tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81379395727619237062024-03-05T23:23:47.425+13:00Afloat on CezanneRosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-90890320532802437892012-09-18T21:36:00.001+12:002012-09-18T21:43:09.339+12:00September<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">While we had the rental car we visited the 2.5
hectare water lilly garden of Latour-Marliac, where over 200 varieties of
water lillies are grown in the cultivation pools.The nursery was founded in 1875
by Latour -Marliac for the propagation of water lilies. At the time there was
only one hardy white water lily in Europe. He was able to cross this with other
wild varieties & build up a collection ranging in colour from delicate
yellow to deep red & export all over the world. Monet was inspired by his
water lillies & decided to grow them himself, at his home at
Giverny, hence, his water liliy paintings, known as Nympheas.</span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMw85rKgij6iaxaSD1TPnOQnkGsfu3s-P29FbWkUem9pfFnrsiEgUOzjwCwt7xGc-NsHEeTUG6uf8zoPkQuP9j50K62C1lJoFhJ6UJrsvsNfNORH3as9TiDiamEFJM4hHCZeuYBWTvH0w/s1600/IMG_0496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMw85rKgij6iaxaSD1TPnOQnkGsfu3s-P29FbWkUem9pfFnrsiEgUOzjwCwt7xGc-NsHEeTUG6uf8zoPkQuP9j50K62C1lJoFhJ6UJrsvsNfNORH3as9TiDiamEFJM4hHCZeuYBWTvH0w/s320/IMG_0496.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> Victoria, Giant water lily. This water
lily, sets flowers that measure one foot across. The leaves, (pads) can become
four feet in diameter. The Victoria is a nocturnal & hermaphrodidic plant.
Each flower blooms for only two nights. On the first night the flower is female,
being white, & smelling strongly of pineapple. On the second night the
flower becomes male, turning deep pink. The flower is pollinated the 1st
night by a type of beetle native to the Amazaon River basin. When the
flower closes up in the morning, the beetles are trapped inside, & it is in
trying to escape that they spread the flowers's pollen. The head gardener at the
Duke of Devonshire's estate, Chatsworth, named it Victoria, in honour of the
Queen.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqLMJQxBLPLk4W3VyA7ILvcEUsSJOJ19R0aFhifaDJrFnB4S5xaz2zQ_B7MFGzLCtLwr4fyvnPb32uF7ovkouOKy72qUSDBidCRtZFZ1wBxqgFo4xX3Aaz-uHo1tqsRmF14t0B8Vnqrc/s1600/IMG_0497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqLMJQxBLPLk4W3VyA7ILvcEUsSJOJ19R0aFhifaDJrFnB4S5xaz2zQ_B7MFGzLCtLwr4fyvnPb32uF7ovkouOKy72qUSDBidCRtZFZ1wBxqgFo4xX3Aaz-uHo1tqsRmF14t0B8Vnqrc/s320/IMG_0497.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Lotus. The lotus has enormous leaves that
grow high out of the water & has peony-like flowers. Each flower lasts three
to five days, after which the petals fall away to reveal a conical seedpod that
resembles a water can spout. The leaves, roots & seeds of the lotus are
edible. The plant has a long history as a religious symbol, particularly in
India. It grows in Europe as a perennial, but,grows best in regions with lots of
sunlight</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Sometimes, during the summer months on NZ we find
we get really itchy bites which are caused by a very tiny black insect like a
small sandfly. In France they call them flees. They have been about for the last
8 weeks & are most annoying as they spit a juice (that is what causes the
itch) which stains the paintwork on Boats & is most difficult to remove. We
tried all sorts of cleaners & with lots of rubbing made some impression.
Recently we were told about a chlorine based liquid which is diluted, applied
& left fror 5 minutes, then rinsed off & voila! , we have a nice clean
boat.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">One day we stopped at an extremely
interesting museum which was owned by an elderly couple & housed their
collection of minerals, fossils, coral, sand & shells, which they had
gathered during their travels around the world.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">They explained about the
development of the earth & how all the different coloured minerals etc
were formed. It was so informative.</span></div>
<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29c4adVEGCt2Nf0rd4QpAXeCeiKFCKdnxxxHftXl9y12EMZfVhgqy-fBC-dkmQnD25MwV7dDrGR13Sz0T2gp9CPHMmxNaKadYig4SdOKIwiH4WUgHePO4KHr0_vPEuLt9H0woTs7Jyo0/s1600/IMG_0569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29c4adVEGCt2Nf0rd4QpAXeCeiKFCKdnxxxHftXl9y12EMZfVhgqy-fBC-dkmQnD25MwV7dDrGR13Sz0T2gp9CPHMmxNaKadYig4SdOKIwiH4WUgHePO4KHr0_vPEuLt9H0woTs7Jyo0/s320/IMG_0569.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Stromatilites. These fossils can be found
dating back to 3.5 million years. They have grown from an algae, which was the
first to produce oxygen, which modified the composition of the atmosphere on
earth to enable the creation of the first animals. Stromatolites consume carbon
dioxide & release oxygen by photosynthesis metabolism.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We went as far as Meilhan on the Canal lateral de
Garonne, about 70km from Bordeaux, then turned back & are making our way
towards our winter mooring. The weather is a little cooler
now.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi900isAchxmOoifigfFLZ9ymsVSngbHWf0BRXz4xYVPSSl1ogiMm0QSDrFdMMMFwOnlBR3s4ffi7Gy1d5NN_c_SLIqFzmZ3jX1U8yHcNmXObE0mKvYbRSHaO1dF4-j9uD_QnH6XnsnhwI/s1600/IMG_0561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi900isAchxmOoifigfFLZ9ymsVSngbHWf0BRXz4xYVPSSl1ogiMm0QSDrFdMMMFwOnlBR3s4ffi7Gy1d5NN_c_SLIqFzmZ3jX1U8yHcNmXObE0mKvYbRSHaO1dF4-j9uD_QnH6XnsnhwI/s320/IMG_0561.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Barry eating his favourite cake from the
pattisierre. - A Paris Brest</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-18617103151254187842012-09-18T20:57:00.000+12:002012-09-18T21:42:55.770+12:00August<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOu_a8KqNcAc32Uya29UwAnzYgaPDaIsp30x7EipGyqxNDPAu24apB95YyQp1LO0IjU1gAP8UBrEeu2juEqpmpJljHjp8k89xTTMFSvNStidFnmRbxgM0uOz9V-T1PtSJSykNqxcuU1uc/s1600/IMG_0410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOu_a8KqNcAc32Uya29UwAnzYgaPDaIsp30x7EipGyqxNDPAu24apB95YyQp1LO0IjU1gAP8UBrEeu2juEqpmpJljHjp8k89xTTMFSvNStidFnmRbxgM0uOz9V-T1PtSJSykNqxcuU1uc/s320/IMG_0410.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A bridge on the Baïse River</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_RQl1NjsVYQ_Y1zodfIC4VIbwIm7KPLcIcgIleYgVOH0_IqOeTjiaqkluFPLxIF87NgXYSLYrZHke3GYMcXXh3aOOtRw9UjEStLS2-FVXkRFcIKm-umNp-n5iWvyQMQ6_i2LszOvUuc/s1600/IMG_0416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_RQl1NjsVYQ_Y1zodfIC4VIbwIm7KPLcIcgIleYgVOH0_IqOeTjiaqkluFPLxIF87NgXYSLYrZHke3GYMcXXh3aOOtRw9UjEStLS2-FVXkRFcIKm-umNp-n5iWvyQMQ6_i2LszOvUuc/s320/IMG_0416.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A log 1/2 a metre long x 1/3 metre in diameter which
prevented the lock gate from opening</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWErw0vJaSREgiChLJTjib4zhlqdQZ3K0LJsZfNVYpAH0evaR-wpAEJQMhdNWTxbu6oCGaTWTXYlzCS62eBNSiF4vvK8NDC5L4Q1hCs06BxmMaFxOp_ER2ZDmHr3ETnmdpLDmhLeLHZts/s1600/IMG_0428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWErw0vJaSREgiChLJTjib4zhlqdQZ3K0LJsZfNVYpAH0evaR-wpAEJQMhdNWTxbu6oCGaTWTXYlzCS62eBNSiF4vvK8NDC5L4Q1hCs06BxmMaFxOp_ER2ZDmHr3ETnmdpLDmhLeLHZts/s320/IMG_0428.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">An old building in Nérac on the Baïse</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RHTduPjcShDUVcYbAMwucnIVvLywJYNcJU_ZJ5mY-Qw7K0WYL7OX9ymx6ql28xrTBfKLFmSQcPy8fJhOjOK9rCoWydFJlPjih9dP8EhbjMMQWXNfxHu4cb6Jt94wnEU35eH73kD9rb8/s1600/IMG_0443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RHTduPjcShDUVcYbAMwucnIVvLywJYNcJU_ZJ5mY-Qw7K0WYL7OX9ymx6ql28xrTBfKLFmSQcPy8fJhOjOK9rCoWydFJlPjih9dP8EhbjMMQWXNfxHu4cb6Jt94wnEU35eH73kD9rb8/s320/IMG_0443.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="il" style="font-size: small;">Barry</span><span style="font-size: small;"> driving Cézanne ...Nérac on the Baïse</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFQ24YJBLoZgWogi4eoPr6pLnpWw54ovxdp0e5CaS37iZj7bD936-CMbPLXCKrmkMc6GqEn5hRnFxR_RYAufzekfvZ214KmtbZ9xwzPD1n3Kc3UOvQOjaaaa_201wt_HSq4fE7JUfP3w/s1600/IMG_0451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFQ24YJBLoZgWogi4eoPr6pLnpWw54ovxdp0e5CaS37iZj7bD936-CMbPLXCKrmkMc6GqEn5hRnFxR_RYAufzekfvZ214KmtbZ9xwzPD1n3Kc3UOvQOjaaaa_201wt_HSq4fE7JUfP3w/s320/IMG_0451.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A croustade</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAq_wP2o45sVARWirRSpuyjuk_PFGe-moOG24u9NX5mUcS01rA3fgUEfyBBzbYsMiPNpbfBukm0XSqF8VofcyeRkDqwo2baC-irZr4_YBRveLoJ9DIKSfDPJuSsK3XfcXdh7w3k_nm0eY/s1600/IMG_0485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLkUtHgESra-uLJdag9ZUwyhwJwfA0Q97GsCgaENUQtQdqxqUdeX30Vfg28NJiBFtyMTTYKN0HpOnr9WHAfaH04M7Oc_kyctL2H2ePiubc8ZYE8kIlH8nPq7wyZrhleM4YY5KViJ93yE/s1600/IMG_0488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLkUtHgESra-uLJdag9ZUwyhwJwfA0Q97GsCgaENUQtQdqxqUdeX30Vfg28NJiBFtyMTTYKN0HpOnr9WHAfaH04M7Oc_kyctL2H2ePiubc8ZYE8kIlH8nPq7wyZrhleM4YY5KViJ93yE/s320/IMG_0488.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Buzet, where we left Cézanne while we were
away</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJYB6o4yC4bl0AVAZHrBv387uVfXGDmAlTwfYbJxSWAzMObwiUCkJDNAxRkkAFTolZjew34gYlO7XVg1L8sg5AhPqFyzZOpjjdaafln2dqZnMkLBVgWvG5697yInOvN9clA08Rraex1I/s1600/IMG_0491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJYB6o4yC4bl0AVAZHrBv387uVfXGDmAlTwfYbJxSWAzMObwiUCkJDNAxRkkAFTolZjew34gYlO7XVg1L8sg5AhPqFyzZOpjjdaafln2dqZnMkLBVgWvG5697yInOvN9clA08Rraex1I/s320/IMG_0491.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The barge removing the tree which had fallen across the Garrone
canal. At the stern of the barge there is a long pole which has been lowered to
the bottom of the canal to keep the barge stable when it lifts each heavy
piece of log from the water</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnDnA7_KGJJLP0Eo1a1BNEJdQ8Uj4oUCvXGHt-GFHLHzeqGuGgPIi9G09CBsGL0iuzQVyJROuwcRyIvD11w2nn2PpRYKVBt4INZK_PU_TWKJKivdlc9_E9kPKb4-Jwo-AlfnrKkfke3o/s1600/IMG_0493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnDnA7_KGJJLP0Eo1a1BNEJdQ8Uj4oUCvXGHt-GFHLHzeqGuGgPIi9G09CBsGL0iuzQVyJROuwcRyIvD11w2nn2PpRYKVBt4INZK_PU_TWKJKivdlc9_E9kPKb4-Jwo-AlfnrKkfke3o/s320/IMG_0493.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The last big piece of tree being removed</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Judy & Neville spent 2 days with us during mid
July, then we had a few days socialising with couples on 2 Australian
boats, before Michael & Celia joined us for 8 days. We took them up the
Baïse River to Valence- sur- Baïse which is as far as one can go on this
River Twice we had a problem with the lock (écluse) gates, as
logs & bits of wood can prevent them from opening & closing There is a
telephone at each lock. If there is a problem one can phone the éclusier , who
comes with equipment to remove the offending wood. He usually uses a type
of fork with long strong prongs, bent at a right angle. In NZ we call them a
drag fork & use them for cleaning drains.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">One evening for desert we sampled a croustade,
a tart made of filo pastry, apple & armagnac, which is similar to
cognac. Croustade is a speciality of pâtissieres (pastry, cake makers) in the
area. It is a round tart. The filo pastry top is crunched into small peaks
before it is baked. Prior to serving, the tart is sprinkled with a small bottle
of armagnac,which is then lit. This gives more flavour & helps to make
the top crunchy.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Armagnac grapes are grown on sandy soil. The wine
is distilled only once, giving the spirit a lower alcohol content but more
flavour. Aged in local black oak, armagnac matures quickly, so young armagnacs
are relatively smoother than corresponding cognacs.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Some days we were able to get TV coverage of the
Olympic games & saw NZ competing in the horse events & winning 2 gold
medals in the rowing events.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">On the 1st August we took a train to Bordeaux,
where we picked up a eurolease rental car which we have had for 4 weeks. It is
to be returned tomorrow.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Now we are at the port of Damazan. Damazan is a
smallish French village.On Saturday a large tree fell across the canal near
here, haulting all boat traffic. A big barge with a crane on it arrived on
Monday morning, creating a lot of interest, as it removed the tree, in pieces,
from the canal. </span></div>
Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-11537055255316084312012-07-16T19:18:00.001+12:002012-07-16T19:19:09.700+12:00Tour De France time in France<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisc4GAF8cIN_Blj6iEexmZiZ7E8NTAo2b5HUJQ-a4Rs63sgvDGV-BjQuX1zGzc-NOIifC7f1zxO4iKJgaObnNYSeKjTgKl_2LDSKGTyvlIwwbdx0GyPq-fbQBjcZF_6cQaI9514lwX-vw/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisc4GAF8cIN_Blj6iEexmZiZ7E8NTAo2b5HUJQ-a4Rs63sgvDGV-BjQuX1zGzc-NOIifC7f1zxO4iKJgaObnNYSeKjTgKl_2LDSKGTyvlIwwbdx0GyPq-fbQBjcZF_6cQaI9514lwX-vw/s400/IMG_0232.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A garden in Toulouse.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">On Friday 29th June, we took the train to Bordeaux,
where there was a wine festival, for 4 days. We stayed 2 days, sampling
Bordeeaux wines. There were tasting pavillions along the foreshore. We visited
Millésima, a fine wine sales outlet. They sold quality wines, only with corks
made from the cork tree. we were shown a large bottle of champagne in a metal
box, priced at 3000 euros.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">At 11pm one night, we saw a 400 sq. M. light show
on the Palais de la Bourse. That was followed at 11.30 by a fireworks dispay
which was extremely noisy but didn't last long.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">As our main course one evening we decided to sample
Calamari (squid) with a black ink sauce. The black ink was from the sack of
the calamari. Our meal was black, different & a bit tasteless.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jyC11JTrtZYtPG41IE_2hu-djmWeP-YlpHqLl1Ncbd18Tpnbd7s3B4qOm11xFwO94IcQfXj58ETd4Fxa7NVJ6a8Ut0f1jhIv6Q22g_nPAQ-4c-7ZHmGj5yGO0DaeanlKouXL_52nsqQ/s1600/IMG_0270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jyC11JTrtZYtPG41IE_2hu-djmWeP-YlpHqLl1Ncbd18Tpnbd7s3B4qOm11xFwO94IcQfXj58ETd4Fxa7NVJ6a8Ut0f1jhIv6Q22g_nPAQ-4c-7ZHmGj5yGO0DaeanlKouXL_52nsqQ/s400/IMG_0270.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bordeaux wine festival. Along the foreshore</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GTuNzhqgSmMBgANArK_cLokpjnoqgs6sHujXk729EZKf05LH5AiIT3GLFubHNtbJtuq5um2kvUdTqKYDEP9FS6FKWlW3s6sUsVIsB63ialFO97aluNaDKxbZcMPy6QZ8akSAEWxqcDs/s1600/IMG_0272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GTuNzhqgSmMBgANArK_cLokpjnoqgs6sHujXk729EZKf05LH5AiIT3GLFubHNtbJtuq5um2kvUdTqKYDEP9FS6FKWlW3s6sUsVIsB63ialFO97aluNaDKxbZcMPy6QZ8akSAEWxqcDs/s400/IMG_0272.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bordeaux wine festival. Along the foreshore</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">On Sunday 1st July we flew to Bristol. where we
hired a rental car & drove to a B & B in Goodrich, Herefordshire.
Lindsay & her parents , Alan & Barbara also joined us there.. The
purpose of our visit was cider tasting & to visit that area of England which
which we had not seen much of previously.. The countryside is very green &
picturesque. It rained every day except for the day we returned to France. We
visited cideries. I had cider with lunch & dinner. Barry mostly drank ale,
which he likes as he finds it has more flavour straight from the tap & not
chilled, as beer is in NZ.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOqmPamf-6q7fqUjI2Wh7p_q3mUTXd37s9hPSAm5tnJZ872vtfm00JtmTL6W_AgMm5LSpm59xHh0LwqojxVBqROVQIEAJAyfxEQY_wrxpMBVtbtP15KgA1g9f9XfNQwaRVu5zKLhSkm0/s1600/IMG_0286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOqmPamf-6q7fqUjI2Wh7p_q3mUTXd37s9hPSAm5tnJZ872vtfm00JtmTL6W_AgMm5LSpm59xHh0LwqojxVBqROVQIEAJAyfxEQY_wrxpMBVtbtP15KgA1g9f9XfNQwaRVu5zKLhSkm0/s400/IMG_0286.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ledbury, Herefordshire in the rain</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> The Cathedrals in Ledbury & Hereford were
impressive. At Hereford Cathedral we saw the Mappa Mundi & Chained Library.
These are two of Britains most important historical treasures.& are
displayed in the new library building with displays of rare books, documents
& artefacts dating from the 8th Century..</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The Hereford Mappa Mundi is the largest surviving
complete medieval world map. It is made of velum (calf skin), I think it must
have been a big calf!. During Medieval times people had no idea that NZ &
countries in our part of the world existed.. At the Cathedral we also saw the
Hereford 1217 Magna Carta.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">One day we visited Barry's 3rd cousin, who lives in
Shropshire. He has been in contact with her during genealogy research. we had a
very interesting day. She gave Barry some documents which she had inherited from
her Great Grandfather.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7oIJlnbTNs1Lxbp-GKzRZL_gVl0TRiwK0QFtK6qWm3FVTWLWd4Cn8Qag6pmbFWfDXgjvV3tI59urQ3VK7o8APLqIIPxNFUKJcCGGGQjBaF0FVlXPo-mXh4z0-QSHkodOA7oQHuBfyZeY/s1600/IMG_0333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7oIJlnbTNs1Lxbp-GKzRZL_gVl0TRiwK0QFtK6qWm3FVTWLWd4Cn8Qag6pmbFWfDXgjvV3tI59urQ3VK7o8APLqIIPxNFUKJcCGGGQjBaF0FVlXPo-mXh4z0-QSHkodOA7oQHuBfyZeY/s400/IMG_0333.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Maise with sunflowers in the distance</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">On the 5th July we returned to Moissac. Trevor
& Isabel joined us the next day. We spent 6 days travelling on the canal de
Garrone & then the Baïse River. I had a rest from doing much of the rope
work as Trevor was happy to go ashore with a card to activate the mechanism
which starts the opening or shutting of the lock gates & emptying or filling
of the water, then help with the ropes around the bollards & back to the
boat.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Nérac, on the Baïse River is one of the most
beautiful towns we have visited in France..</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVukOcGj1LTinoxbSmC3__CQxLEqSVUj5zJzUUUruyclan4pqOImcYg1SXRSTlZA_rWD1Km8Z89ccaDEtQ47Dm5wWYJg-aBMwORNBoxa2ksZcUb2yYH9SC0HXNI7rpjNpetL73S3r7gw/s1600/IMG_0356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVukOcGj1LTinoxbSmC3__CQxLEqSVUj5zJzUUUruyclan4pqOImcYg1SXRSTlZA_rWD1Km8Z89ccaDEtQ47Dm5wWYJg-aBMwORNBoxa2ksZcUb2yYH9SC0HXNI7rpjNpetL73S3r7gw/s400/IMG_0356.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nérac</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Our turning around point on the Baïse was at
Condom. (Nothing to do with the device!) This was once a busy River port where
barrels of Armagnac & rolls of cloth were landed onto barges on their way
towards the Garrone & Bordeaux.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNe3uz6YuXPx3IZIn_VnW7Z6BezpKg3OWZM_ni_DHRXE0goVjnnVuZv75NDtXgkbwnEe9kp0RaqpeItDrcqd1FszjZ-ihhZbVvP_LxPNIs0HRqWLIsAYUptXkOPqGgq4jGSqp1hn-1sSc/s1600/IMG_0376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNe3uz6YuXPx3IZIn_VnW7Z6BezpKg3OWZM_ni_DHRXE0goVjnnVuZv75NDtXgkbwnEe9kp0RaqpeItDrcqd1FszjZ-ihhZbVvP_LxPNIs0HRqWLIsAYUptXkOPqGgq4jGSqp1hn-1sSc/s400/IMG_0376.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Three Muskateers & D'Artagnan, at Condom</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Now we are making our way back to
Argen.</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHv6dO5USC_iXnb4hEfES0uVXgeTEZ4ioPneX7MgE6ZNpj6zhud3G2edNUJVMxXrLVKplHdgqwVPcmLsI_D48OWQfCpb4XWyWC4SyAQ0xue8NNsPoQWpyOiu3l10lG231nogIlSqqf5yU/s1600/IMG_0384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHv6dO5USC_iXnb4hEfES0uVXgeTEZ4ioPneX7MgE6ZNpj6zhud3G2edNUJVMxXrLVKplHdgqwVPcmLsI_D48OWQfCpb4XWyWC4SyAQ0xue8NNsPoQWpyOiu3l10lG231nogIlSqqf5yU/s400/IMG_0384.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cooked escargots in the foreground, ready for sale at the evening market
in Vianne</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_Xn2qkwu90RWqHEexJVqU24u2ZrMFGGDJOSOPE9ed-zAqwXgNr6TK10YFsrZGtlAtw5XbbND9lgE-v6CYtkgPxo2TNmM0Gk85uA9YQW0nbhTQY6g0wWB85oC9yUseGnw-TQsHCSwjIU/s1600/IMG_0387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_Xn2qkwu90RWqHEexJVqU24u2ZrMFGGDJOSOPE9ed-zAqwXgNr6TK10YFsrZGtlAtw5XbbND9lgE-v6CYtkgPxo2TNmM0Gk85uA9YQW0nbhTQY6g0wWB85oC9yUseGnw-TQsHCSwjIU/s400/IMG_0387.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-70055201088933437212012-06-28T21:32:00.002+12:002012-06-28T21:33:16.765+12:00Moissac in the Midi-Pyrénées region of southern France.<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">After waiting 2 days for a new throttle cable from
Marseille, we continued on our way & spent the night at a quiet bankside
mooring. The next day we did a side trip on the Montech/Montbauban canal to
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montauban" target="_blank">Montauban</a>, which is a delightfull city with a large pedestrian area. We bought a
new TV dish as the previous one was broken under some trees when the throttle
cable broke.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Last year an old lock was reopened. Now boats can
go into the Tarn River, so we travelled the 9km's up river &
had a very peaceful stay. The next day we returned do the Garonne
canal & arrived in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moissac" target="_blank">Moissac</a> today. This is where we will be leaving
Cezanne for the winter. We are also leaving Cezanne here when we go to Bordeaux
& England,later in the week.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://maps.google.co.nz/maps?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&q=Moissac+France&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x12ab8cfc67043285:0x406f69c2f3bd5e0,Moissac,+France&gl=nz&ei=ECPsT9D_J6ariAex1vjXBQ&ved=0CA4Q8gEwAQ" target="_blank">Location of Moissac in France.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<br />Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-10256193794781531042012-06-20T20:28:00.002+12:002012-06-20T20:35:59.787+12:00Garrone Canal<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Yesterday we left Toulouse & the Midi & are
now on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_de_Garonne" target="_blank">Garrone canal.</a></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeqQmKDKF4IGAGhMAjpgIb_0_cLEOEN0hhcVjQyBbqJO7YgEYCvherIg1XXfe7bjba7ev8Ttednn0El1OhUhyphenhyphen9uMBpzbbZvi3eiBmTzR_-m8KGkmiXEqI5_iMPfgCxBzmqUfUHRQPMMw/s1600/800px-Canal_du_Midi_map-fr.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeqQmKDKF4IGAGhMAjpgIb_0_cLEOEN0hhcVjQyBbqJO7YgEYCvherIg1XXfe7bjba7ev8Ttednn0El1OhUhyphenhyphen9uMBpzbbZvi3eiBmTzR_-m8KGkmiXEqI5_iMPfgCxBzmqUfUHRQPMMw/s320/800px-Canal_du_Midi_map-fr.svg.png" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpw9vJUUr7gU2DzUGJAMcDbdWZyjP9xQvFGb9WQhK2c_OrY-dg9jsWC4o4SIuruX6KetbaF7WL84bBM9JB3xKs3LOJNPQu1pM7IXlnwHEjoE0-0_ls3A3nbadJDyvfT1PJsiChEmyJes/s1600/800px-Canal_Lat%C3%A9ral_de_la_Garonne_%C3%A0_Puybarban_(Gironde,Fr%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpw9vJUUr7gU2DzUGJAMcDbdWZyjP9xQvFGb9WQhK2c_OrY-dg9jsWC4o4SIuruX6KetbaF7WL84bBM9JB3xKs3LOJNPQu1pM7IXlnwHEjoE0-0_ls3A3nbadJDyvfT1PJsiChEmyJes/s320/800px-Canal_Lat%C3%A9ral_de_la_Garonne_%C3%A0_Puybarban_(Gironde,Fr%29.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Garonne Canal</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We enjoyed our 5 Days stay in
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toulouse" target="_blank">Toulouse</a>. It is a city full of high rise apartment buildings. The
port, which is very pleasant & well run is in the city centre. There were
interesting shops & all the buildings which we saw looked well cared for.
There is a large park near the Port. On sunday we went to a big market. We
bought some catalanise olives which Barry says are the nicest olives he
has ever tasted.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtDNHnickTPN9ataqSer_raWIv5igiO6bzFkiqvpf8Obu0t7uuPYISEAWEgpOjqK8Z6GoS3atb1sGDCAbl_g9YJQ0yJkRvR3BV7eAmWKFyFtKCJikeiKHT78jXDPWJzCvIa339Xe4s44/s1600/439px-Montage_Toulouse_2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtDNHnickTPN9ataqSer_raWIv5igiO6bzFkiqvpf8Obu0t7uuPYISEAWEgpOjqK8Z6GoS3atb1sGDCAbl_g9YJQ0yJkRvR3BV7eAmWKFyFtKCJikeiKHT78jXDPWJzCvIa339Xe4s44/s320/439px-Montage_Toulouse_2.jpg" width="234" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Toulouse.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">As we neared the 8th lock on the Garonne we lost
our throttle control. As a result we did not have enough power to either steer
or reverse. We have found a person who can get us a new throttle cable. Maybe
tomorrow it will arrive in Toulouse. Meanwhile we are securely tied up with the
main railway line 25 M from Cezanne. It is not so bad as there are very
few trains during the night.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMti6I3YxJLXzHxIHZwHqQHV-o7UbrmFvY8j1PjYelBMk9JCYiCy9ecPOLauctm6kNCRJecRLUqGHmq2un-MUahuJCohGRY3oKJTn27CHqDKKMqLdtZuI5NyCMMX4y-AjtmzS_hSU0u8/s1600/8th+lock+and+no+throttle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMti6I3YxJLXzHxIHZwHqQHV-o7UbrmFvY8j1PjYelBMk9JCYiCy9ecPOLauctm6kNCRJecRLUqGHmq2un-MUahuJCohGRY3oKJTn27CHqDKKMqLdtZuI5NyCMMX4y-AjtmzS_hSU0u8/s320/8th+lock+and+no+throttle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">location of where we are stranded with no throttle, train line is behind the trees...</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="https://maps.google.co.nz/maps/place?q=43.797445,1.330803&hl=en&ftid=0x12ac02bc76f09529:0x406f69c2f412b40" target="_blank">Location of where we are stranded with no throttle control...</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">close to a castelnau-d'Estretefonds which looks like it might be worth a look... a little village just nearby, with population 5000 and a castle.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-16789464231447844522012-06-12T17:38:00.003+12:002012-06-12T17:42:55.151+12:00Downhill to Bordeaux<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> It is now
all downhill to Bordeaux.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The canal du midi is picturesque with plane trees
along both sides. Some of the tress have a virus & are being cut
down.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">There were vineyards in the fields until
Homps.---10 days after leaving Agde. The small villages along the way all
had wine sales of the local wines. Most of them sold wine on tap. We could take
along a container to get filled for a minimal price. Now in the fields
there are young sunflower plants, cereal crops & sweet potatoes,
growing.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We have had a variety of weather. Hot sunny days
& cool days. Now we are having a thunderstorm & rain.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">All the locks, which are an oval shape, have been
uphill but oday we reached the summit-----------the parting of the waters
between the 2 seas. The Mediterranean & the Atlantic. Now it will be
downhill locks which are much easier.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">In 1663 Pierre paul Riquet, a salt tax collector,
travelled to Versailles & was able to convince the finance minister &
Louis X1V of the value of his project to build a canal joining the 2
seas.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The digging began in 1666. The canal was filled
with water in 1681 & has operated without interruption since then. Most of
the original constructions are still present. There are many little humpback
bridges, built on a shoe string at a time when Riquet had no more
money.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Today we visited an obelisk erected by Riquet's
descendants in the mid 19th century which commemorates his incredible
achievment. He died 6 months before the canal was opened.</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVfvoKo4h0-JAGGJFPR49-cEM3nKWZ_OUNr4kxC1b1ZrnTbKzYZa5Xkm412Ak5jgcPO6TrbPK136gx92xnJiTp2-_KYvp0ZgMn9tVSBAQ-2g542_CdwXvDI6__g9uHASVYSk4j1YVjrw/s1600/IMG_0205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVfvoKo4h0-JAGGJFPR49-cEM3nKWZ_OUNr4kxC1b1ZrnTbKzYZa5Xkm412Ak5jgcPO6TrbPK136gx92xnJiTp2-_KYvp0ZgMn9tVSBAQ-2g542_CdwXvDI6__g9uHASVYSk4j1YVjrw/s400/IMG_0205.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">A plane tree ringbarked, ready to be
removed.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6FxTaFATwgG5JUQAbVp-4tDtg98QCcxSl4brMn-7afEingwMWMCjOwBwuIZ9VzZU8vMP5s-H7iJpEBze2i3mqKnZnomMSYC4yTPtq8Q70MlYR_zv_xzYyCnQAi4ZH5gcObrCM6wUVvg/s1600/IMG_0209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6FxTaFATwgG5JUQAbVp-4tDtg98QCcxSl4brMn-7afEingwMWMCjOwBwuIZ9VzZU8vMP5s-H7iJpEBze2i3mqKnZnomMSYC4yTPtq8Q70MlYR_zv_xzYyCnQAi4ZH5gcObrCM6wUVvg/s400/IMG_0209.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Cezannes, parked for the night beside a humbacked
bridge.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cCZhDjDOFGFaJ72UVhQu-fBzDa1O8itfLdLeiLg6jN4ESJFxAzEMVLifbWhLr8h-saX32ZyZwlHzx9xrEosN9Lgf3r95f993I3dLIQ_msi9LoEgB6z-4jwxc059esF8QXhZ8cGyPKXU/s1600/IMG_0198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cCZhDjDOFGFaJ72UVhQu-fBzDa1O8itfLdLeiLg6jN4ESJFxAzEMVLifbWhLr8h-saX32ZyZwlHzx9xrEosN9Lgf3r95f993I3dLIQ_msi9LoEgB6z-4jwxc059esF8QXhZ8cGyPKXU/s400/IMG_0198.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Grapes growing beside the canal.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSuLhwAK20kzKaiM8iy5f6dqgl9NJTD68IeQauZe0AKaC-JuYpQuthwwd6eAdFFk2MSp58iJybruW8CEo7S6PuAy_O3QK8dCU2R1HTm5qqaezZQXBY3sK8NGzC-qm976n7ePC1z63Rw0/s1600/IMG_0217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSuLhwAK20kzKaiM8iy5f6dqgl9NJTD68IeQauZe0AKaC-JuYpQuthwwd6eAdFFk2MSp58iJybruW8CEo7S6PuAy_O3QK8dCU2R1HTm5qqaezZQXBY3sK8NGzC-qm976n7ePC1z63Rw0/s400/IMG_0217.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">looking over the bow, where we are parked for
tonight.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6g1gcvAWFPXTPdXwXrwqVR71T-B9Gz5_9qW_Veic_FIVUWg8uKED3FL1Na4bd1sadZjUMsbV0-QisRrPlQ7jiaFrBISuvE1jLMBEX33NKlI9t7OQxzNQVELYRZ-PGXUhjaXA9rJqvSAg/s1600/IMG_0218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6g1gcvAWFPXTPdXwXrwqVR71T-B9Gz5_9qW_Veic_FIVUWg8uKED3FL1Na4bd1sadZjUMsbV0-QisRrPlQ7jiaFrBISuvE1jLMBEX33NKlI9t7OQxzNQVELYRZ-PGXUhjaXA9rJqvSAg/s400/IMG_0218.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">The parting of the waters.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQKqg2p5KjFnlZFm2Pv4JOkm0NPBZEXb0C17-gXfoYkQEljircXnJlTC-KWWYXbrZnO6pDMJ6JF9jDwBlXpdR9MMOjHrhuDsXRE8zLU6TBkLa2KDdC15jNnlUYLUSs2qJEKgezgUETj4/s1600/IMG_0222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQKqg2p5KjFnlZFm2Pv4JOkm0NPBZEXb0C17-gXfoYkQEljircXnJlTC-KWWYXbrZnO6pDMJ6JF9jDwBlXpdR9MMOjHrhuDsXRE8zLU6TBkLa2KDdC15jNnlUYLUSs2qJEKgezgUETj4/s400/IMG_0222.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">The Obelisk dedicated to Mon. Riquet.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-82683089098764513512012-06-10T10:29:00.002+12:002012-06-10T10:30:34.436+12:00In Castelnaudary<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castelnaudary">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castelnaudary</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2yWHzCvyDUv8Dp6C6k0SbsLA5RX0N9anVFUchjDnk_FwgSHDnSkyKJWV3d7yw_qYG2SVM502yuT_QK2HwSi9CqTIldjfyf1MPAU4c6OCpLL0oDfEyhV87hfCHTrQsGLYo7I6vzYPgt8/s1600/200px-Castelnaudary_canal_midi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2yWHzCvyDUv8Dp6C6k0SbsLA5RX0N9anVFUchjDnk_FwgSHDnSkyKJWV3d7yw_qYG2SVM502yuT_QK2HwSi9CqTIldjfyf1MPAU4c6OCpLL0oDfEyhV87hfCHTrQsGLYo7I6vzYPgt8/s400/200px-Castelnaudary_canal_midi.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4mEdYdafiTO4Am8ZJs0Xf4NHKzmyWxu6Gkvr5BsXkEYrhj-A2kFKVrUM86dDRaS-8BFkVekBO-cFqH7k3fgGvxdmu-Z-IAJaDPoAy73MlPeusbtXf5Pgzs1cpDBt8aTC7-jPPDoIDgI/s1600/800px-Castelnaudary_bassin_canal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4mEdYdafiTO4Am8ZJs0Xf4NHKzmyWxu6Gkvr5BsXkEYrhj-A2kFKVrUM86dDRaS-8BFkVekBO-cFqH7k3fgGvxdmu-Z-IAJaDPoAy73MlPeusbtXf5Pgzs1cpDBt8aTC7-jPPDoIDgI/s400/800px-Castelnaudary_bassin_canal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-54526023926277817032012-06-02T08:25:00.001+12:002012-06-02T08:25:56.916+12:00Carcassonne<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">We had a big day yesterday& have arrived at
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcassonne" target="_blank">Carcasonne</a>, where it is very warm, early this morning, to do some shopping. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Cezanne is parked under some plane trees which helps to keep us a little
cooler.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">A few days ago we had a little experience with the 'bumper boats'... when a hire boat came into a lock behind us & forgot that it had to stop!!!!!!!!!
Barry had his rope around the bollard, then the cleet on the boat & I had
temporarily tied the stern rope on. Cezanne was hit with such force that Barry
says his arms were almost pulled out of their sockets. Our bicycles were
tied at the stern but moved forwards & the stainles steel railing
at the stern has a slight bend in it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">On the canal du midi, until we get to Toulouse, the
locks are all an oval shape & are more difficult to tie up in, than
straight sided locks. They were built like this during the 17th C, for extra
strength & take 3 or 4 boats.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">We are looking forward to the canal after
Toulouse, which everyone tells us is much nicer. Not many private boat owners
like this section.</span></div>Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-18068564640968580862012-05-29T09:36:00.000+12:002012-05-29T09:36:20.006+12:00Beziers and 7 lock staircase at Fonserannes<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">28/5/12</span></span><br /><div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">We travelled through Beziers then to the staircase
of 7 locks which was no problem, from there it was about 50 km until the next
lock. We have being tying up bankside with no charges Stopped for water which we
had to pay €4. The weather has been good , a little wind , with temps. 28-30
cooling at night to about 18 There are a lot of hire boats on this part of the
canal , when one sees the number stil lin the bases one realises what it will be
like in the high season. We are told after Toulouse we will run out of
them</span>- (the hire boats around here are commonly known as "Bumperboats" as they have a reputation for lack of control...)</div>
<div>
</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7 lock staircase at Fonserannes near Beziers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fonserannes_Lock%20" target="_blank"> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fonserannes_Lock </a><br />
or U-tube video of Fonserannes Lock staircase<br />
link here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHFKfKLseUw&feature=related" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHFKfKLseUw&feature=related</a> <br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Short tunnel at
Malpas,Beziers</span></div>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">aquaduct taking the canal over the Orb at Beziers</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANkJlhg3SzUToPxQ2zPNSnqnucu9XGPt-MxyUddS8c7NgmJo02TZojorvgAQB11BXmALOfT5DJZDpLtQ1n_-q4YPQ4dOk_zvGw6HESiRgr5dmSUBsy5JPjC_C4b6uTNfNaIj70BjMUKA/s1600/disused+incline+plane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANkJlhg3SzUToPxQ2zPNSnqnucu9XGPt-MxyUddS8c7NgmJo02TZojorvgAQB11BXmALOfT5DJZDpLtQ1n_-q4YPQ4dOk_zvGw6HESiRgr5dmSUBsy5JPjC_C4b6uTNfNaIj70BjMUKA/s320/disused+incline+plane.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">old disused incline plane that used to carry boats up this slope</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtiLk3G-sFGncAz09AI6J10clkX5TJKnoCB_48t2sVFj2usGEv32SSOn4zEIGdBtThxup3YpOUf2YA-wLYexl48MlSAFPeV7-7Ze6oxeTqWWM8tJNc8L5Wf1Zy8GtzLoYiRHyBoPnd6aM/s1600/disused+incline+plane1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtiLk3G-sFGncAz09AI6J10clkX5TJKnoCB_48t2sVFj2usGEv32SSOn4zEIGdBtThxup3YpOUf2YA-wLYexl48MlSAFPeV7-7Ze6oxeTqWWM8tJNc8L5Wf1Zy8GtzLoYiRHyBoPnd6aM/s320/disused+incline+plane1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">same old incline plane</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
</div>Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-43172533251705181392012-05-20T19:26:00.001+12:002012-05-20T19:45:42.959+12:00Arrived back to the boat for 2012 season.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpBULqGshHPPErsvxEiDyBylnSxtmwmE9z4Glc4GpCimenb7W-JlIAAssvE-xIvx3hfrqZf2KdpIbt8fQ_K3CW2H9noelrI47SEpvM7j4P6LBCa8SoCYzzytOAFqPM-J7zG8pnQ3QOKs/s1600/acces-cap-d-agde-region.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpBULqGshHPPErsvxEiDyBylnSxtmwmE9z4Glc4GpCimenb7W-JlIAAssvE-xIvx3hfrqZf2KdpIbt8fQ_K3CW2H9noelrI47SEpvM7j4P6LBCa8SoCYzzytOAFqPM-J7zG8pnQ3QOKs/s320/acces-cap-d-agde-region.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">After some cleaning and polishing work to the hull of cezanne on thursday, she is now back in the water.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.en.capdagde.com/la_cite_d_agde-modele01-1725-UK-DECOUVRIR.html" target="_blank">Grau d Agde</a> is a very nice place but le jarden, where our boat
was is very dusty & sandy, so with the wind we were always having problems
with it. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">We are now back in <a href="http://www.en.capdagde.com/la_cite_d_agde-modele01-1725-UK-DECOUVRIR.html" target="_blank">Agde</a> and parked along the banks of the midi. <a href="http://www.en.capdagde.com/canal_du_midi_round_lock-modele01-1753-UK-DECOUVRIR.html" target="_blank">canal d midi</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">There is quite a cool wind
today, but usually by midday the sun has been shining & we are in shorts
& T shirt. </span></div>
<div>
<a href="http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?q=Grau+d+Agde+map&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=M6C4T7nkJ5CXiQfi3eX5CA&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=3&ved=0CEwQ_AUoAg" target="_blank">Agde on world map</a></div>Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-68019839644671074332011-10-02T18:12:00.000+13:002011-10-08T22:44:17.304+13:00Almost on the Med!<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">1st Oct 2011.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Today we travelled by TGV from Agde to CDG airport,
Paris, & depart for NZ tomorrow.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlS_27lKqx2Q5VYI62mSKHi_ArnCr1ZwItFK9rGC4nhRbVye752rGpTz-IwByDz3LgX7IcRcre83uRccfCStjSmQ4W31Qy4LKFVf62zmQta-oOUb8Jr2fwjogmbVWyyq9bHFWEJYsUtg/s1600/Agde+-+Lindsay%2527s+visit+250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlS_27lKqx2Q5VYI62mSKHi_ArnCr1ZwItFK9rGC4nhRbVye752rGpTz-IwByDz3LgX7IcRcre83uRccfCStjSmQ4W31Qy4LKFVf62zmQta-oOUb8Jr2fwjogmbVWyyq9bHFWEJYsUtg/s320/Agde+-+Lindsay%2527s+visit+250.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agde - Lindsay's visit 250</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayLnYrcsbmWzGhXAdTKDlkLYvm-km6hFsZC5Ekar9vP2UjlXcsdMf456CMEC2MNcIWJC_4ncN5OefmMPJN3EXc6QEJlSbTFyAkmmtn4RSS1hz705mcMp86MKsDTc3AVQ1uCf1ZyBC0wM/s1600/Agde+-+Lindsay%2527s+visit+274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayLnYrcsbmWzGhXAdTKDlkLYvm-km6hFsZC5Ekar9vP2UjlXcsdMf456CMEC2MNcIWJC_4ncN5OefmMPJN3EXc6QEJlSbTFyAkmmtn4RSS1hz705mcMp86MKsDTc3AVQ1uCf1ZyBC0wM/s320/Agde+-+Lindsay%2527s+visit+274.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agde - Lindsay's visit 274</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7KdKyMX79piGXxrsO13i4QrcjxZv1MS183ly9t5YWPwgCnPbYm4Pue-ovG2R0gpPHH1GDZgBLkLDYBkCPuGihSa1Yz5-Scx1jb7WKjPiuLnKfkNtPOIN8D7yP5PKW9WIdBcLcpWh2eE/s1600/Agde+-+Lindsay%2527s+visit+282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7KdKyMX79piGXxrsO13i4QrcjxZv1MS183ly9t5YWPwgCnPbYm4Pue-ovG2R0gpPHH1GDZgBLkLDYBkCPuGihSa1Yz5-Scx1jb7WKjPiuLnKfkNtPOIN8D7yP5PKW9WIdBcLcpWh2eE/s320/Agde+-+Lindsay%2527s+visit+282.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agde - Lindsay's visit 282</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycFOOOLKvhtzYjG8pNjJoZWeYxZcOv31peWBoYEE7fX7hSo8VZTV1vvEoRA35mxwRR9ekLhO8umxrQNgE39NevxdM2wmsQ8PZvQ7an4LrtLt_Ke7cahU7x6pqfJpa6dM5GKhtIcI34_g/s1600/Agde+-+Lindsay%2527s+visit+283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycFOOOLKvhtzYjG8pNjJoZWeYxZcOv31peWBoYEE7fX7hSo8VZTV1vvEoRA35mxwRR9ekLhO8umxrQNgE39NevxdM2wmsQ8PZvQ7an4LrtLt_Ke7cahU7x6pqfJpa6dM5GKhtIcI34_g/s320/Agde+-+Lindsay%2527s+visit+283.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agde - Lindsay's visit 283</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7V1IfvTDVPZFSIdfkwXjHZ2VVg5za31RlE7Y-t10cpF0oRdOH3Nmiu9zRlKY5hB7SQFlH42L3S8zPPzksolncvrMnSwPdEzDxZjT_o4YWFy56_zSzjumgALl3FiPWIH3vIIx9KWkwESI/s1600/IMG_1389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7V1IfvTDVPZFSIdfkwXjHZ2VVg5za31RlE7Y-t10cpF0oRdOH3Nmiu9zRlKY5hB7SQFlH42L3S8zPPzksolncvrMnSwPdEzDxZjT_o4YWFy56_zSzjumgALl3FiPWIH3vIIx9KWkwESI/s320/IMG_1389.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
</div>
Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-65110769118510417012011-09-25T18:03:00.001+13:002011-09-25T18:34:56.418+13:00On the Canal Du Midi<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPV4wsM__Q6dbt0y872Aa09IkUgaFIFPAlbxlky9XYQBEhow_hMPbNH8Z_OSf5A_-ly6clDA7r0Wa_NYH1ppbmSoWlv5VYDyjHWvBNfPkQ7NdsaSRvgWqfj9TKCm-uiQ0SyB_VE4f7a_4/s1600/800px-Xvolks_canal_du_midi_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPV4wsM__Q6dbt0y872Aa09IkUgaFIFPAlbxlky9XYQBEhow_hMPbNH8Z_OSf5A_-ly6clDA7r0Wa_NYH1ppbmSoWlv5VYDyjHWvBNfPkQ7NdsaSRvgWqfj9TKCm-uiQ0SyB_VE4f7a_4/s320/800px-Xvolks_canal_du_midi_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Canal du Midi, approaching the round lock at Agde; note the tow path along the Canal near the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_Sea" title="Mediterranean Sea">Mediterranean</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74xtMcmvWn8gvDyEcQO6WNpKtba1jT7bbeCgepzX0-qyMNsh6gXjU1MQoEr2siNtCd5dk_DpNcCy0os3RtEtra0D-86H6EeiMPQyRp0TCCNqAFLKW4W9Tc85Vs7yLRvCCdfhohEXeh2w/s1600/EclusesdeFons%25C3%25A9ranesCanalduMidi2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74xtMcmvWn8gvDyEcQO6WNpKtba1jT7bbeCgepzX0-qyMNsh6gXjU1MQoEr2siNtCd5dk_DpNcCy0os3RtEtra0D-86H6EeiMPQyRp0TCCNqAFLKW4W9Tc85Vs7yLRvCCdfhohEXeh2w/s320/EclusesdeFons%25C3%25A9ranesCanalduMidi2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">locks on the Midi</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">At present we are parked under plane trees which line the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_du_Midi">midi</a>. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">They were planted when the canal was built, are big & old & provide shade which is very welcome. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">We have cycled to the beach again today. 1 hr each way, so now we are having a relaxing time before a visit from Lindsay.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">We get back to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agde">Agde</a>, tomorrow. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">The weather has an Autumn feel now. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Lindsay is coming to stay for 3 days, so will do a bit of sightseeing in the area. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-family: Tahoma;">The boat comes out of the water Monday, but we can still sleep on it etc, so it will be a bit like camping.<br />
<br />
</span></span>Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-83421796083874333302011-09-13T11:46:00.000+12:002011-09-13T11:46:55.275+12:00Around Lyon<div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakrW6zW2BZLJKD_7smxrvbtS4EcyBw_14GUrqbkngFrkAIrSxOj-RuV-G-I2XPbJ5-XP_JII1-Ao-jgpLUona7JkwQmgS1AiThU4QrJpNFWm7kybpFSzbUY6LWh5_rESWJHhFaSA2Qq4/s1600/IMG_3265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakrW6zW2BZLJKD_7smxrvbtS4EcyBw_14GUrqbkngFrkAIrSxOj-RuV-G-I2XPbJ5-XP_JII1-Ao-jgpLUona7JkwQmgS1AiThU4QrJpNFWm7kybpFSzbUY6LWh5_rESWJHhFaSA2Qq4/s320/IMG_3265.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">1. Picking & sorting Beaujolais grapes</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0GHk1cnV6cjC4p8B1CrKJ1Lqy4n6q3GuyNp07-za-gBY0ML8ml4qQ6-q_qJV_qYc3SJ_zdJt2_CLKV3_x25ZSvJ0N5kdHjFj0G5tdPEpR7JvtpgqyBFmWM8X9fQPDV1gxH8rZanc69w/s1600/IMG_3286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0GHk1cnV6cjC4p8B1CrKJ1Lqy4n6q3GuyNp07-za-gBY0ML8ml4qQ6-q_qJV_qYc3SJ_zdJt2_CLKV3_x25ZSvJ0N5kdHjFj0G5tdPEpR7JvtpgqyBFmWM8X9fQPDV1gxH8rZanc69w/s320/IMG_3286.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">2. Statue of André-Marie Ampère</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2FTcw1n92-tE3kHobteXyr5MBb4y-Ti1q1t2EvT4TprRALTC9WjvA9tqrr0qCLnV6XHrUTpGmmB_eALUZWmtWwjkLHqODQziZU6Cy4FhPPj7CINxYo4ZG6U0qPMkMymMkfhQVu8cAaU/s1600/IMG_3302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2FTcw1n92-tE3kHobteXyr5MBb4y-Ti1q1t2EvT4TprRALTC9WjvA9tqrr0qCLnV6XHrUTpGmmB_eALUZWmtWwjkLHqODQziZU6Cy4FhPPj7CINxYo4ZG6U0qPMkMymMkfhQVu8cAaU/s320/IMG_3302.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">3. Lyon, beside the River.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnysCjtrSTDmt7BzWGMPKN-wR7GXFjdvJ9do7pl-g8RjRmxamQgwM5WBWQN4h1AFcsR94dOO1WS1xnbyLncsn86z0DM7l5ip0rhofErNDiLI1ekOwsB4z-mqaImwuWusl_4zUJendkzAA/s1600/IMG_3316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnysCjtrSTDmt7BzWGMPKN-wR7GXFjdvJ9do7pl-g8RjRmxamQgwM5WBWQN4h1AFcsR94dOO1WS1xnbyLncsn86z0DM7l5ip0rhofErNDiLI1ekOwsB4z-mqaImwuWusl_4zUJendkzAA/s320/IMG_3316.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">4. Grape vines on steep slopes near Condrieu.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">5. The wide Rhône River.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWj5G8kLMQ-iKecckme8Y2HOGcqGgamL2UWHBFqNoWv7Yu_u0PWhcJB7hPVRP9_LkLCpRRS1LUiPyWlVAM2R60cguQtMDMU1UvfxgbKInzPtm6lN1wUOp4Cq0b1fCloMFBQaC_Gs68RDM/s1600/IMG_3340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWj5G8kLMQ-iKecckme8Y2HOGcqGgamL2UWHBFqNoWv7Yu_u0PWhcJB7hPVRP9_LkLCpRRS1LUiPyWlVAM2R60cguQtMDMU1UvfxgbKInzPtm6lN1wUOp4Cq0b1fCloMFBQaC_Gs68RDM/s320/IMG_3340.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">6. Bollene lock. 22M deep. Deepest in France.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivZfRgwVcmkcx7_TXTDPvgaC90D65VpWlFPN-Q_vLWEbGaZSuIrCD2hqBf09YirnXwAKD_JbL7NJm955hpbufV5eekuU05HYXhS6t6wLN1wwboZ3iw3L7DR5p92-i_-qXF8ah90XxBMI/s1600/IMG_3349.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivZfRgwVcmkcx7_TXTDPvgaC90D65VpWlFPN-Q_vLWEbGaZSuIrCD2hqBf09YirnXwAKD_JbL7NJm955hpbufV5eekuU05HYXhS6t6wLN1wwboZ3iw3L7DR5p92-i_-qXF8ah90XxBMI/s320/IMG_3349.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">7. Roquemaure church.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">From Thoissy on the Sâone R. we cycled to several small wine growing villages of the Beaujolais wine growing area. Vineyards & country roads were very busy with tractors & trailors as grape picking was in full swing. Mostly red grapes being picked by hand.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We spent 3 days at Lyon. While there we visted the passageways in the old city. Big wooden doors lead into these passage ways & homes, built from the 14thCentury onwards, which are still lived in today.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">While wandering around the city we came accross the statue of André-Marie Lampère, Born in Lyon. 1775-1836. He was a French physicist, natural philosopher & mathematician who is best known for his contribution to electrodynamics. The Ampere---The unit for measuring electric current was named in honour of him.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Our journey down the Rhône started when we left Lyon.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Angela & Stephen Cowper came to stay when we were at Les Roches-Condrieu. A wine growing area.They took us on a tour of the area in their car, plus wine tasting at Vidal-Fleury, which was very interesting.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The locks on the Rhône are deep, the deepest, the Bollene lock is 22M deep.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The Rhône is big & wide with a current, which is not strong at this time of the year. The wind can become strong, which it did 1 morning after we were well on our way. Fortuneately we came accross a place to tie up near the village of Roquemaure where there is a 14th century collegiate church , of the Languedoc Gothic style. A local poet, Placide Cappeau, composed the hymn 'Silent Night', here to celebrate the restoration of the church organ.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Since 25th Oct 1868 this same church has housed the relics of St. Valentine, the patron Saint of all lovers. A rich wine grower purchased them in Rome to protect his vines from the Phylloxera disease, which appeared in Roquemaure for the 1st time in 1866. Since those days, Valentine looks over the countryside & their vineyards. By 1pm, the River was calm again & we continued our journey, to Avignon, which is a beautiful old city but we only stayed 1 night as the port was alongside a busy road.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Now we are on the canal between the Petit Rhône & Sête Rivers, making our way towards our winter mooring, near Agde. We arrive back in NZ on the 4th Oct.</span></div>Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-68070628564321645712011-08-31T21:52:00.001+12:002011-08-31T21:54:38.617+12:00Cezanne's blocked Aorta...<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">About a week ago, when we were on the Saone R. Cezanne had a problem. His Aorta became blocked & he finally died.(fungus in the fuel tank blocked the outlets etc.) We were lucky that we were nearing a jetty beside a big lock, so we tied up & after much time trying to rectify the problem & cleaning out some pipes, still no go, so Barry decided to use the foot pump which we have for the bikes. It has a special fitting , just the right size to fit into te diesel tank. A few pumps & voila, air flowed through & cezanne sprang to life. The fuel filter was needing to be changed regularly, so we were a little concerned about being on the Rhone. There is a boat workshop at Pont de Vaux, so we had them do a temporary repair until we get to our winter mooring.This involved putting in another small tank & bypassing the old one[cezanne's bypass!] which was over 1/2 full, with the return, we were told, would be minimal & not a problem. There was a lot of rain overnight. This 5km long R. was running high.The pontoon which I had to step onto to go ashore, to press a button to start the automtic lock, was under water. 2km down the Saone, Barry looked at the fuel guage Which was reading much higher than when we left.A few calculations told us we would not reach Macon, so about turn & with some hurried changing over of fuel etc & then a stop to do some more changes we arrived back here. The mechanic came & did some more alterations, so as the weather will be much better tomorrow we have decided to stay here another day.</span>Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-25705687071112756752011-08-31T21:48:00.003+12:002011-08-31T21:54:11.749+12:00arctic trip<div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Circumnavigation of Svarlbard (Spitsbergen)</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Our trip to the Arctic was very enjoyable Quite different from the Antarctic. There were less icebergs ,but many glaciers which were very wide eg. 3 km.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Most days we did 2 zodiac cruises, mostly to walk on the land, which was very barren as there is only 200 mls of rain per year in Svarlbard. On the land we saw many flowering plants, birds, plus animals. e.g. the rheindeer & arctic fox.From the zodiacs we viewed polar bears & explored the fiords & pack ice,</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We saw 8 polar bears, some were in the distance, but on 2 different occasions we saw polar bears at the waters edge. They usually roam the ice in solitude. Polar bear can swim very long distances in the cold water as they have thick insulating blubber & air filled hairs adding to their buoyancy.They mate during April & May. Usually 2 cubs are born in late December weighing 11/2 pounds, in the darkness of their den. The cubs are then breastfed on milk containing 30 per cent butter fat produced from the mother's layer of blubber. When in March she breaks the seal of her den to introduce the cubs to the world they weigh 25 pounds.Their main prey, the ringed seal, have just given birth to their pups & are abundant. Mother bear has had a 6-7 months fast. she will care for them for the next 2 years.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdslNwiLFCyBf2tuYtCQ7tm01XhVU-AQvogmGPHc4RkfvASoRGfKewWNRsx4FQkqalGMb1FrrlTD2rvpiC_ass5CFd2nlaHwhqFCDD-3bT4yrv8PIMH_AQUiyuxCkavJ54xMVEJFQSggA/s1600/P1010164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdslNwiLFCyBf2tuYtCQ7tm01XhVU-AQvogmGPHc4RkfvASoRGfKewWNRsx4FQkqalGMb1FrrlTD2rvpiC_ass5CFd2nlaHwhqFCDD-3bT4yrv8PIMH_AQUiyuxCkavJ54xMVEJFQSggA/s320/P1010164.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhIudfMgvW616Hgu6FKTkvP9wmyuFidiyZCRFqB-N0DYiGLQ34bOOwdB8PHCbyBp_mNxpV5RKlLJckATMmbqKZs-d9OIQvdZpWns7Y-TU-XA4T3KbBHgoAvuPmsI9DaSFpvy98ONGFfs/s1600/P1010029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhIudfMgvW616Hgu6FKTkvP9wmyuFidiyZCRFqB-N0DYiGLQ34bOOwdB8PHCbyBp_mNxpV5RKlLJckATMmbqKZs-d9OIQvdZpWns7Y-TU-XA4T3KbBHgoAvuPmsI9DaSFpvy98ONGFfs/s320/P1010029.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We also saw large groups of Walruses. At this time of the year the males are in a separate group from the females & their young.They are very sociable inquisitive creatures & loll about beside & on top of each other, occasionally puffing & snorting at their neighbours.The tusks are bigger on the males. Those with bigger tusks are more attractive to the females. The tusks are also used to haul out of the water onto ice, as well as to lean on when sleeping. The Latin name for walrus is Odobenus Rosmarus---The tooth walker.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcpeOMGiutc4YlwxBPfFR9zRScBzWR25xQB4DC4pXeSJrliTgiEx7F1kskqz4CvjTkJi-JOrEn43m12n8gLMjE6X6FpUrkzlRvw_svmTRyHa8VCaeNRX6c5mFC2kqcYc5c0Rjvo8ycuQ/s1600/P1010047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcpeOMGiutc4YlwxBPfFR9zRScBzWR25xQB4DC4pXeSJrliTgiEx7F1kskqz4CvjTkJi-JOrEn43m12n8gLMjE6X6FpUrkzlRvw_svmTRyHa8VCaeNRX6c5mFC2kqcYc5c0Rjvo8ycuQ/s320/P1010047.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_Zbew5GsJtBLwzDcMQ5pA3NiLle-5YYJUn-mgjkgd-6jDef9hDo91y4OOma_IyE6rSpgrCTwMc-0w0HOLBGqf8vb0dSrwBPDvAj5fPIz0qzr4K4yLvdqsKrj3mnxnFkA0MNeu_bsjzI/s1600/P1010079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_Zbew5GsJtBLwzDcMQ5pA3NiLle-5YYJUn-mgjkgd-6jDef9hDo91y4OOma_IyE6rSpgrCTwMc-0w0HOLBGqf8vb0dSrwBPDvAj5fPIz0qzr4K4yLvdqsKrj3mnxnFkA0MNeu_bsjzI/s320/P1010079.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">There were different types of sea birds, some nesting on cliff faces & also the occasional whale,</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJ1xS8XTfVUF7b11iaF5XegzD50MDrcTW0_PzVklv_ZZ7X4A37VqxPU6l2F4celtRWVzzJH47aZqgZg6dAfFI2WxKSYppJkwdBCgLCUD_49MXDIsMHWWXdlti5e4F-2piFHdyEHGX9CQ/s1600/P1010221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJ1xS8XTfVUF7b11iaF5XegzD50MDrcTW0_PzVklv_ZZ7X4A37VqxPU6l2F4celtRWVzzJH47aZqgZg6dAfFI2WxKSYppJkwdBCgLCUD_49MXDIsMHWWXdlti5e4F-2piFHdyEHGX9CQ/s320/P1010221.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">brunnich guillemots</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdFSGfnfAyBs6lHNx5Jwymquuj-U0gwOr7UjSboVeafUSyoOwaAfPleWIZuQp1n9ajWlSx8geChjIPqR-B9ELSb7-pNIw2UM2trshM4p9lfoTuanDXmM4YztlZUtqu5RWrE5sHD788qI/s1600/P1010211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdFSGfnfAyBs6lHNx5Jwymquuj-U0gwOr7UjSboVeafUSyoOwaAfPleWIZuQp1n9ajWlSx8geChjIPqR-B9ELSb7-pNIw2UM2trshM4p9lfoTuanDXmM4YztlZUtqu5RWrE5sHD788qI/s320/P1010211.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">pack ice</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The other animal which was prolific on the S.E. side of the Island was the Rheindeer. Perhaps this is where Santa Claus gets his team from!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_chVWvSvH-M9-HachlveVzWh1lEZEeiy5hTYfKhNuGTakOW0MUBPgMHUo1O5fmYxaJq1Z_sNF8NcUO6msSF-0OB4GeIt0iPjHM7vgPtbgkUx9_onh5eK3h5pLPO5V7SJilbZTzosL3Y/s1600/P1010053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_chVWvSvH-M9-HachlveVzWh1lEZEeiy5hTYfKhNuGTakOW0MUBPgMHUo1O5fmYxaJq1Z_sNF8NcUO6msSF-0OB4GeIt0iPjHM7vgPtbgkUx9_onh5eK3h5pLPO5V7SJilbZTzosL3Y/s320/P1010053.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">On all the shore excursions the guides carried loaded rifles & were very vigilant as there is always the possibility of a polar bear attack.</span></div>Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-9473226660335023922011-07-21T09:51:00.002+12:002011-07-21T09:52:41.456+12:00visit to the UK and Windsor.<div bgcolor="#ffffff"><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">I had obtained a list of the remembrance services & events to be held on various days during the weeks before & after the 1st of July, which was the 95th Anniversary of the commencement of the battle of The Somme. We would have to hire a car & didn't have enough days spare to warrant doing that, so I decided to give the papers to an English couple who were in the Port at Sillery with us as we had decided we would move on that day. They said that they were going that day--{the 1st July to the Franco-British memorial at Thiepval, where a special service was being held,} in their car, but didn't know the time until I told them. We were asked to go with them & accepted but to be there in time we had to leave within 1/2 an hour. We arrived just as the service was beginning. There were many people there, bands etc. The memorial is 45M high & can be seen from miles around. It is the memorial to 73,367 missing British & Sth Africans who fell between July 1915 & March 1918 & have no known grave. Their names are inscribed on the 16 pillars making up the base of the monument. The other countries who participated in WW1 in the Somme area have memorials in villages nearby. The New Zealand memorial is at Longueval.</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We continued to Châlons-en-Champagne where we spent time with French friends, then caught the Eurostar to London & stayed at a B & B in Windsor, owned by Zin Zan Brook & his wife. It was a 10 minute walk to Windsor Castle, which is well kept, covers a large area & is very interesting. We also spent time with Lindsay, an English friend. She was going to Hampton Court Flower Show on Friday 8th, the day we were returning to France, so I joined her for the morning & had an enjoyable time looking at the different exhibits & various ideas which people dream up to make gardens interesting. Hampton Court say they have the biggest flower show in the world. Barry went to a nearby pub, read a book & quenched his thirst with some ale. We had several pub meals & I did enjoy the cider, which I can drink without any problems!</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Back on Cezanne, at Châlons en Campangne we had lots of shopping & washing to do before saying farewell to our friends there & departing for the canal de la Marne à Saône. At the market we bought some delicious apricots, peaches & nectarines. Yesterday it was raining. We were visited by friends from St. Dizier for lunch. Tonight we are at Chaumont.</span></div><div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofqmWv-_dGK42Z4obPMlK_Br42KVheZBLNunDpPU1TLyUv5Pbkh9ccGw86pB3gBf6BoDfxvFORKu0VcO-NyyGy6faU6zjqDNwF4Hom_WMcUG5hPN70JZ_eHmc4sx31zVf4o-xuneahNI/s1600/IMG_2856.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofqmWv-_dGK42Z4obPMlK_Br42KVheZBLNunDpPU1TLyUv5Pbkh9ccGw86pB3gBf6BoDfxvFORKu0VcO-NyyGy6faU6zjqDNwF4Hom_WMcUG5hPN70JZ_eHmc4sx31zVf4o-xuneahNI/s320/IMG_2856.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Hampton Court Flower Show. School Childrens competition. Sea scene.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAEZNIMmUNP3T8pSCVSJkg91iUxuTvcOWBhRKXtISINFpEU3DK3Q6myGiLP0sacAHQisZskt4eK53fSqeYKVz9Bk1-TbQCkZuGONNGIZ2JsmBddKYVmFzryy4ttC14cNhb6hKjvPZaXo/s1600/IMG_2839.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAEZNIMmUNP3T8pSCVSJkg91iUxuTvcOWBhRKXtISINFpEU3DK3Q6myGiLP0sacAHQisZskt4eK53fSqeYKVz9Bk1-TbQCkZuGONNGIZ2JsmBddKYVmFzryy4ttC14cNhb6hKjvPZaXo/s320/IMG_2839.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">A different exhibit!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolWgWJ3j3XRCX5EjcdYCVUujPJkBovAGs4kyCYZRkjWJASH3HyEc0ZZetAme3774rdfAoZ9ZiwWuPukAdMZctTrRRUrmSt2oEJNIijzo9R7KiNvRsE_MoreCemgihp5LkIm4hE9jdnPQ/s1600/IMG_2848.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolWgWJ3j3XRCX5EjcdYCVUujPJkBovAGs4kyCYZRkjWJASH3HyEc0ZZetAme3774rdfAoZ9ZiwWuPukAdMZctTrRRUrmSt2oEJNIijzo9R7KiNvRsE_MoreCemgihp5LkIm4hE9jdnPQ/s1600/IMG_2848.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolWgWJ3j3XRCX5EjcdYCVUujPJkBovAGs4kyCYZRkjWJASH3HyEc0ZZetAme3774rdfAoZ9ZiwWuPukAdMZctTrRRUrmSt2oEJNIijzo9R7KiNvRsE_MoreCemgihp5LkIm4hE9jdnPQ/s320/IMG_2848.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tropical flowers to catch insects.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNU9xHdnHeMElatJJLFXVUZ_be6fo5iL9melo9kuLBzpXz0RtTqq3_iMR917ouZKZPIFgSF_G8bJMQ-8VzMzQScrpDkedvQnphISR3NcsanB0gSsujrCL_JrPmWMTjuydPa_Edhva6O0k/s1600/IMG_2810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNU9xHdnHeMElatJJLFXVUZ_be6fo5iL9melo9kuLBzpXz0RtTqq3_iMR917ouZKZPIFgSF_G8bJMQ-8VzMzQScrpDkedvQnphISR3NcsanB0gSsujrCL_JrPmWMTjuydPa_Edhva6O0k/s320/IMG_2810.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Windsor Castle.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9rslkgeVsJCl3DRWGhm77_kk3w7V7S3iriDc2pQbvp61ZFYqN0VbqPhjp_WQzv41guaiFI01R6ENtUWlPhTbi4qgWTUJyqKClqrj0wO-a_IcPyuN8EeaqekbnXzikfZ4tMdJ35vWrgE/s1600/IMG_2830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9rslkgeVsJCl3DRWGhm77_kk3w7V7S3iriDc2pQbvp61ZFYqN0VbqPhjp_WQzv41guaiFI01R6ENtUWlPhTbi4qgWTUJyqKClqrj0wO-a_IcPyuN8EeaqekbnXzikfZ4tMdJ35vWrgE/s320/IMG_2830.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Windsor Castle.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7jpWxp9giRC9I1xUIdvoEYagTH88LtU9artsk-ASKzMCnGZo3Ej-HI4NsuloE-OOZbdyL22UmOnZfnidDhrOLGKzfmIQv2b172f0t1O6Ik2TgyhehER1q6Y9UQ9gimgdozYI5E4iAEQ/s320/IMG_2796.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">The Franco-British Memorial at Thiepval</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-39277285712214482292011-06-28T21:48:00.002+12:002011-06-28T21:50:10.023+12:00a French Wedding...<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Here is our latest newsletter.</span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRST__5X8sI-EpB7-5sXS8Z_vDPq8K0rY-o1NbsSmatSVbq1-jK1q2ul8ln_wAFilnpedgBxDEYT1Tqr_DsYrndaudiIizfDKq5DBqHFSXF-Qft8XZERshfgAAdMbLy9GUT_6RO3rSvwg/s1600/IMG_2727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRST__5X8sI-EpB7-5sXS8Z_vDPq8K0rY-o1NbsSmatSVbq1-jK1q2ul8ln_wAFilnpedgBxDEYT1Tqr_DsYrndaudiIizfDKq5DBqHFSXF-Qft8XZERshfgAAdMbLy9GUT_6RO3rSvwg/s320/IMG_2727.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Hortilonieres boats returning after the market.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_U95ILzWh0syj09cgXjO9QHbxGqOTYlSACoUk2JuX45uNa-KIPh1yESWa6NLsQkOyH02WVojUzSsgdvRLTY18gLKM262IXBRWjDz5TCYNRNACnCWNVwr8H51T9bwn8-35TUfzD7HqzkI/s1600/IMG_2729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_U95ILzWh0syj09cgXjO9QHbxGqOTYlSACoUk2JuX45uNa-KIPh1yESWa6NLsQkOyH02WVojUzSsgdvRLTY18gLKM262IXBRWjDz5TCYNRNACnCWNVwr8H51T9bwn8-35TUfzD7HqzkI/s320/IMG_2729.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Women , in their national costumes</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4acMlPLUgwGZqFYyT5Qiw_hiHIQ4eHS8AxljWiglXkd3WORiiVuQmjNTfYEqVTOQr9DRhzQfvRovQ0owVc6ejDviYHphEV8OS6g8ivNAFu1iRYeOMWDWxQf81ZltDplTEvccS_fYQF0/s1600/IMG_2732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4acMlPLUgwGZqFYyT5Qiw_hiHIQ4eHS8AxljWiglXkd3WORiiVuQmjNTfYEqVTOQr9DRhzQfvRovQ0owVc6ejDviYHphEV8OS6g8ivNAFu1iRYeOMWDWxQf81ZltDplTEvccS_fYQF0/s320/IMG_2732.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Men selling produce in their national costumes.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuGYxUuXC7NmPZ8M6KmMvF5mAWdjmiSiAfb5OYeQkcPogBGdcAHZew5MWkVrpG23tOtIIENwc15I_xT6fSbrY01cwBW2FHoTY3yJrO3ZWDhF9OFVWqR-TvBZYfd4GGj1xLEz2c9qYxJQ/s1600/IMG_2749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuGYxUuXC7NmPZ8M6KmMvF5mAWdjmiSiAfb5OYeQkcPogBGdcAHZew5MWkVrpG23tOtIIENwc15I_xT6fSbrY01cwBW2FHoTY3yJrO3ZWDhF9OFVWqR-TvBZYfd4GGj1xLEz2c9qYxJQ/s320/IMG_2749.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The light show at the Amien Cathedral</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DVorRoqVwOXdQrq9FjL1M4o41UwkDCTeYdpUBxQV-5Ln_uBCdyUL7nlHumSHGf8SG_24wKcwm0leIw-CUS62ZG0znzJwH5joVs-nGM0in4ZanWazwIpKAEf7arLWQgnP7Y44dkGBWyI/s1600/IMG_2782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DVorRoqVwOXdQrq9FjL1M4o41UwkDCTeYdpUBxQV-5Ln_uBCdyUL7nlHumSHGf8SG_24wKcwm0leIw-CUS62ZG0znzJwH5joVs-nGM0in4ZanWazwIpKAEf7arLWQgnP7Y44dkGBWyI/s320/IMG_2782.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Coucy Castle</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljwo-RXjRaafG-F3_oxmzCa7xSjd46fOhkbRQLxxyNFO1fB3jSSY2ZCD1mGxDh6gcxAxd7yIT3ExIiXtPmAnPMgWwTI8sXm1Id0IOPUIIlplPvweXoEyq4I-0ybrc4r-N8A8JJQhXrcE/s1600/IMG_2785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljwo-RXjRaafG-F3_oxmzCa7xSjd46fOhkbRQLxxyNFO1fB3jSSY2ZCD1mGxDh6gcxAxd7yIT3ExIiXtPmAnPMgWwTI8sXm1Id0IOPUIIlplPvweXoEyq4I-0ybrc4r-N8A8JJQhXrcE/s320/IMG_2785.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Barry at the Castle</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3LLYnUgCwEhQ-uS1YSOOI7bAlm4kC1coCr0ojiIsu4Wggr5eqYlZP72VWOUf7vhoCGN_RAgkl5QjtaJwLu1nL_AhebgNG-_hBldFj2ItZrJqx_amKUofGqviIvIzcPGHId_KUBDRXkQ/s1600/IMG_2787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3LLYnUgCwEhQ-uS1YSOOI7bAlm4kC1coCr0ojiIsu4Wggr5eqYlZP72VWOUf7vhoCGN_RAgkl5QjtaJwLu1nL_AhebgNG-_hBldFj2ItZrJqx_amKUofGqviIvIzcPGHId_KUBDRXkQ/s320/IMG_2787.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">A peaceful evening on the Aisne River</span></td></tr>
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<div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">On Fri, 17th June we drove to St. Dizier in a rental car, to attend the wedding of French friends whom we met in 2003. There was a marriage service at the Marie(town hall) at Betancourt La Feree ( the suburb where they live) at 5p.m. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">When Jean-Pierre arrived at the wedding ceremony he waved the black NZ flag which we gave him 2 years ago. He is an ardent rugby fan, They had arranged for people who speak English to talk to us.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The jovial Mayor officiated at the wedding service. When we went outside afterwards there was a fly pass of 5 jets from the French Air Forece, then 3 made a heart shaped vapour trail in the French colours---Blue , white & red.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The reception was held in the community hall nearby. Being in the Champagne area, that was what was offered to drink. The food, was various types of very nice nibbles, e.g. vegetables to dip, seafoods, pastries etc, & later in the evening an assortment of small cakes & sweet pastries.</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We returned to the River Somme. The morning we took back the rental car was the 1st day the Hortilonieres (whom I have mentioned earlier) were selling their produce at a market which they do each Sunday at this time of the year. They load the produce onto the narrow boats & go down the River to the market place, dressed in their national costumes.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We stopped off for a night in Amien, to see the light show on the Cathedral which started mid June, each night at 10.45 when it is dark. This is when they show the colours of all the figures, as they have been in a previous era. It was interesting to see for a short time but was rather dissappointing, compared to other light shows which we have been to.</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We were rather sad to leave the peaceful Somme River on 24th June & were back onto big waterways & locks again---on the Canal du Nord.But this was shortlived as we turned once again onto peaceful waterways. The canal joining the R. Oise to the R. Aisne is one of the prettiest & quietest French waterways which we have been on.</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">On Sat, 25th June, at Pont Mard we cycled to the nearby ruins of Coucy Castle. This Castle was originally built in 920, but was extended by several owners over the years, then neglected.In 1917 the retreating German army destroyed the remaining 4 towers & the Keep.</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The weather has suddenly changed from showery warm conditions to hot sunny windfree days.</span></div>Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-34961623126326353212011-06-19T08:35:00.001+12:002011-06-19T08:40:55.746+12:00To The Rescue!<div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Dear all,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We thought we would update you on a few of our experiences etc. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The weather has been showery for some time now, but not enough rain for the farmers. Their crops are not growing very well & look a bit sad.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Today we picked up a rental car in Amiens & tomorrow will drive to St. Dizier to our friend's wedding</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">A little more about St. Valery. ; William The Conqueror sailed from the port of St. Valery when he invaded England in 1066</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We enjoyed our stay at St. Valery, but had to move on & are now at Piquigny, a quiet town.</span></div><div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VOmp9fJrFe1JgiUTCDeBnt_KBFFsIvOBDo2ESasRfw8CBEq17DSVuXKNyXqpalG7LvlpAI5azxVppwwQevwjfK3tclmOq28JTMGDJgtu8ZoolUcEkesrppaTb3hdEPQ9Ic7jAjR5X_U/s1600/IMG_2711.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VOmp9fJrFe1JgiUTCDeBnt_KBFFsIvOBDo2ESasRfw8CBEq17DSVuXKNyXqpalG7LvlpAI5azxVppwwQevwjfK3tclmOq28JTMGDJgtu8ZoolUcEkesrppaTb3hdEPQ9Ic7jAjR5X_U/s320/IMG_2711.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> Cezanne to the rescue!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">On our way here we were travelling behind another boat which gave trouble after the 2nd lock. Smoke started coming from the exhaust, then the engine, so a red light came on & a siren started, so they turned the motor off & the boat drifted. That was when Cezanne came to the rescue. We tied up along side & towed them 10 kms against the current intill we came to a mooring place. All was well on the straight parts of the river but it was difficult for Barry driving around the corners , with the current. Then we came to a srong cross current as a big diversion entered the river. We gave Cezanne full revs but he was still moved about considerably. You may wonder why we towed the boat beside us. That was because it had no motor, therefore no steering, which would make towing it extremely difficult.The boat's problem was a worn out impellar, which Barry helped the owner replace.</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Yesterday, the 15th June, we took the train to Arras to visit La Carriere Wellington. A memorial of the battle of Arras 9th april 1917.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">In the entrance I took the 2nd photo which was in memory of the Passendaele battle. On 12th Oct. 1917 NZ'ders were involved in an attack which was an absolute disaster. NZ sufferred its greatest ever human catastrophe. In just 2 hours, more than 2800 NZ soldiers were killed, wounded, or listed missing. The most disastrous day in NZ's military history.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVcPQxkEB5HSzA6qGJGlPWVkrmSTmc54go-J9BDm44rVqdY4nohB7N0ipwEOr081BqBQkuM6xvcyWulVeFO34K9eg6SuH8BIyELo4SGCPkUbaXH83tnvg0UQDnpjJF_kqpAH6B9tmfPY/s1600/IMG_2713.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVcPQxkEB5HSzA6qGJGlPWVkrmSTmc54go-J9BDm44rVqdY4nohB7N0ipwEOr081BqBQkuM6xvcyWulVeFO34K9eg6SuH8BIyELo4SGCPkUbaXH83tnvg0UQDnpjJF_kqpAH6B9tmfPY/s320/IMG_2713.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">A memorial to the NZ'ders who died at Passendaele.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">A very interesting website is ; <a href="http://www.army.mil.nz/culture-and-history/nz-army-history/passchendaele/default.htm">Passchendaele- What it is all about-NZ ARMY website</a> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">also this <a href="http://www.pap-to-pass.org/Passchendaele.htm">history site</a> or the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Passchendaele">Wikipedia site on Passchendaele</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The clay which was used to make the colums came from the mud at Passendaele & Coromandel. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We went underground with a guide for about an hour, visiting the numerous tunnels & learning about the life of those involved with this memorial at Arras. Miners from NZ played a big part in diigging the tunnels.They gave tunnels various NZ names. 24,000 men were underground here for 8 days before the battle began on 9th April, 1917.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">The entrance to one of the tunnels dug by the NZ'ders.</span></td></tr>
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<div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">there is a movie about it now called Passchendaele <a href="http://youtu.be/I6WYHagWdeE">Preview here</a> which I think is about the canadians involvement, they became known as storm troopers, to watch a battle scene from the movie... <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJZttzblHFQ">link to youtube</a></span> </span></div>Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-49193990722973476522011-06-10T22:00:00.001+12:002011-06-10T22:09:34.464+12:00Amiens to St. Valery sur Somme<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4oX21goBDehbVp_yWlb3PSzZ5qK_Xrh3Ei4WkO72XeraVns-QMYxNAv20vHj8SCvipvVLNTYJ5oHXTbbAsPdM9gqGJvDOTwpkLhpQ4uopFUvx-tUOMmTh-Z_GcdoVaGFB1DPaTcBxGc/s1600/IMG_2587.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4oX21goBDehbVp_yWlb3PSzZ5qK_Xrh3Ei4WkO72XeraVns-QMYxNAv20vHj8SCvipvVLNTYJ5oHXTbbAsPdM9gqGJvDOTwpkLhpQ4uopFUvx-tUOMmTh-Z_GcdoVaGFB1DPaTcBxGc/s320/IMG_2587.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Margaret beside her Grandfather's grave at the Pont D'Achelles Military cemetery just outside Nieppe, when we were in Armentieres.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXLrvlWR0pXHibLGQCnUiYolcmmEcFA6b8dAEbwphsRBQeWRVGgHLiFOuvvyowOX7Y4Y5XKdH1rZPLyVRYRnJ003al2YMAM-0xKwfrvo2i0RWp27zvsBrqMW_1P8I7QzOLZnbVfdfIk8/s1600/IMG_2650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXLrvlWR0pXHibLGQCnUiYolcmmEcFA6b8dAEbwphsRBQeWRVGgHLiFOuvvyowOX7Y4Y5XKdH1rZPLyVRYRnJ003al2YMAM-0xKwfrvo2i0RWp27zvsBrqMW_1P8I7QzOLZnbVfdfIk8/s320/IMG_2650.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Margaret in a field of ANZAC poppies</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">On our journey down the Somme we passed a very large factory where locally grown potatoes are processed, solely for the extraction of starch, which is exported all over the world & used as an additive for the items as varied as paper, drinks & pharmaceutics.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Around the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amiens">city of Armiens</a> there is a large area of Hortilonnages----islands formed over the years by the extraction of peat, which are occupied by private owners & professional market gardeners----Hortilones, whom we bought produce from at a market in Amiens.</span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3xmq2ye6dmCQVV0X5Wxr6b2phWBBFuPZFsBWYd84UmOQMJZBIXXIJOiP2oIuXNWR6W_CGdG8keKJCxju6NUT35JFR4hEXP7o_gTpv1ZwjkTGtSVuK1l-t5WCUzbvZ24NkapphFQb7ls/s1600/IMG_2640.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3xmq2ye6dmCQVV0X5Wxr6b2phWBBFuPZFsBWYd84UmOQMJZBIXXIJOiP2oIuXNWR6W_CGdG8keKJCxju6NUT35JFR4hEXP7o_gTpv1ZwjkTGtSVuK1l-t5WCUzbvZ24NkapphFQb7ls/s320/IMG_2640.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many Lakes formed after the the digging of peat</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">The<a href="http://www.glasssteelandstone.com/BuildingDetail/643.php"> Amiens Cathedral, built 1220-1269</a>, is the biggest Gothic building in France. Far bigger than Notre Dame in Paris. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Along the waterway there are so many man made lakes, lined with little fishermen's holiday homes. Fishing is a very popular sport here. </span></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tied up in the city centre of Amiens.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amiens Cathedral-rear view.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amiens Cathedral.</td></tr>
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<div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">We are now at<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Valery-sur-Somme"> St. Valery sur Somme</a> which is at the mouth of the Somme River.The Bay of the Somme covers an area of 72 km sq. The tide can go out 14km. We have spent 2 days cycling on some of the good cycling paths in the area where one is away from road traffic & have visited some of the neighbouring villages around the bay.</span></div>Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-86739669331361599482011-05-30T15:05:00.004+12:002011-05-30T20:06:55.497+12:00Progress into a more peaceful quiet waterway...<div class="ii gt" id=":61"><div id=":60"><div bgcolor="#ffffff"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnby9o8_uo0NJNjlIoihjZya2IM1NMeSOueMatMU1ihlM26AoM35qGqPXfQNrOklMd18RIbe6m4UgAXWs7cgSpottamQWsFnbMCgNDn6IYb8ZI096VSmjp3fDOYcMQb-Jqq-0ixMWb7Hw/s1600/belgiummap.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnby9o8_uo0NJNjlIoihjZya2IM1NMeSOueMatMU1ihlM26AoM35qGqPXfQNrOklMd18RIbe6m4UgAXWs7cgSpottamQWsFnbMCgNDn6IYb8ZI096VSmjp3fDOYcMQb-Jqq-0ixMWb7Hw/s320/belgiummap.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Dear all,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">After travelling through the industrial areas we are now in the real French country side ,parked in a village called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frise,_Somme">Frise on the Somme river</a>. (<a href="http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?hl=en&pq=frise+on+the+somme+river&xhr=t&q=Frise+on+the+Somme+river+map&cp=28&client=firefox-a&hs=lDE&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1296&bih=617&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl">Click here to view map of where Frise is</a>.) We arrived here at about 11.30 on sunday ,just in time to go to the local restaurant for a sunday lunch .We arrived at 12.15 & left 3 hours later. 4 very good courses with the menu,& lots of house wine.I am writing this at 8.30 pm the sun is shining & it is so quiet.!!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">On Wed we left Armentiers in the afternoon travelling for about 3 hours . The next day (thurs) we intended to have a big day, but it was so windy, so decided to give it up when we reached the junction of the river Lys & the <a href="http://www.french-waterways.com/0-waterways/liason-grand-gabarit.html">grande garabit (Click here for info)</a>. Parked there for the night,we got a bit of a wash from the passing barges, but not too bad.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmrYasF_JK0X4mWGQ4XcWCH6_JnvIWn3Rb2M-MQQ_geqJBwfiFwZsBwAyz_Yg3WYG7rKUDatsV4ZP8L30wkfbx1ESSLmnxtdOAvKHY347ZTnffoBNGcerC2zuz6PoxSMWfCBQ3k5TxPk/s1600/canal-map1.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmrYasF_JK0X4mWGQ4XcWCH6_JnvIWn3Rb2M-MQQ_geqJBwfiFwZsBwAyz_Yg3WYG7rKUDatsV4ZP8L30wkfbx1ESSLmnxtdOAvKHY347ZTnffoBNGcerC2zuz6PoxSMWfCBQ3k5TxPk/s320/canal-map1.GIF" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Fri morning ,no wind !!! left at 6.15 am , intending to stop in <a href="http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?q=Douai+France&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x47c2c9374fe2711f:0x40af13e81646df0,Douai,+France&gl=nz&ei=ogjjTfXFJ4KkvgOGm6iJBw&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCIQ8gEwAA">Douai</a> for the night ,not very nice stopping places ,so carried on to the junction of the <a href="http://www.french-waterways.com/0-waterways/du-nord.html">canal du nord </a> at 5.15 A long 11 hour day 78 km & 4 big locks & lots of commercial traffic, who were very good, nearly all gave us a wave.Sat we travelled up the canal du nord 38 km & 7 locks ,all 93 m long, made to take 2 barges & a pusher. Went through an interesting tunnel. It was 4.3 km long ,but had a passing bay (1km long) in the middle, so we had 2 barges & 2 pleasure boats passing underground. <a href="http://www.french-waterways.com/0-waterways/du-nord.html">click here for more info on tunnel</a> then scroll down... Ruyaulcourt Tunnel 4.354km with 1km passing bay.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6gsEE95FhyphenhyphenwUlVnQo8XY6RFHQdi9537XVh9vVORO_fMaMqbywIGZgvM6MWtfUOgonVZKTbpDXYQZfFC4_eOOnziCsoxTMHuLza-P-VdkrYzruD5yOMeM1jC-rfzlrRM3hyphenhyphenAougSSl0M/s1600/tunnel.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6gsEE95FhyphenhyphenwUlVnQo8XY6RFHQdi9537XVh9vVORO_fMaMqbywIGZgvM6MWtfUOgonVZKTbpDXYQZfFC4_eOOnziCsoxTMHuLza-P-VdkrYzruD5yOMeM1jC-rfzlrRM3hyphenhyphenAougSSl0M/s320/tunnel.GIF" width="320" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by john smethurst.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Had another peaceful night near a lock. Left this morning at 8.00 am & had a dream run through the 5 downhill locks ,as barges were coming up, & all the locks were open for us. Turned onto the Somme, what a difference !! narrow, quiet, no traffic . Our type of waterway. <a href="http://www.french-waterways.com/0-waterways/st-valery-somme.html">click here for info on the somme</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">B&M.</span></div></div></div></div>Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-20504932739318351862011-05-26T18:08:00.000+12:002011-05-26T18:08:54.634+12:00the grande gabarit<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Wed 25th May </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">We didn't get very far with our intended walk this morning as an official told us the park was closed !!!!!!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">It appeared to be open later. I can't understand why strolling in a park at 9am can be a problem.</span> <br />
<div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">It has been a beautiful day. We stopped at 3pm as we had to arrange the next part of our journey down the Lys R. yesterday & will be accompanied by a lock keeper as far as the next waterway The Grande Gabarit, where we should arrive tomorrow. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itin%C3%A9raire_%C3%A0_Grand_Gabarit">The Grande Gabarit</a> also known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_Dunkerque-Escaut">Canal_Dunkerque-Escaut</a></span></div><div><i><b> </b></i></div><div><i><b>Itinéraire à Grand Gabarit</b></i> is a water and road route that has been created in order to allow the transport of the outsize structural sections of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A380" title="Airbus A380">Airbus A380 airliner</a> from their point of manufacture to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toulouse" title="Toulouse">Toulouse</a> for final assembly. The route was largely created by modifying existing waterways and public roads, with the addition of some new road sections. Specially constructed ships, barges and road vehicles carry the aircraft parts on the route.<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">This afternoon Barry completed the installation of the new inverter. There is no power here tonight so the computer is running on it. We are tied to a floating pontoon, with no steps or attatchments to it, so we are unable to go ashore. That is not a problem. I spent some time on the roof in my bathing suit sunbathing.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">M&B </span></div>Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-10563423624077852702011-05-26T18:03:00.001+12:002011-05-26T18:09:40.833+12:00Ghent to Kortrijk<div class="ii gt" id=":4h"><div id=":4i"><div bgcolor="#ffffff"><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Tue 24th May </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Hi all,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">After Ghent we went to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kortrijk">Kortrijk</a> which is a pleasant city. I visited a Flax Museum called VLAS Museum Kortrijk, which was so interesting & explained the process of growing the flax(linseed) seeds right though to the harvesting of the seed, making the oil etc & linen from the shafts left behind & the methods of doing this from the earliest days until modern times was all explained extremely well. It was a very important industry for the area. <a href="mailto:vlasmuseum@kortrijk.be" target="_blank"></a> / <a href="http://www.kortrijk.be/vlasmusem" target="_blank">www.kortrijk.be/vlasmusem </a></span></div><a href="http://www.kortrijk.be/flaxmuseum">http://www.kortrijk.be/flaxmuseum</a> (english text)</div><div bgcolor="#ffffff"><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">We have had a rather busy , enjoyable & sociable time since arriving at Armentieres on Sun. 22nd May.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">On Mon morning we cycled 5 km to Nieppe to the <a href="http://www.ww1cemeteries.com/ww1frenchextension/pontdachelles.htm">Pont D'Achelles Military Cemetary</a> where Grandfather Charles Taylor was Buried in 1917. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">It is difficult to explain how one feels when visiting these places where so many young lives were lost. Also to read about the numbers etc. I don't really want to dwell on it but it is very moving when one learns more about what went on during the wars.</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Mon afternoon we spent ages getting our French telephone & computer working on the boat. An English couple Sandy & Trevor have their boat next to ours. They had been shopping at a big supermarket where they had bought a special of french bubbly. 3 bottles for 5 Euro (Thats 3 bottles for $8.75 NZ dollar). & invited us at 6pm to sample it. 4 hours later we were having our dinner.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">This morning Barry went with Trevor in their car with diesel containers to top up our tank with fuel which was great & saved pulling our trolley along the footpaths. They made 2 trips. Then this afternoon they took us to the supermarket to stock up on groceries. We have been really spoilt. We had them over for predinner drinks. Another long session. Have learned much more about travelling down the Rhone plus visiting other places. It is now 1/4 to 11. We have just finished doing the dishes.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">The marina here is set in a very large park. Tomorrow we will walk 5 km around the lake before departing. It is peaceful & quiet at night compared with the cities, with no traffic & people noise.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">I had hoped to write earlier but our evenings have been longer than I had anticipated!!!.</span></div><div></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">M&B</span></span></div></div></div>Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-23365879442122969262011-05-24T20:28:00.001+12:002011-05-24T20:28:38.126+12:00Have made it back to Franceback in french waters now!Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-25433996356098332832011-05-15T18:33:00.000+12:002011-05-15T18:33:34.597+12:00Brugge in Belgium<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruges">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruges</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFca-cMYsSyDGveJxIpva0fU73e4FnplzStVokyah5QjuUZYLkbrqtKelQcD1oxCQledczB_ZEYtqVKHTsijgR2T1TJukDwvIE3DMsphO5Jz8Swozin1fsG_B76K-gX63GQQ3QYdgA1T0/s1600/800px-Bruggewasser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFca-cMYsSyDGveJxIpva0fU73e4FnplzStVokyah5QjuUZYLkbrqtKelQcD1oxCQledczB_ZEYtqVKHTsijgR2T1TJukDwvIE3DMsphO5Jz8Swozin1fsG_B76K-gX63GQQ3QYdgA1T0/s320/800px-Bruggewasser.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://www.brugge.be/internet/en/index.htm">http://www.brugge.be/internet/en/index.htm</a>Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8137939572761923706.post-78887817656829274592011-05-15T18:30:00.000+12:002011-05-15T18:30:14.333+12:00Cezanne in 2007<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZl_t1EJBg-xTxnp5HHU1ZEdh63_nPBA2XDWAKMr8TUBA0HnZGjvxB4VMsHBhY5_93X_3PeLDeg_T5uKz0ARKAz9ECW06IG42ebnUgBm50UMiFmT9JCgtqXWqNJzJfHaOu7Y4RwYh7iw/s1600/IMG_3510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZl_t1EJBg-xTxnp5HHU1ZEdh63_nPBA2XDWAKMr8TUBA0HnZGjvxB4VMsHBhY5_93X_3PeLDeg_T5uKz0ARKAz9ECW06IG42ebnUgBm50UMiFmT9JCgtqXWqNJzJfHaOu7Y4RwYh7iw/s320/IMG_3510.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542588912993507094noreply@blogger.com0