carries pleasure boats these days, it remains in the national priority network and provides a connection between the valley… Read more