8th - 14th July

Bastille day fireworks in Clamecy

It was Liane and Dan's last week on the Luciole. A great pair who will be missed as they leave to continue their travels around Europe. Dan's food never stopped improving and all the best to the two in the future.

Bastille day on the Saturday meant an interesting drop off in Paris for Neil and I as we passed an army of tanks and fire engines after the parade. A firework display in the Clamecy port that evening meant that Dan and Lani were sent off with a bang as the fireworks exploded directly over the boat.

1st - 7th July

July already! A great week onboard with a family from Australia. An active group that cycled, went ballooning over Vezelay and canoed down the river Cure. Much fun was had by all, with hot weather briefly interrupted by a sudden downpour or two. The arrival of Izzy ready to cover for Alex who left on the weekend to see more of France was very nice, a crew memeber from last year and my girlfriend who will be working for the next 2 months.

24th - 30th June

John steers through Accolay

This week we had a VIP onboard - owner John Liley – who spent most the week steering the Luciole through the sunshine. His anecdotes and stories of past times kept us entertained. A man who many are very grateful to, for his part in hotel barging having started the company in 1976.  Over the three and half decades there have been many great times for passengers and crew alike; “This is all your fault John!” – to be taken as a complement after a fantastic week onboard which ended with Neil playing guitar on deck after captain's dinner and laughs all round. We even had a proposal - the Luciole wishes the happy couple all the best!

News on the canal; dredging is starting in front of the last lock, below the port of Clamecy. A digger and pontoon should somehow come to the aid of the many boats that have become beached in the last few weeks. Hopefully it should be completed in the next few days....... however this is France.