We head off again

Back in the port we featured in a Titanic moment for a wedding held in the Capitainerie.

My heart will go on!

After a few weeks of recovery we decided we should head off and gently drift North.

Our first stop was Melay where we met up with Nico and Ianne.  Then up to the tranquil port of Artaix - a whole one hour cruise. We were joined by Nico and Ianne, and the Martin and Di on China Bird.   All of course opportunities for drinks under the trees each evening.

Nico headed back to Roanne after a few days as they had to go to Holland to bring back their old boat which is for sale. They will try and sell it in Roanne.  Martin very kindly gave me a lift to Roanne and I brought the car up to Artaix.

Cordelia got bitten by a mosquito? [we think] in London, and the bite became badly infected.  She had to go into hospital for an operation on the area. The doctors cut a huge chunk out and Cordelia was very brave! Laurel decided to go back to London to look after her.  This enabled her to come home from hospital, as they weren't keen to have her go back to a house that was empty during the day. ..it was hectic two weeks toting Cordelia to and from Hopsital and the local clinic for dressing changes...thank goodness you can hire wheelchairs on line.


Laurel spent two weeks in London, whilst Andrew worked hard on The boat - and enjoyed his new Kobo E reader.  Martin and Di were wonderful and kept Andrew entertained with afternoon coffee and drinks in the evening.

So after two weeks of peace Laurel returned to Lyon by Easy jet and Andrew drove her back to the port. We enjoyed the peace of Artiax for a few more days, before heading North to the Log pile at Digoin.  We were entertained here by fireworks on the Aquaduct (a week after bastille day) as it had rained and they had been postponed for a week.

Then on to good old Paray.  We enjoyed a visited by a school group, who were delighted when we let them on the barge -

Some old friends from Australia, John and Suzie Burns joined us for a few days. And we were delighted that Mark and Mary were able to get to Paray whilst we were there. So after a days rest and of course a dinner at the Three Pigeons we cruised up to Genelard...this laid to rest Susie's fear that barging might make her seasick  A lovely little port.  Having bid them a fond farewell we settled in for a relaxing week or two.  And of course more fireworks the next night (my third in three weeks!)

This was the opportunity to catch up with a few jobs on the boat, including reblacking the hull above the water line. A horrid job that I had put off for some years, but Genelard has a very low quai, so it was much easier.

Looking very smart in Genelard

In this lateral village that we call home, it was lovely to catch up with some old friends  in Port - Sally and Foster, with later arrivals including Ron and Heather from Queensland, and the wonderful Francis and Nellie.

When were in Paray le Monial with  Mark and Mary,someone on one of the boats told Mark he reminded them of a Film star.  Naturally Mark[ assuming he was being compared to a silver fox like George Clooney] preened himself - then they remembered who it was - ah yes - Fred Flintstone.....Mary,Laurel and Andrew, and  eventually Mark, laughed for hours!   Never on to miss an opportunity we managed to find this Tee shirt on the net.. and had it sent post haste to Mark back in Roanne.

See the similarity!

Mr Teddy came to visit too!