Dropping down onto the Meuse
Posted by contentedsouls on 30/04/2017
We left la Cassine in glorious sunshine, but the frost was still hanging on tenaciously in the shadows. Glorious views as we went through the tunnel (more of a stretched bridge really) and dropped through the last four locks onto the Meuse.
Mooring at Lumes (3 years since we’ve been here), G decided to cycle into Charleville-Mezieres to get the train and recover the car. We were out of cat food, beer, fresh milk and veg and expecting a visit from Kevin with not a shop in striking distance. Only one problem with this plan – we had a senior moment trying to remember where we’d left the car! Scary.
We did a monumental shop on Tuesday and had a domestic day Wednesday before discovering that Kevin would be delayed; so we moved on having dumped the car again – this time, hopefully, remembering where we left it.
Why is it that you buy a big, fat, boat (after years of living in a narra) and everyone wants to be in the same space at the same time ……?
Loving the Meuse (I’m definitely a river, rather than a canal, girl); it’s even more beautiful than I remember.
Pulling into the mooring at Joigny the pontoon appeared to be at an odd angle – then we realised it was grounded!
The French do love their outside spaces: two identical little plots of land, one owner has turned theirs into a little weekend ‘cottage’ for BBQs and family fun, the other owner has erected a poly tunnel and is growing veg.
Man on bike waving baguette – who’s a clever boy then.
Any ideas about this deciduous/coniferous planting strip?
Yet again Daisy exerts her authority and forces Muttley onto the floor!
Unfortunately, Joigny had nowhere for Kevin’s motorhome, so we moved on to Montherme, arriving as it chucked it down with rain but in time for lunch. It being Friday and a bank holiday weekend, it was our last opportunity to enjoy a ‘menu du jour’ before Tuesday, so it seemed rude not to. Over lunch we concluded that we didn’t really want to stay in a town (albeit small) centre for four nights (locks closed on Monday) so, after 40 winks, we moved on again through 2 locks to Laifour.
contentedsouls 
Kevin TOO said
Man on bike waving baguette… 1/10 not a difficult task in France 🙂
Man on bike waving Warburtons… 10/10 shows initiative in France 😉 LOL
Great photos again Jill, perhaps you should include one of where the car was left for future reference ROFLMAO
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contentedsouls said
Kevin turned up with two loaves of Warburtons! In fairness, given how run down it was where we stayed, G did well to find a baguette
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andywindy said
Man on bike waving Baguette… Oh you remembered then? now where’s the rest of the shopping? what do you mean you couldn’t carry it all, where’s the car? Oops.
Try tagging locations on Google Maps then you’ll at least have a list of places it could be! My Satnav has a ‘find the car’ facility, just save the location when you stop, remember to take the Satnav with you then when you turn it back on it takes you back! Yup it does footpaths as well.
It’s not Grahams fault he’s popular, though it can get dangerous having the smaller members of your family in such a confined space, memories of running a neighbour to Minor injuries then Casualty after he tripped over the Cat (it had sat RIGHT behind his heels) and in falling shut the door on his index finger Ouch! broken finger and 5 stitches later……
Looking at your pictures I can see why you like that particular River, though I would imagine that as a River is an ever changing entity, the difference between a River and a Canal could be compared to the difference between Steam and Diesel engines in Locomotives, Yes the more modern one is often more convenient but the original is alive! (I’m getting good at these analogies, must make sure my head still fits to get out of the back door.)
As for Daisy, we all know the Ladies on that gin palace come first!
No idea about the Trees, a little surprised that my esteemed fellow follower above has not posted the solution yet, when I couldn’t find anything so I thought “It’s ok, Kevin TOO will know” He’s good at solving perplexing pictures!
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contentedsouls said
Out of time. Let me down the pair of you!!!
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vallypee said
I love the river there too, Jill, although I’ve never fared on it. Super photos! I so envy you your continuous cruising life.
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