Category Archives: C’est La Vie – The Boat

Calais to Bethune – The First Days on the Canals

Posted on April 4, 2014 by agclontarf

We have started the journey along the French Canal system. Over the last two days we have motored from Calais to Bethune, a distance of 144 kilometres. Sorry blogs have been late this week. I have had terrible trouble getting … Continue reading →

Posted in C'est La Vie - The Boat, On the Journey, People who have helped us on our way | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

In France- We have made it across the Channel

Posted on April 1, 2014 by agclontarf

Having left Dover at 12.00 noon on Friday 28th March. We arrived in Calais at 4.00 pm. The crossing was trouble free and the boat behaved perfectly, in good weather conditions. I was very anxious about the crossing, taking to … Continue reading →

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Today’s a Big Day- Crossing the Channel to France

Posted on March 28, 2014 by agclontarf

We have been in Dover now for two days waiting on the crew to assemble. Neil came on Wednesday by bus, wheeling the second Strida bike. Michael and Bill arrived on Thursday by plane and then three different trains. It’s now … Continue reading →

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The Gap Year Journey has Started! Day 0

Posted on March 26, 2014 by agclontarf

After two years of planning,  the journey has finally started. Early this morning, Jonathan and Glen of Kennedy Haulage met me at the Texaco Station on the N4 at 5.30 am and we drove the truck to Albert Lock to load the … Continue reading →

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Boat arrives in Dover!

Posted on March 26, 2014 by agclontarf

Arrived safely in Dover at 8am this morning. Up all night travelling through England. gone to bed, full blog later tonight…

Posted in C'est La Vie - The Boat, On the Journey | 5 Comments

Presentation to my Rotary Club – Tomorrow is the Departure Day

Posted on March 24, 2014 by agclontarf

Today, the day before the Gap Year begins, I gave a presentation on our plans to my Rotary Club, Dublin Fingal. This is rather like explaining to your family what you have decided to go and do… I have been a member … Continue reading →

Posted in C'est La Vie - The Boat, Getting Ready for Gap Year, People who have helped us on our way | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Derek Mooney Show

Posted on March 21, 2014 by agclontarf

Yesterday, Nuala and I were on the Derek Mooney Show to talk about our Gap Year. It was an interesting experience as neither of us had ever been interviewed on live National Radio before. So our Gap Year has brought … Continue reading →

Posted in C'est La Vie - The Boat, derek mooney show, Getting Ready for Gap Year, People We have Meet on the Gap Year | Tagged | 2 Comments

Registering the Boat as a Ship of the Irish Nation– We Got It with 11 days to Go!

Posted on March 14, 2014 by agclontarf

The Boat is now named C’est la Vie. As I mentioned in an earlier blogs, it is much better if the boat is officially registered before we take it to France and Germany. European waterways police apparently love official paperwork … Continue reading →

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The Dover – Calais Delivery Team have a Practice Day – 13 days to go.

Posted on March 12, 2014 by agclontarf

The boat has been dewinterised.  The Topaz Truck came last Friday and filled up the fuel tank. So the boat can again do what it’s designed to do, cruise on the water. I have asked Bill Kee, Michael Eustace and Neil … Continue reading →

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Thursday & Friday – Not Good Days

Posted on March 10, 2014 by agclontarf

In case you all think I am currently having a great life with nothing to do, let me tell you about last Thursday & Friday. As you know the inverter (the brain on the boat that manages the electricity) failed on the … Continue reading →

Posted in C'est La Vie - The Boat, Getting Ready for Gap Year, People We have Meet on the Gap Year | Tagged , , | 4 Comments