Season 2013

A new looking Luciole and a new looking Auxerre waterfront.

The season has officially started! After a cold winter in Auxerre the Luciole has awoken from her hibernation and the first guests have walked on, the refit crew has worked hard over the few weeks and after a new coat of paint she looks like the boat that ended the season last year. Major work has also occurred on the quay in Auxerre which makes mooring here all the more special.

Our new wooden sun deck

A big thank you to all involved to get the boat started - she looks fantastic, especially the new deck. Fingers crossed for the rest of the season.

Spring in Auxerre

Francisco - hammer in one hand - umbrella in the other!

Spring on the Luciole and crew and friends are helping with the refit for the coming season.  The guys are busy with two new bathrooms, complete re-paint of the barge, inside and out and numerous other improvements. Francisco swapped South African sun for rain and an umbrella, with some serious steel preparation before painting.

For the girls, it was curtain making for the cabins - rather a lot of curtains - 20 of them in fact!  A real production line for Ann, Loeloe and Penny.   All ready now to co-ordinate with the new French, Olivier Deforges bed linen.

The ladies are busy with the cabin curtains

We did all take a break from work to celebrate Neil's birthday.  Cake, served in the galley was enjoyed by one and all, which included a line up of a Brazilian, Chilean, Scot, 4 from England and two visiting Dutchmen!

Birthday celebrations for Neil on the Luciole

Winter

Winter in Auxerre

The Luciole sleeps below the snow covered cathedral, as Burgundy slows down in winter's icy grip. Inside, the Luciole still holds her warmth as she waits for Spring. When the barge will be given her pre-season refit ready for another year of laughs and smiles.

A change of scenery - in Chamonix, below Mont Blanc

With fresh snow covering France; Francisco, Penny and I took the chance for a short break in Chamonix.  Francisco learnt to ski in a day, progressing from nursery to red runs by the end of our trip! The off-piste ski-ing was amazing, fresh powder every morning.  It was a great break from office work for Mum and I, planning and preparation for the season continues more than ever when the boat is not operating.

14th - 21st October

The 2012 season is over. We finished with a great week, cruising with a group of friends from high school still travelling together. Shared birthdays - meant an excuse for a celebration - cake and Crement de Bourgogne. A fitting week to finish off a memorable season.

Over the weekend we cruised the boat from the far end of our route back to Auxerre - where the Luciole will rest the winter - under the watchful eye of Francisco. Winterising the boat as we cruised along, packing up everything and storing all away. A sad time in some respects as Luciole is prepared for hibernation, yet a relief for the crew who have worked so hard for the last 7 months, overseen by Penny and joined by friends for the final voyage of 2012. The crew go their separate ways; Alex returns to South Africa, Francisco and Neil travel home and Tim, Stuart and I return back to England dreaming of Sunday roast dinners.

The Luciole crew sharing a well earned drink, leaving the last lock of the year

Although it is a relief to relax, I know in a few days I will be remembering the good times and the many people I shared them with. A wonderful opportunity of which I know all the crew are grateful for; to work on such a fantastic boat. Thanks to all those who made it such a wonderful season.

7th - 13th October

A lock keeper manages the barrage, removing stakes to allow more water to flow down

The end is in sight! After 8 months just one week to go. Big building work is proceeding on the quay in Auxerre where the whole water front is being rebuilt, they have progressed very quickly and it is shaping up to be fantastic and ready for the spring and our next season. The Luciole will moor for the winter on the city quay, close and convenient to Francisco's on-shore home, so he can keep an eye on her.

Great passengers onboard, unfortunately the weather could have been a bit better, but the river has started to fill again.  After the last 2 months the region is in need of rain. Neil was give the opportunity to taste this years Chablis, hot off the press and still fermenting in oak barrels. It is disconcertingly fizzy. Given time it will evolve and mature, the winemakers hope, into something special.

30th September - 6th October

Sunset from the top of the coral cliffs

October already! Autumn has arrived, sunsets and night time are creeping earlier and in the mornings there are fantastic sunrises while walking to collect the bread. We must be getting nearer to the end of the season, tally charts from the crew chess games now fill the page and canal traffic slowing down. Good to see our friend the barge 'Randle' back on the Nivernais after spending some time south of Clamecy due to lack of rain, when asked how he got through the shallow stretch, as we passed each other in the cut, he replied; “Balloons”.  

We nearly lost the chef on Friday after he took a slip into the canal.  He was pulled out drenched by the crew, we can't afford to loose a good chef. Been there, done that myself! Never the nicest experience, but happens to the best of us, its a sort of 'Canal Christening'!

23rd - 29th September

The Chardonnay grapes of Burgundy

Grape picking has begun in the vineyards; the whole valley comes to life! Alien tractors covered in pipes - specific for the vineyards fill the roads – creating Burgundy traffic jams. Unfortunately, it has however been a terrible year for the wine makers.  Prolonged 2 months of rain in early summer, followed by 2 months of drought has had a dramatic affect on yield. We will have to wait to see what it tastes like and can guarantee that it won’t taste like any other year - they’re all different - that is the joy of Burgundy wines.

On the Chablis tour, tour guide Neil parked the bus beside the Grand Cru vines and our guests had the chance to get involved. “The bus is trashed!” Neil joked, referring to the muddy footprint throughout after clients pottered around the vineyards, I just hope they didn’t eat too many grapes!

A birthday special Captain's Dinner with a celebratory cake for a passenger and our hostess Alex, who sat down with the guests for the meal.