Gesina

AUGUST, summer 2014

Clamecy Sunday 10th August, a very French Affaire!

The 31st event, Descente Bidon, les Crapauds de Basseville leaving Pont de Bethleem 11am.
From Auxerre to Clamecy

AUXERRE, summer 2014

7 July.  Now we're back in Auxerre for a couple of weeks, where there's a fabulous selection of craft shops I want to rush out and buy lots of things to make, but dont know where to begin! I wish I could understand French knitting patterns as they have the most weird and wonderful types of wool, or should I say spun material. It seems a bit understated to call some of it just plain wool, more like spun spiders webs of threads. Aaah!

Being the summer season its very busy here with boats constantly coming and going. Last night we saw the funniest thing. A man from the hire boat in front of us got off his boat and walked across the drive to the Capitainerie where they are public showers (and washing machine). Nothing odd about that you might think - except he wore nothing but his underpants and flip-flops, oh, he did have a towel in his hand!!!!! He was subsequently followed at intervals by others members of his party, in various states of dress/undress! I dont know what on earth Mike (marine manager) thought of that, as its quite a smart Capitainerie with a sales office for very expensive Dutch Linssen boats! It might be alright for camp sites, but not the done thing at all in a marina dont you know!

We have big celebrations here on Sunday night for Bastille Day, and friends coming to join us for the party. The firework display is to be held on 13th. The marina has to be cleared of all boats in front of us, so that they dont get any fallout of fireworks on their boats, so we will be rafted up 5 abreast during the display.

No more room at the quay side! Auxerre 13 July 2014

Mike tells us the fun really starts at midnight when owners of the moved boats rush back to gain the best quayside places. They dont wait until daylight, nor even sometimes the end of the display. So, as I expect some of them will have consumed quite a bit of alcohol, it should be interesting to see them trying to manoeuvre around one another and past the two large bridge supports! Its quite a lot of work to ensure everyones safety, and the local council workers have been busy these past few days erecting fences all alongside the river on both sides. But I expect there will still be some who go into the water, and diving from the bridge, deliberately or not.


9th July. Having rushed off to the supermarket to stock up, I espied green tomatoes and foolishly suggested that I make some tomato chutney, one thing we cant buy here, and one of Ni's favourites, so if we want it, we have to make it.  So I started, and six hours later this was the result.  I hope he appreciates this labour of love!

What a lot of work- 6 hours - for 7Lbs of chutney!

 I'm not sure how it will taste as the 'green' tomatoes weren't like those in the UK, merely unripe ones, but these were quite ripe, sweet ones. Oh well we work with what we have. At least I still had some malt vinegar left as the only type they had in the supermarche was "Vinaigre d'alcool colore', not quite sure about the alcool bit, but its very pale compared to malt vinegar.

7th July Well ,we return to Auxerre again.  I can well understand why people fall in love with the city. It has so much to offer, shops, museums, restuarants, winding medieval streets and so it goes on.

Since we were here in 2012 they have cracked on with the landscaping of the town side of the quay. There are wonderful plants, water fountains, electricity and water points. Lots of mooring in fact, which should encourage even more people to come here.  Its a good focal point for visitors.

Tashi was very bewildered when we first arrived. She thought she recognised the place, but something wasnt quite right. Our  winter neighbours Charlyn, Simon and Daisy the dog weren't here, and our boat wasn't in the right place. But she soon knew where she was in the park and streets, and off she went trotting around the place.

July 1st.  And then on to Gurgy, where there were more motor homes, RVs than boats.   Most places are quite shallow with only a few offering deeper water where one can moor, but it is worth trying to them.  A pretty little village with very welcoming shopkeepers. A peaceful stopover for us.

Calm waters at Gurgy

For such a small village it has much to offer; mini market, bouganlerie, PO, tabac, restaurant and wine bar. The facilities at the quay are being updated, but currently only offer two electricity points at €5 for 60mins and €5 for 100L of water.

Our next stop on 30th June was at the quay side of La Graviere where we had the sound of song birds from day break to night fall.  This is also a popular spot for local fishermen and others to come and have a barbeque.

And so on to Laroche St. Cydroine, 25 June.   Again we were lucky and managed to get moored here where there is free mooring with water and an electricity supply.  So I took the opportunity to cycle into Migennes for their Thursday market.  The place was buzzing, and it felt good to be back two years later than our first visit.

JOIGNY - 23 June.   We actually managed to get a mooring here this time, so we had the opportunity to explore the town and see all its wonderful old buildings.

Mooring at Joigny

Joigny, medieval streets

Ni could just about get through some of the narrow streets of Joigny!

Beautiful stained glass window of St. Andre's church.

'My garden' this year.