And we're Away!

Dole, Wed 18 May

We are testing the two week rule but we are two days out and on our way. Readjusting to the boating life after two plus years has taken a few days, cleaning is never fun but now we are on our way it feels good to be back.

Arriving

Our flight went well and this time we spent night in Paris, with superb weather,  to recover before taking the train to Dijon and picking up a rental car to get us to Saint Jean de Losne and for a few days shopping.  Overall, a good way way to do it. Dogs were great, as usual, and were good guests at the friendly little "Oh, that is not a dog" hotel by our old hangout, the Port d'Arsenal.

Blanquarts (the  marina) had the boat in the water and the cover off so I only had to dewinterize the water system, and with some basic cleaning we were aboard.  She was in pretty good shape considering the time away.  The cover did a great job, much better than some of the other tattered examples we saw in the yard.  But there was still cleaning to be done.  And, of course, batteries.  The "Start" batteries that start the engine and back the bow thruster were dry and dead; the yard had plenty in stock as this was a common problem. so the workers and I got our exercise getting two big 225AH monsters in and out,

Engine started fine and all other systems were good - so far, fingers crossed.

We spent a few days cleaning, shopping and seeing other boaters trickle in.  Most had been gone for the last two years like us.  Several British were already here and Australians starting to trickle in.  The New Zealanders were slow to arrive.

The weather warmed up, unseasonably  for May, which is not a good sign.  Several days in the 30s/Mid 80s and a little rain.  There are signs the thunder storms may be more regular which will give us an exciting break.

Tuesday we set off with a short run to Choisey and Dole the next day.  Everwhere in France seems to be cleaner and tidier than we remember and Dole, espcially is looking great.

Plans!?

We arrived with no fixed plans as so much was unknown, and much is still unpredictable.  Will it be too hot, too much rain, too little rain etc? But now we have a plan of record, subject to change.

We aim to continue up the Canal de Rhon ua Rhin to the end this time, well past the familar territory of Besancon to Mulhouse near the Swiss and German border.  Then we will decide if we retrace our steps take a short dash down the Rhine to Strasbourg, across to Nancy and return via the Canal de Vosges.  It has been on out todo list for a while.  We fly home on August 3rd and this is doable in that time ,,,,, if all goes well.