Our search for a barge

Whew! The search is a process... A process of working out what we like, and what we don't...

Rob started off wanting a "new build" a ship built in the last decade.. He imagined an old hull springing leaks, cranky engines playing up on a fast current on the river Soane, and plenty of other horrors.

I wanted the sense of history, knowing that the vessel had worked and had families on her... And I wanted an aft deck...  I imagined moored on a bank in Paris, sitting on the deck, sipping vin rouge with friends from around the world..a view of the Eiffel Tower in the background ...  

It was Chris and Diana who allayed Rob's fears about an old barge...so off to see Sojourn we went, a 103 years old Tjalk, a sail ship,originally carrying grain in Holland.  We drove to Digoin to meet her... Our first live sight of her...of course, she has been completely renovated ...in immaculate condition.

And we meet and instantly like Peter and Jeanette Langerak owners of Sojourn.  Amazing aft deck...

It can be zipped and closed up completely so that even in rain one could sit out here...

Crisp fresh practical interior which we instantly like.  

Wheelhouse has its original wheel.. Rob getting a good feel now...

And Peter takes us down the Canal du Centre, showing Rob how to handle her..

I could quickly get used to this...

New Zealand flag might have to go...

Lock approaching...Rob hands over to Peter... Lacks confidence about getting her into the space with inches only to spare..

We enter the lock with inches to spare on either side..

And over the aquaduct..

We agree to meet in a days time to talk further...

Off to find a barge in France

Rob and I have spent months researching barges- first off, why would we want one...it's not as though we have barged before and love it!  Well, we are up for our next adventure.  Of course it sounds wonderful to have the freedom to cruise into the heart of a city or village, moor up, get a bike off the deck and ride down the road to buy fresh croissants for breakfast, a baguette and selection of Cheeses...  We are pretty sure we won't dislike the life, and what's the worst that can happen if we do?  We sell the barge, and buy a yacht in Greece..?

I found a fabulous blog about the travels of a ship called Esme owned by The Grants, who have been barging for several years.  After some weeks of emails flying backwards and forwards, Diana and Chris so kindly answering endless noveau questions, Diana suggests we spend a few days barging with them...what kindness to take on board two strangers whom they know little about.

We meet in Belgium, and are  instantly warmly welcomed on their belle bateau.  Esme is a luxe-motor, converted  to a pleasure ship in 1927 - here we are moored up on the quay in Verdun and we look up and see a double rainbow...the unexpected and surprising moments on a barge...

Esme has a spacious and large wheelhouse, here is Chris showing Rob the steering and Rob looking at a computer system called Navigo- it tells you which locks are ahead, the width, depth of the lock and any bridges, their height.. You need to know this if you don't want your wheelhouse lopped!  The wheelhouse has double doors which open out onto the aft deck.  This is one of my criteria in looking for a barge... Rob wants a barge that is in immaculate condition, he wants to barge for a year or two learning the barge, without having to fix bow thrusters, propellers and generators.... 

Esme is a beautiful floating home.  Diana and Chris have created an incredible homely space, using every nook and cranny so practically - e,g. there are two pull out draws under the stairs which slide out with ease and contain delicious French delicacies, spices and other goodies.  The galley (kitchen) is small but has everything one needs.  The saloon (living/lounge area) is luxurious relaxed comfort.  

Lunch in the wheelhouse - to live for creamy cheeses, blue cheese, olives, artichokes, a selection of cold cuts which Rob says are better than any in SA. And fresh baguettes.

We sleep in the Captains aft cabin, I am amazed by what a small space can contain.  From hair dryer to sound system, delightful small bathroom, our own shower - what luxury!  Wonderful old cabinetry tells a story of the family that once lived in this space as they carted grain along the canals.

Cruising down the river...on The good ship Esme....

Reflections...

And we say a grateful goodbye to Diana and Chris for their generous sharing of Esme, their advice and guidance.  Chris and Diana have gone through the specs of the barges we have planned to see with a toothcomb- we know the questions to ask... They tell us The One is waiting for us..

Last day walking in The Cotswolds from Cold Ashton to Bath the final 16 km of 160 km

Bath Abbey, the end of our walk ( or the start for those doing the walk up to Chipping Camden). We made it!  A walk much harder than we expected!  But so worth it!

Along the way we meet more cows... I try my cow song again..

Black cow is curious and walks to the fence..

A couple of cows and the bull (he's got the white stripe down his face) get up and push black cow away

I can touch him...

White face sniffs me- her way of getting information about the strange two legged?

The stiles along the way, some old stone, some wood, some steel...

Enjoying the last views before we spot Bath..

Memorial to the battle of Landsdown.

Our first views of Bath, 155 km of walking.. 

Last hill before Bath...savoring every colour of green..before "city life". Strange after spending so much time and space in the country...

Walking through the park in Bath to The Abbey, final destination of the walk.

At last, the cathedral, and at the cathedral a brass wheel of all the towns we have passed through..

It's quite emotional, and feeling filled with gratitude for the journey.

We go to our hotel, what luxury!  Then we spend a week with Robs family outside Bath, and can unpack!

Eighth day walking in The Cotswolds from Little Sodbury (a mistake) to Cold Ashton about 18 km

A selfie taken against one metre of the hundreds of thousands of metres of stonewalling...

Our bnb is in Chipping Sodbury, but we need to start walking from Little Sodbury... Because of blisters, aches in body parts that are surprised by the exercise ( this walk is harder than we expected) my knee ligament and Robs stress fracture, we decide to cut out a couple of kms by starting in Old Sodbury.  The taxi driver drops us at the start of the walk and off we go....its a good early start around 8 a.m.

Through a long field

And on and on...

Rob begins to feel uneasy... We are walking through an old fort, not marked on our map..

We get to a road and it says Little Sodbury- ....$@& it- we've walked the wrong way back along the route we wanted to cut out.  Now we walk it twice!    With a " little" curse or two, we walk back and on to Old Sodbury... One of the highlights is this glorious and unexpected Dodington Park

Shining fields of soft wheat or barley? Not sure which..?

Golden fields of Rapeseed, which look as though the sun is shining on them...the yellow glows - picture of the day?

It's hot!  How lucky are we with the weather! Amazing views.

I love the country lanes which we walk along sometimes before we get back into the countryside.

The Cotswold Way is well marked with these posts..

Good resting seat!

As we walk into Dyrham woods, there is a message box, open the box, and there is a book which people write in... Fun to read the comments...

The Dutch 70 year olds have written in it above ours...Canada, Suffolk, Dutch, South Africa on one page..

The church at Cold Ashton...and then walking to the bnb ...