2017-Reims.

After leaving Graham and Aileen we headed up towards Sillery for a night, so we could arrive in Reims before lunch on Saturday. A river that everyone enjoys..

Its hot again, so we don’t have much energy to sight see… also we had already spent over 10 days here in our first year so felt no rush.!!.

Sorry about the pictures but needs must when it is soo soo hot., (( making use of the air-conditioning when its 38 degree!!!))

Its a nice unit but it doesn’t really cool the boat down but its lovely to stand in front of if cooking or washing up….

Caught up with Nick Lane, ( Faye Staintons 3rd son)  Sarah and their children for an evening drink.

As Nick is now working for Moet, managing the making of the Dom Perignon, he arrived with a magnum of Moet, which slipped down a treat, and was quickly followed by further bottles of bubbly and then Rose wine.

Of course us Kiwis had to watch the Americas Cup first races against USA, again on a small screen but just as much fun….

Also to keep the kids amused, buckets, water and mops work well.

Reims Cathedral……

They have been slowly cleaning up the stone work and its starting to look really amazing.

Then Max-no-mates had to watch the second days racing on his own….                but at least he got the ipad to work!!! good sound as well..

For someone who says he doesn’t want to attempt any plumbing or electrical work,,,, ( cos he finds he can’t get in or out!!)  Max has managed this trip to ..

a).. sort out why the black water tank wasn’t emptying when the pump was running.. Max found an airlock in exit pipe which he bled… works fine now(Thank god, as the thought of a full a 400l tank of s—t is daunting.                                                                         b)..Replaced the broken pump in the shower box with a new one.                                  c)..The last for the best…why was the toilet not flushing but the pump and macerator working??  that took a few slow tentative steps, unbolting the toilet, disconnecting the macerator outlet pipe from the waste pipe. Next holding a plastic bag over the macerator outlet pipe and flushing.. yes the pump works fine, so the issue is a blockage in the down pipe to tank…next shoving a old hose pipe down with no effect.

Luckily a very helpful Captainaire and Nick Lane’s perfect French meant that we got a young plumber before lunch on the Monday who solved the problem quickly, but NOT cheaply… still,, all good to go now.

And we still haven’t managed a dry night since leaving Schweich. and so we will keep trying!!  !!!!!

So we leave Reims on a very hot Tuesday morning….

2017-From Toul to Conde-sur-Marne

3rd – 16th June.

We set off from Toul in high spirits in tandem with Le Jeanne-Laurence, and Aileen and Graham up the Canal de le Marne au Rhin to go to Verdun.

OK best laid plans,,,,, VNF alert…..At the turn off to Verdun the first 5 locks are closed due to lack of water (only 1m in centre of channel) and we draw 1.25m !!..  

Not wanting to wait for days for rain we decided to follow Aileen and Graham to Paris and then turn off and go via Reims.

It will take about 10 days longer but thats fine as we have no real timetable, and this is boating after all.

Not sure who is stalking who,  but it was the start of an amazing 12 days of fun and laughter and …lots and …lots ..of  great food and liquid beverages !!! Lucky we had stocked up on gin. (and …tonic).

Moored d at Ligny-en-Barrois and stayed 3 days.. weather very changable, hot, then very windy and then so much hail and rain that it blocked the drainage holes for a few minutes.

Should have guessed what was to come by the weed in the port !!!!

We set off and …

Lovely lock, haven’t ever seen so much weed…..   Infact the ecluse was so full they had to use a digger to get the weed out so the back gates could close and then go infront of Grahams boat to clear it so he could leave the lock.

 

Nice shady mooring, lunch and then ready for a night of Americas cup racing.

You have to note that these guys are watching specks for boats on 2 inch iphone 5 screens… but commentary is great and entertainment for Aileen and I is excellent.

Interesting locks…….

What made us laugh was that the guy driving the pusher couldn’t see where he was going and the man in the digger cab was giving him hand signals.

Lovely picture of typical french village back streets with all the different shutters.

More Americas cup racing…again !

Stopping at Vitry-le-Francois to do some shopping,,, and guess what, we take too long !!!

and more AC racing!! ……..dressed up to watch the final race of The Louis Vuitton Cup.

Finally we have won the racing, so next night is a night off playing petanque.

Chalons-en-Champagne. Lovely small town. Amazing old timber framed houses.

Another quiet mooring on the side of canal before Conde-sur-Marne, A Beautiful hot morning, then ,,, 

then party time…. Bunting, lights and bubbles!!  Our last night with A & G,

And we say  ‘Goodbye’ to Graham and Aileen at Conde-sur-Marne.