Author Archives: khodges2013

About khodges2013

Alan and I divide our time between our apartment in Christchurch, New Zealand, and our 11.5m Dutch Cruiser, Silver Fern, on the canals in France. We started out hiring and eventually bought our boat in 2014. The two summers lifestyle is wonderful and we feel very lucky!

St Jean de Losne to Auxonne. The sun came out.

Posted on May 29, 2018 by khodges2013

So we’ve been in our home port of St-Jean-de-Losne for two weeks now and we were planning on heading out on our next adventure today but although we finally have our water pump issue sorted at long last (am I … Continue reading →

Posted in Auxonne, Canal boat, France, French Canal boating, Holiday 2018, Petite Saône, Saone river, Travel, weed eater | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Forget Spring. It feels like Winter.

Posted on May 18, 2018 by khodges2013

Apparently we missed Summer. It was lovely but only lasted a week. Since we arrived in France it’s back to rainy cold days with thunderstorms and lightening. I love a good storm but this winter blast is no fun. I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Burgundy, Canal boat, Chalon Sur Saone, Christchurch, Dijon, France, French Canal boating, French markets, highs and lows of living on a boat, Holiday 2018, New Zealand, Saone river, St Jean de Losne | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Goodbye to Autumn, Bonjour au Printemps.

Posted on May 10, 2018 by khodges2013

Autumn is here in New Zealand although you wouldn’t know it by the weather! The colours in Christchurch’s Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens are spectacular. But Alan and I are off to France on Sunday for our next adventure. … Continue reading →

Posted in Burgundy, Canal boat, Christchurch, French Canal boating, Holiday 2018, New Zealand, Paris, Paris, Petite Saône, St Jean de Losne, The adventure begins... | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Back to the Southern Hemisphere!

Posted on October 26, 2017 by khodges2013

Home again! We’ve been back in New Zealand a few weeks now and the weather is starting to look more like spring after some quite wintery temperatures. Personally I love the coolness and we are enjoying all that the Garden … Continue reading →

Posted in Holiday 2017 | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Who can resist a French market?

Posted on September 22, 2017 by khodges2013

I just can’t resist the French markets! Both taking photos and making a few well-considered purchases. Here are a few shots of our last market of the year. The covered market in Dole. 

Posted in Dole, French Canal boating, French markets | Tagged , | 2 Comments

The Jura. Last leg of our 2017 trip.

Posted on September 19, 2017 by khodges2013

Brrr! It was only 8° when we cast off from our mooring in Dole on Friday. A lovely sunny day to start but there were a lot of dark grey clouds looming on the horizon. And of course it started … Continue reading →

Posted in Burgundy, Canal boat, Canal Rhone au Rhin, Chateau-Chalons, Dole, Doubs River, French Canal boating, Jura, Beaune, Baume-les-Messieurs, St Jean de Losne | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Auxonne, Dole & Rochefort. Heatwaves and thunderstorms. 

Posted on September 1, 2017 by khodges2013

August 24 Thursday Daughter Georgie and her partner Chris arrived to visit us, travelling from Santorini to Auxonne via most modes of transport known to man including planes trains and automobiles. They arrived to a bit of a heatwave here … Continue reading →

Posted in Auxonne, Canal Rhone au Rhin, Dole, Doubs River, France, French Canal boating, Holiday 2017, Rochefort-sur-Nenon, Saone river, St Jean de Losne | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Vraincourt to Auxonne. Happy to back on the Saône River. 

Posted on August 23, 2017 by khodges2013

August 12 Saturday.  The first half of August has been more like October, weather-wise. It was only 14° as we headed away from Vraincourt at 9am and the temperature didn’t warm up. It felt as if we were the only … Continue reading →

Posted in Canal Entre Champagne et Bourgogne, Canal Entre Champagne et Bourgogne, Oisilly, Cussey, Piépape, eclusiers, French Canal boating, Holiday 2017, Reneve, Speaking French | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Chalons-en-Champagne to Vraincourt. Farewell to vineyards.

Posted on August 11, 2017 by khodges2013

July 27-August 5, Chalons-en-Champagne. As I mentioned in my last post the Canal Entre Champagne et Bourgogne had a bridge closure, stopping all traffic for about 10 days and so we tied up on one of the pontoons in Chalons … Continue reading →

Posted in Canal Entre Champagne et Bourgogne, Chalons-en-Champagne, Chamouilly, France, French Canal boating, Holiday 2017, Joinville, Marne, Marne River, Orconte, Speaking French, weed eater, Wifi in France | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Mareuil sur Ay to Chalons en Champagne via Reims. 

Posted on August 2, 2017 by khodges2013

Saturday July 22nd. It was a long day. We departed Mareuil-sur-Ay early, 8am, in convoy with the Australian boat Le Piglet. We were both heading up the Canal de l’Aisne à la Marne to Sillary. Along this shortish canal the … Continue reading →

Posted in Canal de l'Aisne à la Marne, Canal Entre Champagne et Bourgogne, Canal Lateral à la Marne, Chalons-en-Champagne, France, French Canal boating, French markets, Holiday 2017, Marne, Marne River | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments