L'Avenir - cruising Europe's inland waterways

Once again, Scotland has turned on the sunshine and as we tour the length and breadth of of this beautiful country and we find our eyes dangerously drawn towards 'for sale' signs on highland cottages. A few days of normality, i.e. pouring rain, would no doubt wash away our idle daydreams but so far the early morning mists shrouding the mountains have cleared by midday and we've even been heard to complain about the heat as we clamber up heather clad hillsides towards some ruin or waterfall. Everywhere we look there is a stupendous view - mountains, lochs, deserted beaches - and for once we can actually see it. If there's one drawback it is that we seem to be sharing the view with half of Europe. Scots voices are very much in the minority in the pubs in the evening which makes conversation (and eavesdropping) so much more difficult. We are very lucky to have generous relatives who have looked after us well and now, as we tour around, we are in the hands of the Bed and...

Moret sur Loing A few pictures from our recent whirlwind trip from Migennes to Briar. These waterways definitely merit a more sedate journey - perhaps sometime in the future. Moret sur Loing The beautiful Moret was home to the impressionist painter, Alfred Sisely. The town is very proud of this artistic connection and has information boards at various locations showing the paintings executed by Sisely at those spots. Canal du Loing Lavoir on River Loing at Mountbouy Rogny les Sept Ecluses Staircase of 7 ecluses taken out of service in 1887 after 245 years of use and replaced by a chain of 6 locks - the barge is exiting the first of these 'new' locks. Briare church mosaic clock. The church is decorated with mosaics inside and out. Doing our maritime duty. Towing a fellow boater in distress onto the next port.  This next is for you Emma and Andrew! Dutch dachshund on his holidays at Ouzouer sur Trezee

L'avenir appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt = "the future belongs to those who get up early" Sage advice from a port captain somewhere or other. L'Avenir is the name of our boat and it always raises a smile and often a comment when noted down by lock keepers and port captains. The comments are usually sayings and proverbs regarding l'avenir (the future) most of which, being whimsical or philosophical, are beyond my still basic French.  This one I did understand. We've had to get up early a lot recently. The past couple of weeks have been a bit like that programme 'Race Around the World' - just replace 'World' with French waterways. It seems that at every stop we've been given new and conflicting information and we've had to adjust our plans. Making plans is very overrated. This year is the first time we have had even the vaguest notion of one and we're in no hurry to repeat the process. Going with the flow seems much less st...