Introductions.

This is the first posting of what we hope will be a blog record of an exciting three month adventure in France. Judy and I have recently retired from full time employment and while we have traveled to Europe many times this will be our longest trip and we have found that there is much more to be considered when you are away from home for more than one month.

The trip has been several years in the planning with our friends Ann and Terry. The original idea was to cross France by canal from the English Channel to the Mediterranean, but this is only possible if you own your own boat which, apart from the cost, raises almost insurmountable difficulties with the EU bureaucracy. So we have arranged two separate hire cruises of 5 weeks, the first in the south of France/Canal du Midi area and the second to the Burgundy/Eastern Loire area, with a week in between.

Here is an outline itinerary:

15 April. Auckland to London with 1 night in Los Angeles.

19 April. London to Paris on Eurostar.

23 April. Paris to Montpellier on TGV.

28 April. Pick up boat from Capestang.

2 June. Return boat to Moissac. Travel to Normandy.

8 June. Stay with friends Francois and Sylvie in Auxerre.

9 June. Pick up boat from Vermenton.

14 July. (Bastile Day) Return boat. Travel to Paris.

16 July. Travel to London on Eurostar.

17 July. Return to Auckland with 2 nights in Los Angeles.

21 July. Arrive Auckland.

We will be relying on Internet Cafes and Wifi Hotspots for email and blogging, but we do have a data-capable cell-phone as backup. If you need to contact us you should TXT to 021 687861 or 021 441886, and we will reply by TXT, phone or email as required.

So back to the final packing up and goodbyes to friends and family, especially the 4 young grandsons who will grow up so much while we are away.