Category Archives: On the Journey

‘Le Cheval’ Stew – That’s horse meat stew to you and I

Posted on April 16, 2014 by agclontarf

When the Dover delivery crew were with me, we ate very well. We had dinner out two evenings and Neil and/or Bill cooked dinner on all the other days. For the first meal on board, Neil cooked steak stew.

Posted in On the Journey | 2 Comments

Cambrai Town on the Saint Quentin Canal – a great stopping place

Posted on April 11, 2014 by agclontarf

We have stayed in Cambrai for the last two days. It has a picturesque little port which holds about 20 boats and is in the heart of the town. It was given a very good write up in the guide … Continue reading →

Posted in Comments on Social Economic Lifestyle in France, On the Journey, People We have Meet on the Gap Year | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

Remember the blog debate on Washing Machine or Microwave?

Posted on April 9, 2014 by agclontarf

Do you remember we had a debate and decision as to whether to fit a microwave or washing machine to the boat and the microwave won?

Posted in comments on life, Comments on Social Economic Lifestyle in France, On the Journey | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Faire des liens…

Posted on April 8, 2014 by agclontarf

Ma fille Louise s’est mariée avec un Français qui s’appelle Jo Renard. Avant de commencer ce voyage, nous n’avions pas réalisé que ses grands parents vivent à Douai. Nous avons les rencontrés au mariage de Louise en France il ya … Continue reading →

Posted in On the Journey, People We have Meet on the Gap Year, Visitors to C est la Vie | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Meeting our relatives in Douai

Posted on April 8, 2014 by agclontarf

My daughter Louise is married to a Frenchman called Jo Renard. We did not realise until shortly before we commenced this journey that his grandparents live in Douai. We had met them at Louise’s wedding in France five years ago … Continue reading →

Posted in On the Journey, People We have Meet on the Gap Year, Visitors to C est la Vie | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

The Dover Delivery Team goes home – Nuala Arrives

Posted on April 4, 2014 by agclontarf

Thursday was the change of crew date. The plan was that Nuala would arrive by air to Beauvais Airport, hire a car and drive to meet us in Douai. Then Bill and Michael would drive the car back to the … Continue reading →

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

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 →

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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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