Under rainy skies we set off, or kind of set off, from the pontoon in Meaux. In Meaux, the pontoons are diagonal to the direction of the current. This makes it easy to dock on the upstream side when one … Continue reading
From Mary-sur-Marne Wanderlust continued downriver to the city of Meaux. It was for us a return visit to a favorite stop on the Marne.
After collecting our guests in la Ferté-sous-Jouarre, Wanderlust continued down the River Marne. The narrow, intimidating-looking exit route from la Ferté-sous-Jouarre’s port turned out to be not much of a challenge at all, even with the healthy current from the … Continue reading
After departing Château-Thierry in the morning, Wanderlust worked her way down the Marne through intermittent showers. Eventually we arrived in the commune of la Ferté-sous-Jouarre, our goal for the day.
It was drizzling as Wanderlust left Dormans on the way to Château-Thierry. Late season cruising can be a mixed bag. Days with calm winds and smooth reflective water emphasize the color change on the banks. They rank among the most … Continue reading
Leaving Épernay we headed downstream on the Marne. At first, Champagne’s vineyard covered hillslopes follow the course of the river, most dramatically visible above the right bank. The Marne is autumn is beautiful, and all the more so when the … Continue reading
Our planned hunt for an open Champagne house in Mareuil-sur-Ay to taste and buy sparkling wine was unsuccessful. As we had feared many of the tasting rooms in the village were closed during the vendange or grape harvest. And those … Continue reading
“Have a nice day, eh?” Continue reading
A striking display inside the museum
During our stop in Meaux we took the bikes out to visit Musée de la Grande Guerre du Pays de Meaux on the outskirts of the commune. During the First Battle of the Marne in September 1914, the German troops were stopped at the gates of Meaux. It was as close as they came to Paris. The history of the battle and war is explained in the expansive museum. It is worth a visit it you are in the area. Continue reading
Brie de Meaux
Wanderlust returned to Meaux on the 29th of September 2015. Meaux is close to Paris; the City of Light is a half hour by train away. More importantly for us, Meaux was just above the last of the scheduled lock closures on our Marne route. With long days and determined cruising we had made it to Meaux with a few days to spare. We now had the luxury of staying four nights and resting in a commune that we knew well from our stop a year earlier. Continue reading
Wanderlust 