Wednesday, 30 March 2016

BIRTHDAY SHOW

As it was Geoff's birthday yesterday, I decided there should be a show put on for him! So the pompiers arrived with full kit and parked next to Soraya.


Pompiers (Boys) with their toys.

I think the big boys had just got their new toys, so it was fun all round, and all remote control so they could direct the spray wherever they wanted. They then decided Soraya looked a bit dirty and needed a clean. I had to retreat quickly into the wheelhouse to keep dry.


Soraya having a good wash.

Sunday, 27 March 2016

NAVIGATION AND PÂQUES

We are now back in Dijon and on Soraya after jaunts around Europe and Bath. So it's that time again when we start preparing for another years navigation. We were thinking of going south, Canal du Midi, Oh la la!!! However, after great deliberation, mainly due to the high spring flow on the Saône, the Doubs and the Rhône until end of May we have decided to keep to central France, this year. We aim to go north on the Canal de Bourgogne. This will be followed by the river Yonne to Auxerre then on to Paris via the Haute Seine. After a period in Paris we may go down La Seine towards Le Havre, back to Paris and onto the river La Marne to Épernay with a diversion to Reims. Later in the year we will cruise the Canal latéral à la Marne and the Canal de la Marne au Rhin before having a delightful autumn trip along the Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne to the Saône and back to Dijon......... All that champagne and wine, will it be a problem? I don't think so.

Well all that complex navigation sounds a bit of a mouthful which leads me on to Pâques (Easter). I like the French attitude to Easter 'eggs' in fact it's almost anything but eggs. We went out, secretly, to buy our eggs for each other and the results are as shown. Margaret got the grenouille (frog) and I got the tourteau (crab). This was a very small selection of the animals and objects on offer.


The perfect combination Easter 'eggs' and a nice glass or two of Montagny 1er Cru. And the wine did suit the chocolate.

If you fancy joining us along these delightful canals or doing some serious champagne sampling do get in touch.
Hope you like the new header picture of Soraya in our winter Dijon mooring.

Thursday, 3 March 2016

GEESE

One of the joys of a life afloat is the rich variety of wildlife. Recently a couple of Bar-headed geese (Anser indicus) arrived. Apparently they are from the Far East and have taken up residence in parts of Europe. Very attractive approximately the same size as Canada Geese.


Bar-headed geese next to Soraya.

We also have a few Common Pochard (diving ducks) along with the normal Mallards, Coutts etc. Personally I don't think the Pochards are too common at all.