Barge Trip - Brittany
Day 10 Sat, Sept. 18 2010
“Barge Libje” Josselin France (our 17 th anniversary !)
We were up in time to see a spectacular sunrise over the broad expanse of beach surrounding the Mont - then onto breakfast. Because we had stayed on the Mont, after breakfast we were first in line to enter the cathedral. The amazing part about this was that we were able to capture fabulous photographs without all kinds of people in them... We also sang in one of the sanctuaries, and the accoustics (not our voices) were perfect! After we toured the Abbey, we checked out of the hotel, then drove to Rennes to meet our barge captain at the rental car drop off at the airport. Our drive was on tiny winding country roads some lined with corn stalks, others with quaint villages, and some with pastures with cows, horses and sheep, then thick forests for other stretches. A very varied landscape on our driving trip. We met up with Ian our captain, and were driven about an hour to embark upon beautiful, “Barge Libje” – pronounced "leap ya" and means, “live your life.” We met Jane, Ian’s wife and their two dogs Pippa and Milly. We then headed into Josselin for lunch. Josselin is a town right out of a medieval movie. We had a great lunch, walked about a bit, then headed back to unpack and settle in. Jon bought me a very pretty floral arrangement form the florist in town, and then we opened our little token gifts we had gathered together (including a new pedometer to Jon from me – what was I ever thinking……), and a humorous book given to us by Dick and Dorothy which they had autographed by the authors, called, "I Love You - Now Hush" We had wine and snacks out on the deck at the bow of the boat, then headed down the road to have dinner at a waterfront restaurant. We are docked next to a castle. Jane told us the flag was being flown because the Duke was in residence. I am pretty sure he would have enjoyed meeting us, but we were a bit too busy to make the time to drop in. It is hard to describe just how perfect the setting was here today. I have really enjoyed our anniversary celebration, and could not imagine a better way to spend the last night in my forties, on a barge in France tied up next to a castle !
Day 10 Sat, Sept. 18 2010
“Barge Libje” Josselin France (our 17 th anniversary !)
We were up in time to see a spectacular sunrise over the broad expanse of beach surrounding the Mont - then onto breakfast. Because we had stayed on the Mont, after breakfast we were first in line to enter the cathedral. The amazing part about this was that we were able to capture fabulous photographs without all kinds of people in them... We also sang in one of the sanctuaries, and the accoustics (not our voices) were perfect! After we toured the Abbey, we checked out of the hotel, then drove to Rennes to meet our barge captain at the rental car drop off at the airport. Our drive was on tiny winding country roads some lined with corn stalks, others with quaint villages, and some with pastures with cows, horses and sheep, then thick forests for other stretches. A very varied landscape on our driving trip. We met up with Ian our captain, and were driven about an hour to embark upon beautiful, “Barge Libje” – pronounced "leap ya" and means, “live your life.” We met Jane, Ian’s wife and their two dogs Pippa and Milly. We then headed into Josselin for lunch. Josselin is a town right out of a medieval movie. We had a great lunch, walked about a bit, then headed back to unpack and settle in. Jon bought me a very pretty floral arrangement form the florist in town, and then we opened our little token gifts we had gathered together (including a new pedometer to Jon from me – what was I ever thinking……), and a humorous book given to us by Dick and Dorothy which they had autographed by the authors, called, "I Love You - Now Hush" We had wine and snacks out on the deck at the bow of the boat, then headed down the road to have dinner at a waterfront restaurant. We are docked next to a castle. Jane told us the flag was being flown because the Duke was in residence. I am pretty sure he would have enjoyed meeting us, but we were a bit too busy to make the time to drop in. It is hard to describe just how perfect the setting was here today. I have really enjoyed our anniversary celebration, and could not imagine a better way to spend the last night in my forties, on a barge in France tied up next to a castle !
En route to Josselin
And there she is - our home for the next - Barge Libje !
Walking around Josselin
Jon got me a local floral arrangement for our anniversary
Dorothy and I - cocktail hour on Libje
Ian and Jane - our host and hostess
Dick and Dorothy
Jon and I
Anniversary toast
Day 11 Sun 9-19-10 Barge Libje - My big 50 !
We had a restful night's sleep and awoke raring to go! We had a great breakfast complete with an assortment of breads and pastries – oh yeah…..then set off around 9:30 AM. The travel on the canal is just beautiful and so relaxing. It looks like a long and winding lazy river. We cruised by spectacular country side, small tiny quaint villages, wooded areas and then open areas with corn fields and pastures. We cruised through a series of about 8 locks, which were always amazing to watch how Ian managed to get the barge into the locks with only about 6 inches left on each side of the barge. Once in the lock tender filled the lock up with water, then opened the gates manually once we were level to carry on. We ate lunch on board which was salmon, avocados, taboulie, a green salad and of course – red wine. We then took a walk, then continued to our final destination where we tied up to the bank of the canal for the night. We arrived and had some Bloody Marys, then took a nice nap. We got up then took a walk canal side. When we returned they had decorated the salon with all kinds of fun balloons that were marked 50! I was so surprised and smiling ear to ear. We then celebrated with champagne and some hors'dourves on the deck. I then opened cards and gifts which included a gorgeous scarf in my favorite colors that Dorothy had knit for me. We then dined on a delish meal dinner of seared scallops for a starter, followed by bullfighters beef stew, "crushed potatoes" and green beans, followed by an assortment of cheeses and bread, then another surprise a beautiful chocolate birthday cake! Jane had ordered the cake to say Happy 50th birthday Susan, but when she got it home, she realized it read, “Happy 5th Birthday” - this was quite amusing to us. We could barely move after dinner, but managed to go back on the deck to watch a night sky full of dancing stars until we it was sleepy time, and another perfect ending to a perfect day. I can not imagine a more wonderful day to spend my 50th birthday, and it will be one that I never forget.
We had a restful night's sleep and awoke raring to go! We had a great breakfast complete with an assortment of breads and pastries – oh yeah…..then set off around 9:30 AM. The travel on the canal is just beautiful and so relaxing. It looks like a long and winding lazy river. We cruised by spectacular country side, small tiny quaint villages, wooded areas and then open areas with corn fields and pastures. We cruised through a series of about 8 locks, which were always amazing to watch how Ian managed to get the barge into the locks with only about 6 inches left on each side of the barge. Once in the lock tender filled the lock up with water, then opened the gates manually once we were level to carry on. We ate lunch on board which was salmon, avocados, taboulie, a green salad and of course – red wine. We then took a walk, then continued to our final destination where we tied up to the bank of the canal for the night. We arrived and had some Bloody Marys, then took a nice nap. We got up then took a walk canal side. When we returned they had decorated the salon with all kinds of fun balloons that were marked 50! I was so surprised and smiling ear to ear. We then celebrated with champagne and some hors'dourves on the deck. I then opened cards and gifts which included a gorgeous scarf in my favorite colors that Dorothy had knit for me. We then dined on a delish meal dinner of seared scallops for a starter, followed by bullfighters beef stew, "crushed potatoes" and green beans, followed by an assortment of cheeses and bread, then another surprise a beautiful chocolate birthday cake! Jane had ordered the cake to say Happy 50th birthday Susan, but when she got it home, she realized it read, “Happy 5th Birthday” - this was quite amusing to us. We could barely move after dinner, but managed to go back on the deck to watch a night sky full of dancing stars until we it was sleepy time, and another perfect ending to a perfect day. I can not imagine a more wonderful day to spend my 50th birthday, and it will be one that I never forget.
Our cabin
Hallway down to our room
Our en suite bath
Off and under our first of many bridges
We had allot of tight fits like this one
Side of boat next to canal lock wall
Jane operating the gates at our first lock
Jon
Another lock and tender
Dick, Jane and I
Captain Ian and Jane
Jon - a bit chilly in the mornings
And on to another lock - you can see how narrow they are - we often only had a coupe of inches on each side
Jon
Pippa
Jon and Dick
Tie off on a bank for lunch - we would have to stop at lunch because all of the lock tenders would take an hour off for lunch, so we could not transit during that time
Jon doing the rope limbo
The four of us
Exploring another small town en route
Ian guiding us - Dorothy, me Dick and Milly
Dorothy and Me
Pippa, Milly, Ian Dorothy and Me
Fall apple orchards
Jon and me
Almost lunch time
Jon
Dorothy and me
Ian with the visiting mouse
Jane and Jon - Bloody Marys ready to go
Dick
Feasting on Smoked salmon and tabouli
That's one narrow bridge
Simple directions - go left….
the flowers were spectacular !
Path next to canal
All decorated for my 50th
Officially another year older
Dorothy and Dick
Dick on Harmonica - Milly on vocals
Pippa and I providing the audience
Dorothy and Dick getting a lick from Milly
Yep - Joyeux Anniversaire !
Jane cooking up our birthday feast !
Look at those scallops !
Ian and Jane
Feast time - ooohhh la la
Jane and Ian
Official Birthday Cake - it says Susan - Happy 5th Birthday !
Gorgeous scarf Dorothy knit for me !
Day 12 Monday 9-20-10 “Barge Libje” Guillac
We started the day with another hearty breakfast including wonderful breads and pastries that Jane sets off on her bike each morning to buy at the local boulangerie. We then headed back toward Josselin heading downstream this time which meant each lock we entered, we were lowered. Jon and I walked from one lock to the next lock (and he is still tracking those dreaded steps on his pedometer)which gave us same great opportunities to photograph the barge underway. We tied off some trees on an embankment for lunch. Jane served us assorted salads and duck. All of the locks close for lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 so we can not travel during that period. It is kind of funny because there are no other boats up here so the lock keepers may only have us and one other boat to tend to. All of the lock keepers live in a house at the locks, and one house and lock is more beautiful than the last with all of the flowers. Every lock seems to have a dog, and it has been fun seeing all of the different types of dogs and personalities. We passed back through Josselin, then made our way to Gobrien and tied off again so we could go see an amazing church built in 1010. We ended up at our final destination of Guillac late afternoon. Jon and I took a walk down a path fully surrounded by trees and falling leaves - it was like an early fall day in New England. Our mornings have been cold, but it warms up during the day to full sunny and warm afternoons. We returned from our walk and had usual red wine, then we all piled in the van and drove to a town called Marterain where we feasted as the only guests in a tiny restaurant called "Au Bonnes Joie". We all had a four course meal, each individually prepared so it was a wonderful leisurely experience. The highway we took out had been closed for work, so Ian put on his trusted Tom Tom which took us home through some cornfields singing old songs, but we managed to find our way back. Another perfect day.
We started the day with another hearty breakfast including wonderful breads and pastries that Jane sets off on her bike each morning to buy at the local boulangerie. We then headed back toward Josselin heading downstream this time which meant each lock we entered, we were lowered. Jon and I walked from one lock to the next lock (and he is still tracking those dreaded steps on his pedometer)which gave us same great opportunities to photograph the barge underway. We tied off some trees on an embankment for lunch. Jane served us assorted salads and duck. All of the locks close for lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 so we can not travel during that period. It is kind of funny because there are no other boats up here so the lock keepers may only have us and one other boat to tend to. All of the lock keepers live in a house at the locks, and one house and lock is more beautiful than the last with all of the flowers. Every lock seems to have a dog, and it has been fun seeing all of the different types of dogs and personalities. We passed back through Josselin, then made our way to Gobrien and tied off again so we could go see an amazing church built in 1010. We ended up at our final destination of Guillac late afternoon. Jon and I took a walk down a path fully surrounded by trees and falling leaves - it was like an early fall day in New England. Our mornings have been cold, but it warms up during the day to full sunny and warm afternoons. We returned from our walk and had usual red wine, then we all piled in the van and drove to a town called Marterain where we feasted as the only guests in a tiny restaurant called "Au Bonnes Joie". We all had a four course meal, each individually prepared so it was a wonderful leisurely experience. The highway we took out had been closed for work, so Ian put on his trusted Tom Tom which took us home through some cornfields singing old songs, but we managed to find our way back. Another perfect day.
Early AM mist
Walking next to canal, waiting to get good pic of barge
The gal on the bike had just opened lock for us, then was riding her bike to meet us at the next lock
Here comes Barge Libje
Jon and me - barge behind us
Getting off for a lunch stop
Milly playing a game of balloon
Cruising again
Lots of cute dogs along the way
Weird to go under a small bridge with car going overhead
Another lock dog
Lock tender and friends
This little town of Gobrien was wonderful
The architecture and small details in the church were real interesting
Back on the canal
Hiking down a remote path and stumbled upon this little shrine
Returned to find that Jane had done our laundry and it was out drying for anyone interested to investigate
Country lawn mower
Going out for dinner - yep we all could fit the van with some reconfiguring
Our very sweet hostess - she and her husband who was the chef served us a private dinner
Dorothy thinking about her plate of frog legs
Ian, Dorothy, Jane, Jon, Me and Dick
Veal scallopine - delish !
Dick takes the jump seat going home
Driving home through the corn
fields !