Casting Off The Lines

It's been a busy time, and a blog posting--however short--is long overdue. Better late than never, we cast off our lines and departed Pont de Vaux yesterday with a newly "labelled" C.A.R.I.B. III.

We now bear the correct name--one of our projects over the
last few days.

The dinghy got a new paint job as well as a new name

With one thing and another we were both beginning to wonder if we would EVER start cruising. The previous three days had been grey and/or rainy--a return to cold spring weather and not ideal for boating as far as we were concerned.

Lon at the helm leaving the marina

Our view down Pont de Vaux canal

Our stop for the day was the town of Tournus, about 15 kilometers (12 miles) upstream of Pont de Vaux, and a place we had visited by bicycle in late May. We arrived early afternoon, so had some time to visit the historic Saint Philibert's Abbey (celebrating its millennium this year). The Abbey is one of the oldest monastic centers in France and is said to be situated on the tomb of the early Christian martyr Valerian.

12 Century mosaics of the Zodiac preserved
 in situ in the Abbey floor

Interior of the Romanesque church built
between the 11th and 12th centuries

It's boating season! The quay on the Tournus waterfront
was much more crowded than in late May. It's amazing
what a free mooring (with electricity) will do.

Lon may be wondering at this pet grooming shop in the
old center of Tournus--exactly
 what kind of "cosmetiques" can a dog or cat use?

Tournus waterfront at sunrise--and sunrise comes really early
in France this time of year. 

The 12th C. Eglise (Church) of Sainte Madeleine. Built
in the center of the site of the old Roman town that stood here.

In Tournus we met up with Dutch friends Carla and Ebe DeJong, who travelled from Holland to be with us on C.A.R.I.B. III for a few days. The weather today was glorious (more about that in the next post), but the forecast is not promising for the next two days. Keeping fingers crossed though, because we hope to give Carla and Ebe more than just one cruising day.

Although the weather is fickle, we've seen at least one sign of summer: baby birds!

Swans and their cygnets begging for food in Pont de Vaux.
Canadian geese are common in much of the U.S.; swans
seem to be the French equivalent