This
year we nearly missed skiing. Peter is having trouble with a knee and he was
having some treatment done and did not want to strain it too much. But we did
have the opportunity to get to the snow for one day. We know Pam and Paul, a
British couple who have a boat in the port, Pam had not skied for over 30
years. She was enthused by our descriptions and on a spur of the moment we
planned a day at La Bresse-Honeck. Paul had never skied but was happy to be
involved.
They
have a car and off we went!
The
weather was fine and sunny and the snow perfect. We had a wonderful day and the
result is that Pam and Paul are hooked! Even Paul now owns skies.
We
were due to depart Nancy soon and had a couple of evenings with our friends. Thomas,
Cecelia, and Stephane joined us one evening for a meal and the day before we
left, we entertained Pam and Paul, together with Lucy and Michael. Again we had
a lovely evening.
We
departed Nancy on Saturday the 2nd of April heading generally
towards Paris through Vitry le Francois
where we had arranged to put Matilda into dry dock to have her bottom scrubbed
and re-painted.
We
had our friend Steph on board, he was coming to Toul with us – a real Day Trip. A good stretch of canal followed by
a few hours on the Moselle River.
Coming
up the Moselle we pass this grand chateau at Liverdun. The “folly” at the rear is owned by a friend of Stephane
who has recently renovated it. We were most impressed with the result.
Approaching
Pargny sur Salux, Marg tried to
befriend these goats. They were very interested in Matilda.
We
spent some time at Pargny waiting for word that the dry dock, a short way off
in Vitry, was ready for us and used the stop to do some spring cleaning.
Matilda’s canvas work was all taken off, and scrubbed to get rid of the last
year’s accumulation of “European grunge”
Even
some loose rugs and carpet was given the treatment!
We
headed into Vitry planning to wait outside the dock, observe their docking
procedures and be ready.
In
the dock we found a vessel we had met most unceremoniously last year when it
jack-knifed across our bows.
Our
regular readers will probably recall this from last year.
One
day a most attractive “Dutch Cruiser” passed us and we found that it was owned
by an Australian from Queensland. We spent some time with Reg and Peter who,
one night joined us for a pleasant dinner.
They
departed after a few days, heading for Meaux and Paris where Peter was leaving
to return to Oz.
Our
problems started the next day when the owner of the dry dock informed us that
he would not put Matilda into the dock. His reason was that he did not have the
equipment to support her hull. Matilda has a small spline or skeg that runs the
length of her hull – on the centreline and on each side of this spline, her
bottom is not perfectly flat. It has a very open V shape running out to each
side. The photos above of boats in the lock show his system of supporting boats
on the “chairs” is to put a straight steel beam across under their flat bottoms.
So we have been hanging about here for a fortnight with nothing to show for it.
Such
is life! We will have to make other arrangements.
We
travelled on to another favourite town of ours, Chalons en Champagne where we spent a few days.
The
day after we arrived we found there was a boat race happening in the port. We
were amazed to find out that all the boats were made of cardboard and gaffer
tape! We were not too sure of the outcome but all the contestants seemed to be
having a great time.
Chalons
has been known for some time as a centre for circuses. There is a big school in
town for performers and every time we have been in town there is a circus tent
somewhere. This building goes back many years in the circus school’s history.
Peter
found this beautiful retro mobile home in the grounds of one circus and thought
of David and Louise,Bill and Rhos and Geoff and Judy back in Australia. Built on a truck chassis, it has a 14 litre
motor – overkill?
We
were now well into champagne country and the hills, covered with rows of vines
were starting to turn shades of green as they burst into leaf.
Spring
is well under way on board as well. This bay tree has produced bay leaves for
Margaret’s cooking for three years already and is bursting with new growth
again. The rest of Marg’s garden is taking shape and will soon keep us supplied
with salad and other vegetables for the summer.
We
will leave Chalons in a few days and head toward Paris. We have a friend coming
to join us for a few days and we are meeting her in Meaux.
There
will be more to tell so we will keep in touch.
