Category Archives: From Saint Louis

Our cruising season is well under way, and our guests are enjoying the tranquillity of South West France (as well of course as the food, the wine and the overall luxury provided on the Saint Louis). (below) Proof that the season has started – Saint Louis’ good name has been polished and painted; and other folk have also decided that it’s time to take to the water – via the family lawn mower! We do occasionally see people who simply … Continue reading →

It is mid-April, and we are firmly in Spring! The signs are clear – firstly the willow tree outside our house burst into leaf, then we had the cherry blossom, now the apple orchards all around are in full blossom. Ring-doves are feeding their young outside our window, and I think I heard a golden oriole yesterday. Work on the boat continues apace, considerably assisted by having a really great spell of weather – day after day it is cold … Continue reading →

In common with many countries in the northern hemisphere, we have had quite a hard winter in south west France. Some days ago, though, it really became spring-like, with temperatures reaching 18o centigrade, and our willow trees bursting into leaf. Today, we are back in winter! Very unusually for this area in March we are once again white with snow, and we have minus 4o forecast for tonight. We are often asked what happens to the canals during the winter. … Continue reading →

We seem to be in a record-breaking winter. Eastern and central USA has seen huge snowfalls, and at the moment temperatures in parts of Britain are lower than at the South Pole! I am pleased, and relieved, to be able to relate that southwest France is not so badly affected – but it is very cold, and there is the threat of worse to come. There is only one course of action when it is like this – wrap up … Continue reading →

Where has the summer gone? It seems only yesterday that the wheat harvest was in full swing, now the apples orchards are giving up their fruit, the wine makers are preparing for the “vendage” (grape harvest) and swallows are assembling on the telephone wires ready for their flight south. We are seeing early morning mists and the start of autumn colours, while with some relief the temperatures have become warm instead of hot. It really is a lovely time of … Continue reading →

It is strange to think that we are already past the longest day. A heat-wave is with us in western Europe (as I write it is after 9.00 in the evening, and the temperature is 33ocentigrade). Wimbledon is in full swing, and we have had some amazing bird encounters this year. Each year we expect to hear nightingales, but some weeks ago we were treated to a very special concert. As it happened it was an evening in which we … Continue reading →

One of the great pleasures of our life on the canal in south west France is the joy of meeting some seriously unusual people. Last week, we met a young German couple who had toured Eastern Europe and Iberia in a sort of covered wagon, pulled by two horses. They had already covered more than 8,000 kilometres, and they looked a picture of peace in their little camp beside the canal, while their horses contentedly grazed the grass verges. The … Continue reading →

Well, we have just done our first cruise of the season, and we were reminded all over again as to why we do this, and why we do it here. It was simply a marvellous cruise! Weeping willow trees in full leaf, all the apple, pear, peach and plum trees in spectacular blossom, fields turned bright yellow with their oil-seed crops, bird song greeting us everywhere we went, and little fluffy corks called ducklings bobbing along beside their mothers. We … Continue reading →

There is no doubt at all that everyone will agree that 2009 will be a “different” year. We are seeing and feeling the worst financial crisis in living memory, and like everyone else we are affected. But – we have a good level of bookings for this year, and the level of enquiries we are having for 2010 indicates that many people are taking the view that life is there to be lived and enjoyed. We share that view! There … Continue reading →