Last day in France

Posted on February 18, 2015 by agclontarf
Statue outside Caen Museum- Nuala to show scale

Statue outside Caen Museum- Nuala to show scale

We spent the last day in France, at The War Memorial of Caen museum and then took the night ferry from Caen to Portsmouth. We are near the end of our Gap Year.

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Final trip from St Jean to Caen- Nuala does not get to visit her Shrines of France

Posted on February 16, 2015 by agclontarf
Adrian in front of war memorial

USA memorial to support personal who supplied 2 million USA troops during WW1

Nuala wanted to visit more Shrines in France, Nevers Cathedral and the remains of St Bernadette and also visit Lisieux and the Shrine of St Therese. I, on the other hand, wanted to visit the War Memorial de Caen which I understand is the best WW2 museum in France. So the compromise was the two shrines on the way to Caen, then the museum and then onto the boat for Portsmouth. But things did not work out that way. Continue reading →

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We are leaving Chalon after 4 1/2 months

Posted on February 13, 2015 by agclontarf
loading the car

Loading the car

The day we had planned to leave, it froze the night before – 6 degrees. We had to leave with ice on the decks.

It was a pretty hard job to load the car. We had to throw out a lot of stuff or pass it on to others. We brought the boat to a separate jetty to load the car. This proved challenging and now the car is jam packed with two bikes on the back.

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Last trip on the Saone River with our French friends

Posted on February 10, 2015 by agclontarf
Home made soup- wine before and after

Home made soup- wine before and after

Last Sunday, we invited the people with whom we have formed strong friendships during or time in Chalon, to come on a farewell trip with us on the boat.

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Getting ready to go home- The big clear out!

Posted on February 6, 2015 by agclontarf
C'est la Vie with her replaced canopy

C’est la Vie with her replaced canopy

We leave for Ireland next weekend, so we are clearing and doing final touch ups on the boat. The going away parties have started! This week we have been to dinner to Alain and Francoise’s home. On Sunday we are taking a number of people out for a last farewell trip on the boat. Continue reading →

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Lunch at Bernard’s – Our French Friendships continue

Posted on February 4, 2015 by agclontarf
l/r Marine,Catherine,Melanie,Bernard, Nuala, Roger, Elham

l/r Marine,Catherine,Melanie,Bernard, Nuala, Roger, Elham

We met Bernard at Rodgers New Year’s Party. Bernard kindly invited us to Sunday lunch at his home – another new French experience for us. Continue reading →

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Visit to Valance and Avignon – following the rivers to the sea.

Posted on February 2, 2015 by agclontarf
Two of the four remaining arches of Pont D'Avignon

Two of the four remaining arches of Pont D’Avignon

On our adventure to follow the Saone and Rhone rivers to the Mediterranean, a round trip of 830 km, the first towns we stopped at were Valance and Avignon. This trip was all planned around the rivers to familiarise ourselves so that in years to come we can explore them by boat. Continue reading →

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Following the Saone and Rhone Rivers to the Mediterranean

Posted on January 30, 2015 by agclontarf
Nuala sur La Pont d' Avignon

Nuala sur Le Pont d’ Avignon

Nuala and I decided before we leave France that we would drive by car along the rivers and follow them to the sea. We have now reached Fos- sur- Mer and the sea. Continue reading →

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Our social life in Chalon- is wonderful.

Posted on January 28, 2015 by agclontarf
Marie Ange, Thierry and Nuala with starters

Marie Ange, Thierry and Nuala with starters

Last Friday our boat neighbour Thierry and his partner Marie Ange invited us to dinner on their boat. What a Burgundy feast! Continue reading →

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Festival of Saint Vincent Tournante – Festival and Wine and Burgundy Culture.

Posted on January 26, 2015 by agclontarf
all ready with our wine glasses

all ready with our wine glasses

Our boat neighbours,  Thierry and Marie Ange offered to bring us to this annual festival, giving thanks to Saint Vincent the patron saint of wine. The festival started in 1938 and it is held in different towns each year. In 2015 it was the towns of Gilly-les-Cíteaux & Vougeot, turn to host it. We were amazed at what we saw and experienced. Continue reading →

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