The leaves are turning red here in Australia. It is time to take the big bird north for my tenth summer in a row. I must say at the moment here in Canberra one cant call the nights summer. the temperature fall to zero and some nights we do have frost. The days are fins and at least pleasant. Sydney had 28 C yesterday which cant be called winter.
The plans this year are to put Malua in the water in July/August and sail westwards. Yes right across the Atlantic. I will follow the classic route of sailing south from Spain until the butter melts then turn to starboard until I can smell the rum of the Caribbean. Simple really, just a bit of execution to undertake. I have been very lucky to find two great people to accompany me on the crossing. a Kiwi fellow who appears to be a very good sailor and a younger kiwi who will use his muscles to assist the old blokes - not that the electric winches wont be working!
Only a few more sleeps before I leave for Paris and a slight detour to the UK
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The summer has finally come to an end. We set off to reach Paris via the canals of France and almost made it right through the rivers and canals but on the downhill side with Paris in sight we ran out of water. Malua just would not get through the shallow bar in the middle of a canal. we had to turn back and head for the mouth of the Rhone.
On reaching Port St Louis we collected our mast which had left the Marina without them knowing and returned two months later. The Management of Port Napoleon tried to charge us storage for the mast when it was not even there. Furthermore they broke the steaming light when the stored the mast. After some one-sided negotiation I got them to pay for the light, we stayed free at the marina for two weeks and we cancelled or agreement and did not renew for the next year. There loss - big time. The customer is always right and when negotiating know your facts.
Navy Service welcomed us with open arm and assisted us take the boat out of the water and locate it in a very central spot for next years visit when I will have to undertake some minor modifications and upgrades.
Back to Oz for another summer.
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This page is about our return down the Soane and Rhone after we had to turn back at Longres in sight of Paris. A more complete account of each town is given in the up stream page. I will only mention relevant details.
Auxonne PK233
Coming back to a spot is not the same the second time. I have said previously that if I know my way around a town it was time to leave. So now returning I know my way around it is harder to find new places to visit and new experiences. The reverse is I know where to shop.
St Jean De Losne PK215
The barging capital of France. It has one large marina with two charter companies. It also has a very long pond that that is used by these companies to repair their vessels along with other steel barges. On one side of this pond there is a hard and a few light boats have been craned out and sit on the hard.
The mooring in front of the town is shallow.
Seurre PK187
A nice town just downstream of the lock - only a 3.7m so easy. The floating quay are very shallow on the upstream part but the three end ones are OK just dont get swept onto the island as you come off.
Verdun PK167 Doubs
This is at the confluence of the Soane and Doubs. One can only travel up the Doubs 14km and nonstop but yet again it is too shallow for us. The moorings are maintained by a family who run the cafe above the mooring
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