One man (and his wife and dog) went to Meaux

Chateau Thierry to Meaux

70 km

6 lock

30 hours

After leaving the large town of Chateau Thierry, it was back to bobbing through small villages and grape vines. We caught our first glimpse of grape pickers. With their bright coloured clothing against the green fields, they looked like a living abacus, moving slowly up the rows.

You can just about make out the grape pickers from this picture which was taken some distance away

By afternoon, we were moored up at Nogent L’Artaud, a small village and, with it being a Sunday, all shops were closed. 

Fantastic selection of shops at Nogent L'artaud - all closed on a Sunday

Genie's Wish was way too big for the mooring and we had to put a plank out for a terrified Oddjob to jump on and off 

The moorings were at the end of a park and as it was hot and sunny it was full of families out enjoying themselves.  By the time we had tied the boat up and put the kettle on there were half a dozen people with their faces pressed up against the windows. Neither of us felt very sociable that day so we closed the kitchen blinds and ignored them.

An early morning visit from a guy wielding a petrol strimmer got us out of bed and on our way.

Next stop was Nanteuil-sur-Marne, too small to be called a village, there were no shops only one small hotel. After tea, we had a wander over to share a bottle of Chateau La Monge, as recommended by the waitress who included home grown cherry tomatoes with gougier cheese puffs fresh from the oven.

Our mooring at Nanteuil-sur-Marne

Our next stop was La Ferte Sous Jouarre.  We had noticed as we were progressing downstream, the river was starting to move more quickly, even at our usual speed it appeared to us as though we were travelling at ramming speed.  The town moorings were located down a side arm and there were a number of buoys indicating which route to take to avoid the rapids.  Holding our breath, we set off through the kayak slalom and somehow managed to avoid being swept away. Breathing again, we moored up and ventured into the town for supplies.

Entrance to the moorings at La Ferte Sous Jouarre. The buoys show the route through the current

The town was really photogenic

Even the street signs were beautiful

And we couldn't resist buying a cake for tea

There was an English barge on the moorings and the chap popped across to see us later that night.  Apparently, he had heard from a friend of a friend that a lock on the Seine had been damaged and the Seine would be closed until the end of the month.  We would be able to get into the marina in Paris but we may have to alter our plans for our journey.

Onwards to Saint Jean-Les Deux Jumeaux.  The weather was absolutely glorious and after lunch it was a change into shorts and t-shirts and out on to the staging to sun bathe. 

Our mooring at Saint Jean-Les Deux Jumeaux

The first place to offer pump out facilities. All free as long as you have your own equipment

Fishing is a serious pastime over here and they make things as comfortable as possible. Whilst meandering along we came across what looked like floating garden sheds, each more cosy than the last. Fishing huts are one thing, but we could not believe our eyes at the old three story slide and diving board we passed. It was sadly out of use now as the plastic chute was missing, but I imagined back in the 60s or 70s it would have been fantastic.

 

I would have loved to have a go on this in its heyday

By mid-afternoon we arrived at Meaux.  Once again the river proved treacherous to our narrowboat and misjudging the current we crash landed onto the pontoon, luckily no damage was done to either the boat or the staging.  Our Danish neighbour hadn’t been so lucky and had split his own pontoon in two.

Can you see the sign showing the way to avoid the weir?

Can you see it now?

Exiting a lock is like being on the log-flume at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

The small sign gives the direction to the moorings, we didn't see it from the boat and had to ask for directions

Our mooring in Meaux

Moorings in Nogent L’Artaud

Cost: Free

Facilities: None

Location: Local shops five minutes walk away. Train station with direct route to Paris five minutes walk away

Moorings in Nanteuil-sur-Marne

Cost: Free

Facilities: Water and electricity both free

Location: One hotel two minutes walk away

Moorings in La Ferte Sous Jouarre

Cost: Free

Facilities: Water and electricity both free

Location: Town centre with a very good selection of shops, bars and restaurants five minutes walk away

Moorings in Saint Jean-Les Deux Jumeaux

Cost: Free

Facilities: Water and electricity both free

Location: Small village with a few shops including a boulangarie five minutes walk away

Moorings in Meaux

Cost: €4 per night payable at tourist information, as we arrived after 5pm and left at 8am it was free for us.

Facilities: Water and electricity both included in the €4 charge (but available)

Location: Large town with a good selection of shops, bars and restaurants