SATURDAY...off to the Caprice
We hit the road about 10am. A direct drive to Dijon is 138km or 83 miles and could be done in less than 2 hours. It took us 5.
In the middle of a field was a “devil island”, the prison. No bars on the windows and interesting bedding hanging out the windows.
In the town of Epoisses we stopped for a coffee. A nice little town and the coffee was just 1 eur. Strange people live here. There were elderly people wandering about. Some in the middle of the road. Others sort of walking in circles. Everyone stopped until the people decided to get out of the road. People helped them across the street and then they decided they wanted to be back on the other side. Very entertaining and a good place for me in a few years.
In the town of Vitteaux a UFO crashed on the side of the road. We took pictures but did not stay around as we did not want to get abducted.
shopping street trash
SUNDAY
After fine breakfast, eating is one of the main attraction on this trip, we were off for a quick tour of old Dijon. They still make Dijon mustard, but all the ingredients are imported.
i love people in the park
what are they looking at
Back on the boat for big lunch and more wine. Breakfast is the only meal that does not come with a red and white wine, but I am sure if you asked they would serve you wine with breakfast. After lunch I went for a 2 hour walk along the tow path as the barge made its way slowly down the canal and through the locks. The weather is perfect.
Interestingly, the town we are tied up close to tonight, Longecourt, has the only Chateau I have ever stayed in, Chateau Longcourt. Years ago we were traveling and it was late and rainy and called a random place in the guide book to see if they had a room. They said yes and when we arrived we were stunned. We got a whole wing. A huge bedroom and living room and a bathroom that was larger than any I had ever seen. It was late and everything was closed so the owner, part of the original family from the early 1800’s, gave us a couple of their bottles of wine. Breakfast was served in a very large dining room and had everything. The owners were very nice and we stayed 2 nights as I recall. That was when the dollar was worth something and I could afford places like that at $75/night.
the people on bikes chased this guy up one side of the canal and down the other
MONDAY
This morning we went off to drink wine for breakfast. Interesting, the wine we sampled for breakfast and did not particularly like, tested very good with dinner. Guess that proves what they say about wine going better with food.
Rest of the day was spent walking on the canal again as the barge tried to catch up.
TUESDAY morning
I was off the boat early in search of WIFI while the crew went to buy the morning bread, on another perfect weather day. I zeroed in on young people to ask and they directed me to a bar with a hotel. Try as we might, the barrister and I could not get it connect so she sent me down the road to another café. The lady here is very friendly, as are all the people in the bar, and got me connected to their system quickly. The whole little community that I have interacted with this morning has been nothing but kind and helpful.
Later
As I overdosed on caffeine the rest of the boat toured the small town of Suerre and returned to the boat about 11 and we got underway. Fortunately we were moving on the river today and unable to walk along with the barge. Fortunate, as yesterday these 2 cute but, evil people, Elly and Lisa …….
caused this....
. A MAJOR blister
On top of that, the laughing that started yesterday on the 5 mile forced march with Elly and Lisa, continued today and well into the night.Yesterday while walking, some people will get this, others will not, every dog that came by they would ask in their fake French accent, “does your dog bite”. It is from a very, very old Inspector Clouseau movie and they would laugh hysterically which got me doing the same thing. Lisa runs a homeopathic drug company and then they started on a gynecological discussion, which lead to Ellie, who grew up in Germany, taking about Germans who are reputed not shave any body hair and how they look like in bikinis….well, maybe you get the picture. There was just them and me as the only male representative.
A casual cruise day and then when we tied up in Chagney and we went on a short tour of the town. It was definitely time for a beer in the square.
The fire department ladder truck drove into the small square and with great ceremony extended the ladder to a rough top. Everyone was very curious as to what was happening. Ultimately a fireman climbed on to the peak of the roof and knocked off the little pieces of ceramic that are on top of most of the roofs. A few fell in the square, but most they threw in the bucket. Then, they came down, packed up and left, leaving everyone in the square wondering what it was all about.
The fire department ladder truck drove into the small square and with great ceremony extended the ladder to a rough top. Everyone was very curious as to what was happening. Ultimately a fireman climbed on to the peak of the roof and knocked off the little pieces of ceramic that are on top of most of the roofs. A few fell in the square, but most they threw in the bucket. Then, they came down, packed up and left, leaving everyone in the square wondering what it was all about.
FRIDAY
We are now on the TGV racing to Paris at about 168 mph. Fast rail system is a wonderful thing, but sadly, I will never see in my life time in America.
The rest of the week on the boat was a blast with a continuance of good wine and food. On Wednesday Lisa and me were the only ones to get off the barge walk. The heavy rain may be why. It was only an off and on drizzle when we started, but heavy rain ensued. We would walk a ways, wait at a lock for the barge that never came and move on to the next lock. Before we knew it we were at St léger-sur-Dheune, our overnight stop and in the first bar we found drinking beer and wine. Reportedly the barge crew was concerned and was organizing a search party when we arrived shortly after they had tied up. For some reason they thought we would be dumb enough to wait for them at the dock in the rain. We announced we were late because we had waited so long we that we decided to get married and been out consummating the marriage. Our return was the highlight of a very rainy day.
Barge Captain seems to be new to the lock system and we banged and bounced our way down the Canal de Centre, which granted, is very narrow and twisty. He got some pretty mean looks from Roger his deck hand who was working the bow.
Being about our 5th barge trip we have found that the people that travel on these are always interesting and a lot of fun and this one was the same.
capt michael getting a little dual from Guy
Being about our 5th barge trip we have found that the people that travel on these are always interesting and a lot of fun and this one was the same.
Why are these people smiling? We surely do not know. The had bought their barge trip at a charity auction at, I might say, a very, very generous price. But….their air conditioning did not work for 3 days. They had the room under the stairs. And the ultimate, their room flooded at one of the locks soaking all their clothes and bedding. Gary was yelling to Denise to get out quick because we were sinking. She told him, “relax, we are only in 4 feet of water.” A wonderful couple and an obviously very laid back couple. (note, no one else had any problems)
These are the newly weds. Kim is a very happy person and fun to be with. John is the quiet type that sees everything and gets that guilty little grin on his face every now then. He quietly beat everyone in cards and scrabble coming from behind at the last minute to win.
Ron and Barb ran a B&B in Canadian until a few years ago. They are now foot lose and fancy free and probably out travel Vicki and I. Hopefully we will reunite on the 2011 Scooter Diaries trip.
in the biggest lock
Jim Morehead. Nice guy but repeats every bad Sheky Green one liners …… way to many times.
This is Dick and Eileen, on the right. They are the mother of my new found wife #2 and we hope to see them next year on the scooter run. Their daughter gets her great since of humor from these two.
dick "looks" quiet and unassuming
Lisa and Elly. Lisa runs a company that produces natural products for women. emerita.com . She lives in Portland with her partner and their son and soon to arrive second child. She is a wonderful person even though she was raised by Dick and Eileen. Ellie is a widower and long time family friend of Lisa and her family. She is a pistol and living life wide open.
Jim and Ona owners of the barge and Barging Thru Fance. We are glad that they keep this company going.
These trips are also about great food and wine. Breakfast is a wide array for breakfast stuff. Lunch is usually a main plat served with two interesting side salads, such as pasta salad, cucumber salad, couscous salad, etc. and a green salad. Your are presented to wines a red and a white. Dinner is a four course gourmet event.
Again with 2 wines and cheese's that are explained by the staff.
sophia my favorite to handed wine pourer
herve showing how to make is salmon encrusted in salt
sophia explaining the cheeses of the meal
We have never had a bad barge trip with these people. It is a wonderful way to see France and meet new people and we look forward to doing another. These are the people that make these trips so much fun.
the crew of the caprice
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