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Category: Barging

—  By Helm and CrewFebruary 7, 2019

The third most visited tourist attraction in France: 27/07 – 29/07

Pont-l’Évêque – Chauny – Guny Slowing Down Our aim for the next stage of this year’s cruising was to relax a bit. We had pretty much rushed down the Grand Gabarit, travelling the commercial route and using big commercial locks. This had been a 260…
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—  By Helm and CrewJanuary 20, 2019

Kruising with Kiwis: 23/7 – 26/7

Arleux – Moislains – Péronne – Noyon – Pont-l’Évêque Ruyaulcourt Tunnel We started off at a sensibly early time on yet another sunny windless day. Every day seems to be the same this year – warm or hot, sunny and little or no wind. What’s…
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—  By Helm and CrewDecember 29, 2018

Finally off – heading for garlic: 15/07 -22/07

Veurne – Watten – Béthune – La Bassée – Arleux To Dunkirk Sunday morning came and we set off in company with a Dutch couple on a cruiser that we had been chatting with over the last day or so and a third cruiser being…
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—  By Helm and CrewDecember 19, 2018

An Inauspicious Start: 12/07 – 13/07

Veurne – Veurne Veurne Our plan on returning to Catharina Elisabeth was to collect a couple more items with the car, drop it back to Dunkirk and then cruise off into France on July 13th, ready to enjoy the Bastille Day celebrations again. It’s perhaps…
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"New grandkids are the natural enemy of extended boat cruises."

Harvey Schwartz | 'On a Barge in France' blog

  1. Avatar photo
    Ian on The Bridge at Capestang – Finally (31/7 – 5/8/25)May 3, 2026

    It was quite special, Gina.There's no other aspect of our cruising that we have spent more time and effort anticipating…

  2. Val Poore on Meandering on the Midi (06/08 – 13/08)May 2, 2026

    Anothe lovely meander along the Canal du Midi, this time in an area very familiar to me! thank you both…

  3. Gina on The Bridge at Capestang – Finally (31/7 – 5/8/25)April 29, 2026

    My breath was held watching the progress through the bridge, your research of precise clearances paid off! Such a beautiful…

  4. Alice on Selebrating with Soissons: 03/08 – 06/08April 27, 2026

    Excellent post! Your articulate analysis and well-structured content make for an engaging read. I'm excited to see more thought-provoking contributions…

Categories

  • ▼Barging (180)
    • Meandering on the Midi (06/08 - 13/08)
    • The Bridge at Capestang - Finally (31/7 - 5/8/25)
    • Wheelhouses, Biminis and Bridges
    • Béziers and the Fonseranes Staircase (25/07 - 30/07/25)
    • The Lights of Béziers (21/07 - 24/07/25)
    • Tentative start to the Canal du Midi (18/7 - 20/7/25)
    • Jousting in the Sun (12/7 - 17/7/25)
    • Along the Mediterranean (6/7 - 12/7/25)
    • Avignon (30/06 - 05/07/25)
    • Downstream on the Rhône (23/06 - 29/06/25)
    • Lyon (20/06 - 22/06)
    • End of the Saône (19/06 - 20/06)
    • Rowing races and serenaded by frogs (14/06 - 18/06)
    • A long pause in Tournus (8/06 - 13/06)
    • Cruising into new territory (3/06 - 7/06)
    • Nearly ready to go (29/05 - 2/06)
    • Into the swing of things (20/05 - 28/05)
    • Hopes and aspirations for season 2025 (20/05/2025)
    • Roanne to Paray-le-Monial (20/7 to 23/7)
    • The Race to Roanne (15/7 - 19/7)
    • Change of plans - the tyranny of a schedule (10/7 - 14/07)
    • Wine country again (07/07 - 09/07)
    • From 12th century castles to 20th century nuclear power (1/07 - 6/07)
    • The Road to hell is … (16/12/24)
    • The Canal (and River) Briare (21/06 - 30/06)
    • Montargis, Orléans and Joan of Arc (17/06-20/06)
    • Into the Unknown (12/06 - 16/06)
    • Cruising again (01/06 - 11/06)
    • Let's get started (20/05 - 31/05)
    • Ten Years On
    • 2024 Plan A, Plan B, Plan C …
    • Finishing in Paris (20/10 - 25/10)
    • Life's not just about overplating (16/08 - 24/10)
    • Finally - the Overplating (16/08 - 21/10)
    • Cruising with the Whelans (31/07 - 4/08)
    • Waiting for the Whelans (19/07 - 30/07)
    • DBA Rally in Auxerre (12/06 - 18/06)
    • Cruising to the DBA Rally (1/06 - 11/07)
    • Many hands make light work (27/05 - 25/06)
    • Stage 1 Continues (8/05 - 26/05/23)
    • Stage 1 (26/04 - 07/5/2023)
    • A busy year begins (24/04 - 25/04/2023)
    • Completing Season 2022 ( 04/09/22 - 25/09/22)
    • Much delayed overview of the 2022 season so far: (24/5/22 - 3/9/22)
    • Where have we been? 1/9/20 - 21/4/22
    • Migennes and home (21/09 - 27/09)
    • Motoring around Burgundy (12/09 - 20/09)
    • Back and Forth from Auxerre: (30/08 - 11/09)
    • What's happening to the Eurmac's blog?
    • Short trips to millions of bottles of bubbly: (23/8 - 29/08)
    • Duck diving and Lavoirs: 14/8 - 22/8
    • Saved by the Dutch: 6/08 - 13/08
    • Once more unto the breach: 1/08 - 5/08
    • Crunch time: 28/07 - 31/07
    • Ascent to the Summit: 27-28/07
    • Cruising in a Canicule: 24-26/07
    • Marooned: 21/07 - 23/07
    • Clamecy: 18/07 - 21/07
    • Trout and Climbing: 15/07 - 17/07
    • More paintings and wine: 11/07 - 14/07
    • Isolation: 25/03/2020 - ??
    • There and back again: 05/07 - 10/07
    • Auxerre - Sightseeing and Socialising: 28/06 - 04/07
    • Backwards to Auxerre: 27/06 - 01/07
    • Meandering while in Migennes: 14/06 - 26/06
    • "Catharina Begins Burgundy" Plan A - Z or Trapped on the Nivernais
    • The Final Cruise: 27/09 - 4/10
    • Montereau to Sens: 20/09 - 26/09
    • Nogent-sur-Seine and back again: 16/09 - 19/09
    • Towards the Top of the Seine: 6/09 - 15/09
    • Two grand châteaux: 29/08 - 5/09
    • Paris: 21/08 - 28/08
    • Rendezvous with Renoir: 17/08 - 21/08
    • Monet's Garden: 16/08
    • Death of a Painter: 11/08 - 15/08
    • Compiègne: 8/08-10/08
    • A lucky climb: 7/08
    • Selebrating with Soissons: 03/08 - 06/08
    • Just cruising in the sun: 30/07 - 02/08
    • The third most visited tourist attraction in France: 27/07 - 29/07
    • Kruising with Kiwis: 23/7 - 26/7
    • Finally off - heading for garlic: 15/07 -22/07
    • An Inauspicious Start: 12/07 - 13/07
    • Finishing Unfinished Business: 03/07 - 08/07
    • Planes, trains and automobiles
    • Retired but off again: 02/07/2018
    • Unfinished, unfinished business: 18/09 - 27/9/2017
    • Bergues and Dunquerke: 11/9 - 17/9
    • Plan D: 6/9 - 10/9
    • In the wars: 2/9 - 5/9
    • Leaving the Somme: 31/08 - 01/09
    • Gorgeous Amiens again: 27/08 - 30/08
    • Castles and Barbies: 25/08 -26/08
    • Retracing our steps: 22/08 - 24/08
    • "Oh I do like to be beside the sea ...": 20/08 -21/08
    • "Oh I do love to be beside the seaside..." 19/08
    • Chauffeured to the Coast: 16/08 - 18/08
    • ANZAC Journey: 14/08 - 15/08
    • Towards the Somme: 11/08 - 13/08
    • Courchelettes Resort - Side Trips and Plan C: 17/07 - 10/08
    • Courchelettes Resort - Around Douai: 17/07 - 10/08
    • Courchelettes Resort - Working: 17/07 - 10/08
    • Our First Bastille Day: 11/7 - 16/7
    • If it's Sunday, there must be Jousting: 9/7 - 10/7
    • Mademoiselle from Armentières, Parlez-Vous? : 07/07 - 08/07
    • Stranded - Waiting for a green light for France: 28/6-4/7
    • Australian Bar in Flanders: 21/9-26/9
    • Plans in Gelée: 25/06/2017 - 26/09/2017
    • The long way around: 17/09 - 20/09
    • In Bruges - Again: 12/09 - 16/09
    • Back to Ghent: 9/09 - 11/09
    • Trees and weed: 5/09 - 8/09
    • The old Capital of France: 1/09 - 4/09
    • Heading towards Neptunia: 30/08 - 31/08
    • The Army comes to Town: 26/08-29/08
    • Big Day Out: 25/08
    • Sliding down the Canal: 22/08 - 24/08
    • Appointment with a Vet: 19/08 - 21/08
    • We Made It! 18-08-2016
    • Dog Aboard: 15/08 - 17/08
    • Two abbeys and three guests: 13-14/08
    • Beer and Bloggers on the way back to Namur:10/8 - 12/8
    • Taking Catharina to the limit: 8/08 - 9/08
    • Highs and Lows in Dinant: 7/8
    • Hergé's Adventures of Catharina Elisabeth
    • La Louvière to Namur: 1/8 - 5/8
    • Distractions and Calendars
    • The Historic Canal du Centre: 30/7 - 31/7
    • Into the War Zone: 26/7 - 29/7
    • The Land of the Giants: 23/7 - 26/7
    • Ex-Colonials Head up the Dender: 18/7 - 20/7
    • We Made It!
    • Dashing past old haunts: Veurne to Dendermonde 13/7 - 16/7
    • Barge Antics at Briare: 6-12/7
    • Veurne - Coming World Remember Me: 2 - 5/7/2016
    • Plans in Jelly 2016
    • A new look - for a new season
    • Den Bosch: 23/9
    • Heading Home: 18 - 22/9
    • Entering the War Zone: 13/9-17/09
    • Brugge: 10-12/9
    • Another Castle on the way to Bruges: 6-10/9
    • A quick look at Ghent: 3-5/9
    • One last Hurdle: 30/8-3/9
    • Into Belgium: 28-29/8
    • A Pause in another Cheese Town: 25-27/8
    • The Race to Belgium: 22-24/8
    • Sail Amsterdam: Tall Ships...
    • Catharina Elisabeth returns to the Kaasmarkt
    • If you want to come and join us ...
    • Meet the Verwers
    • The Great Quest
    • The Centenary Cruise Begins
    • Where are we now?
    • The Guests get a break
    • Cruising towards Amsterdam
    • Guests Arrive
    • Hopping around Friesland Lakes
    • Wild and Free
    • Neo Vita's last cruise
    • The Best $50 we ever spent
    • Plans in Jelly
    • Big brother is watching you
    • Venice of the North and Amsterdam
    • Cruising to the end at Groningen
    • Elburg - and the Sailing Ships
    • Welcome to the Netherlands!
    • Tourism (and less scary stuff)
    • Cruising to Amersfoort
    • I'm in Love
    • Our First Day Cruising: 31/8
    • Where is Neo Vita?
    • Papa Alpha Sierra Sierra Echo Delta!
    • Gnomenapped
    • Never too old to learn
    • One always needs a boat
    • Pretty Flowers
    • Seven weeks to go - started packing
    • Updated the 'Why Barge/France?" page
    • This is my first blog post
  • ►Countries (168)
    • ►Australia (2)
    • ►Belgium (40)
    • ►France (102)
    • ►Netherlands (27)
  • ►Cruising Year (175)
    • ►2014 (17)
    • ►2015 (22)
    • ►2016 (29)
    • ►2017 (21)
    • ►2018 (21)
    • ►2019 (19)
    • ►2020 (1)
    • ►2021 (1)
    • ►2022 (3)
    • ►2023 (12)
    • ►2024 (13)
    • ►2025 (18)
  • ►History (2)
  • ►Housekeeping (13)
  • ►Photography (4)
  • ►Waterways – France (38)
    • ►Briare, Canal de (4)
    • ►Centre, Canal du (3)
    • ►Étang de Thau (3)
    • ►Latéral à la Loire, Canal (6)
    • ►Loing, Canal du (1)
    • ►Loing, River (3)
    • ►Marne, River (1)
    • ►Midi, Canal du (6)
    • ►Nivernais, Canal du (4)
    • ►Petit Rhône, River (1)
    • ►Rhône à Sète, Canal du (1)
    • ►Rhône au Rhin, Canal du (2)
    • ►Rhône, River (2)
    • ►Roanne à Digoin, Canal de (3)
    • ►Saint-Martin, Canal (1)
    • ►Saône, River (8)
    • ►Seine, River (3)
    • ►Yonne, River (7)
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