Along the Seine

It took only a few metres from Monterau to enter the Seine, and being a little tired from all the barge wash we only moved on to the next bigger marine at Saint Mammès (or the holy Mummies-as we call it). A wonderful female Capitainière named Laurette made us very welcome and took Austin's and Angus' flirtations of being God's gift to women in her stride.

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We wanted to stay 2 nights, but were told that we would have to leave very early on Saturday morning as the marina was accommodating barges and sport boats for the annual Water Festival. A very odd looking barge had already anchored at the quay. We learned that its strange cargo had featured in "20,000 Leagues under the Sea" and was touring now as a museum.

On night two the four of us felt drawn into a restaurant just on the other side of the quay, "L'Epicurien", and we didn't regret it! The food was absolutely beautiful! Terrine of fresh and smoked salmon, scallops flambé in whiskey, tiramisu from pistachio cream with berry-jelly a.s.o. On the neighbouring table we got into conversation with irish Mary who lives in Hollywood. For the last 5 years or so Mary has been navigating her boat, Aquarius, singlehanded through the Dutch and Belgian waterways. 

After another early rock n roll awakening by passing barges, we followed two barges down the Seine river.

This was our lucky break as all the locks were expecting these commercial giants and we snug in neatly behind them. Due to the smooth ride we didn't even stop for lunch and carried on, enjoying all the weekend activities on the Seine: rowing regattas,

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water skiers, motor boating and sailing schools. We passed charming Samois sur Seine and as we got closer to Paris, it was obvious that the riverside girthed by grand villas was the playground of the rich and famous.

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We reached The Port of Cerises at Darveil on the outskirts of Paris in the late afternoon. The port has all the facilities needed and lays in a small inlet. It is protected from the river traffic and surrounded by parkland. We had our little "Safe arrival drinks" before sleeping soundly into Sunday.

Today, Sunday, was market day here. Anything, from fresh fruit and veggies to clothes, home-wares and shoes was on offer. We bought cherries,mushrooms and cheese, a container of freshly cooked paella for our dinner and 2 apple and almond tarts for our Sunday afternoon tea. Good-bye waistline!

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© Austin Robinson 2019