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Kerr Barging Blogs

We have spent a fair bit of time cruising in the South Pacific aboard our 33 years young 11.1metre yacht, Pastime of Sydney. We are now cruising through the canals and rivers of France on our old barge, "Anja", which was built in the North of the Netherlands in 1903. Anja was 110 years old in May 2013 and we celebrated with good French Champagne- but the boat did not get any! In 2014, for Anja's 111th, we took her back to where she was built in the North of the Netherlands.
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The VNF Sinks our Plans!

We have been waiting South of Paris to start our sprint up the Seine and Yonne Rivers so that we can leave the boat for winter and fly home to Australia this Friday. The Seine RIver was due to re-open tomorrow morning (30 September). We had been concerned that the Yonne River, being smaller than the Seine, would also re-open on time but always thought the Seine was secure given how large it is and how important to waterways traffic in France.

 

Well, the unthinkable has happened and now the Seine will not be re-opening tomnorrow (after a five week closure for important works). It is going to be closed for a further FOUR weeks. On top of that, the upper parts of the Yonne are scheduled to close for planned works on the fourth of November. So, if VNF missed the deadline on the Seine again, we would be stuck further up the Yonne River.

 

The VNF have been very confusing so far. They found asbestos in the lock gates of a lock where they were working, one week before the scheduled re-opening. First they said this would delay re-opening 10 days but now they have changed this to 28 days! There were no contingency plans in place. For instance, there is a second lock at the site in question and VNF told us this would be useable. Then four days after telling us this, they told us they have now discovered it has been out of order for 15 years!

 

There is huge disruption to commercial traffic and we are sure there are lots of angry business people around- not just us.

 

The VNF is trying to work out what to do and so are we.

 

Best Regards,

Dave and Penny

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What we are doing
Adrift in Paris
 

Comments 2

Guest - Les Chouettes on Sunday, 29 September 2013 23:21

what can we do for you ? may be writting to France President ! we apologize for your situation !

Believe in your good star, may be Your lucky star will appear.

best regards,
Chantal & Christian

what can we do for you ? may be writting to France President ! we apologize for your situation ! Believe in your good star, may be Your lucky star will appear. best regards, Chantal & Christian
Guest - Val de Burca on Monday, 30 September 2013 07:06

Poor Penny & David you are not having a good time at the moment. I guess all we can say is good luck in solving your problem. Yhinking of you both Cheers val & Mike

Poor Penny & David you are not having a good time at the moment. I guess all we can say is good luck in solving your problem. Yhinking of you both Cheers val & Mike
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