Have you seen our RESOURCES page on our website – lots of useful links. If you have useful information to share, let me know and I’ll add you to the list. (At the top: SAILING STUFF – RESOURCES/LINKS)

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True Survival Story

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Weather

I’ve recently noticed a few comments on FB groups about Storm Preparation or Hurricane Plans (or Cyclone Plans).

Although our storm preparation on a barge will be a little different (I hope) – for sailors and cruisers here’s a neat (and smart) diagram to study – for details click on OUR BOOKS –  hover your mouse over CRUISERS AA –  and click SAMPLE.

This link will take you to the sample page of Cruisers’ AA, where I have included an excerpt of the book which includes in-depth descriptions/advice on: When a cyclone warning is issued, Personal preparation, detailed preparation (cockpit, below decks, above decks etc), Safety, Storm surge, Tropical Revolving Storms, Cyclones, Hurricanes & Typhoons. This is stuff everyone needs to know if you are considering staying in a cyclone area during the season.

The surveyors been and gone. He was very thorough and has listed some work to be done.

Nothing horrendous, but some work to be done on the prop and prop shaft. Probably just a worn key-way . . . we shall see. The yard has been working on it for a while now and it is starting to “sound” expensive . . . bang bang bang!

Oh, well, nothing to do but wait . . . . waiting waiting waiting . . . very impatiently! 😉

Here’s some survey pictures and the boat’s anchor – I like the anchor it is a good size!

I like my gray hairs – I really do.

At first I was a bit perturbed about how thick (in quantity and diameter) they were springing up. Then I took a picture of the top of my head (for a blog about no-pooh . . . . you had to be there), anyhow, I was horrified by the amount of grays merrily ambushing the brunettes!

I have this odd love/hate relationship with my hair – I’ve shaved it off in a frenzy of over-heating, I’ve cut it myself for years, sometimes very well, but sometimes hideously!

Recently I’ve let it grow long again, my preferred style. Short, for me, is too much work and I look like a boy. Noel didn’t believe me when I told him this, then I shaved it off and he looked very sheepish and said, ‘oh, yeah, I see what you mean’. Great!

My hair is long now, the new springy grays give the rest of the mop a rather lively bounce. My ‘thin but lots of it’ hair (statements from hairdressers eons ago), is now lively.

More importantly, I’ve earned every single one of those hairs. There’s the, ‘almost lost the boat in Gambiers,’ gray; the, ‘we’re sinking,’ gray, there’s even the ‘Noel’ gray (just a baby one 😉  )

Each strand tells a story, my hair is part of me. Our journey is etched on our skin and also, I find, in my hair.

Say it loud, say it proud – GRAY PRIDE!

Bonjour,
Well we’ve done a little under 300 kilometres, 87 locks and we are all still talking! Our (potential) new boat has passed one amazing test sail with flying colours.
Here’s a selection of photos of the trip. We are not game to put the pictures of the boat on here yet (after last time!), however, we haul out next week and we are confident all will be well (there are a couple of ‘teasers’ here though).
It is hard living with strangers in a small space, but we made it and the boat is feeling like home already. She is extremely easy to handle and her systems are very well put together, maintained and in great working order.
We’ve had our bikes stolen and then one found, we’ve sampled lots of French delights and completely immersed ourselves in the spectacular feast for eyes that France offers along the canals.
We are looking forward to having the boat all to ourselves. For now, enjoy the splendid scenery as we did . . . pictures of the boat to follow soon (when the deal is done) . . .
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.406037129539049.1073741834.234876453321785&type=1
Au revoir.

‘Twas the night before our great adventure . . . during the day, travelling in trains allowing the whole gaggle of goodbyes to ruminate, I had a little epiphany. Our life of goodbyes is difficult for others, not just us. I know. I bleat about the obvious. But sometimes I am so focussed on my emotions that I become selfish and not think about others. Until saying farewell to my dear mum – again – this morning and our tears . . . our life of goodbyes is the compromise in our nomadic choice of living, but I had been so wrapped up in our feelings of parting and then our next adventure, I had given little thought to others and how they deal with us coming and going to and from their lives.

So, to you all that we’ve hugged, kissed and discreetly wiped our noses on- I thank you for putting up with us . . . au revoir.

Pic: Learning French on the train! 

As our incessant itchy feet require us to keep moving, again farewells are thick and fast, tears and hugs are all too regular in our nomadic lives. Still the next adventure urges us on.

Noel sums up his thoughts  on canals, sailing, speaking French and life! – and he reveals a bit more about our ‘prospective’ new boat:

This Friday we return to the lovely France. We are meeting our good friends Andrea and Clive, on whose farm we lived and trained our horses, spending the night together at the Pub. Next morning they are taking us down to our prospective new boat.

Then we take off, with the owners on a 280 k test run! Complete with 87 locks for heavens sakes. This is to deliver the boat to St Jean de Losne Marina and haul-out facility. The owners reckon it will take about 8 days. They do not speak English (being Australian, neither do I really, but I muddle on) we of course have a bare smattering of French (Jackie is miles in front of me with all things Franco-phile). So that should be interesting. Viva le accorde!! Well hopefully.

The barge (dutch Luxemotor) is 18.5m long, so somewhat shorter than the other beast, and has NO concrete in the bowels.

I do admit that the ocean has an allure, with regards, a sense of freedom and endless possibilities. These thoughts being well tempered by memories of exposed anchorages and lee shores. We shall see.

I’m primarily abso-bloody-lutely delighted with the fact that we have a choice to do these things and still have the health to enact these desires.

In two days’ time we hop on a boat in France to traverse several hundred miles and 87 locks with the owners. The owners are lovely, French and speak not a word of English. We are Australian, lovely (sometimes) and speak the odd French word (no, not swearing . . .  I think!).

This will be some ‘test sail’. Once we arrive at our destination the boat will be hauled and surveyed and if all the boxes are ticked we will become the proud owners.

I am all at once terrified (crewing in French!) and excited (great boat and fun canals). Currently I am desperately learning as many French terms as possible and am receiving some great help from friends:

“La right, la left.”

“Le iceberg”

“le Pointy end”

“Merde” (that’ll be useful), plus a few German hints thrown in just to confuse me or them, or perhaps everyone!

At least we know the important words, Je voudrais vin blanc & biere!

Hoping we have internet along the way for pictures and laughs to share with you all. Tally Ho!