Dinner at the Terroir

Rabbit terrine, sautéed duckling, escargots, entrecôte, sorbets, assiette gourmande (five small tasting dessert samples), fruity Santenay white wine sitting in the village square by the fountain.

Santenay Town Square

Appelation Controlee puts a premium on your real estate - the surrounding vineyards generate a huge income in premium wine sales and some of that munificence washes off on the town's infrastructure... the town fountain this evening with alternating water jet strength and color!

Twenty Cheeses to Taste!

At least twenty different cheeses are offered to diners on the third course at the Terroir (means local produce) Restaurant.... most diners will select up to four and taste in ascending strength sequence!

That Flowery Bridge at Santenay

Back again to the village for dinner at the Terroir Restaurant in Santenay, crossing that elegant bridge welcoming you to this small community with a big wine reputation.....

Savigny-de-Beaume

A little white wine with our salad Nicoise, tuna for us and smoked salmon for you know who!

Artistes at Work

In the vineyards above Santenay, a local group of painters have taken a prime spot in the vines and started their artistry in oils, watercolors, and mixed media of the iconic windmill composition while happily chatting away the beautiful day in Burgundy.

Bridge of Flowers

Walking into Santenay from the canal we pass over a small stream - the bridge is covered in flowers in planters and baskets... now on to lunch and a bottle of Santenay!

Air Draft Critical

Sliding under dozens of bridges we have to quickly get our rear ends seated or get our heads knocked off... the air draft for the canal is 3.5 meters and Bonheur's clearance requirement is 3.45 meters, a small difference of 5 centimeters or 2 inches. Captain's alert is "Bridge ahead" and we all race for our seats... no bruises yet!

Dinner on Board at Chagny

Shortly after 8 pm the sun starts setting and we take our places around the dining table on the top deck of Bonheur. Captain Paul and first mate Annie have prepared another Bonheur dinner, foie gras salad, chicken stuffed with cheese and wrapped in ham, the cheese course, delicate pastries from the patisserie accompanied with white Rully and espresso to finish ... "Bonheur!"

Canal Cruising?

Thought this might be a Pikmeer Cruiser but the French couple on board say it is a Finnish boat! Recognize it?

Annie Cooks up a Storm

First mate Annie over a hot stove preparing a gourmet dinner for the four of us on our third night aboard Bonheur.... yes definitely happy guests!

Lock Order

Lock #35, that's the 35th lock starting at the watershed between the Mediterranean side and the Atlantic side... along way to go regardless of which direction you are heading.... In this case it is 250 meters to #36 downstream or 300 meters heading upwards to #34 - each lock gives to 6 to 8 ft in altitude change.

Roadside Offerings in Beaune Wine Country

Lunch in the village of Volnay, one of the major "names" in the Burgundy wine production area - we had Sandra fish, steak tartars (raw) and burgundy eggs washed down with red Volnay and followed by souffle, parfaits and sorbet desserts...

Locking 6 - On Our Way!

Locking 5 - Lock Reaches Upstream Level

Locking 4 - Lock Fills

Locking 3 - Activate Lock

Locking 2 - Boat in Position

Locking 1 - Enter Lock

Breakfast on Bonheur

Bonheur means happiness - yes definitely a state of mind during and after any meal in France.... and also before in the state of happy anticipation!

The Bon Ship Bonheur

Bonheur, a 108 foot Luxe Motor 80 ton Dutch barge in the Canal de Centre, navigates up through 25 locks heading into French wine country...

Barge vino

Fun sur les Ponts de Paris

My Private Opera Box #26

Private box number 26 is slightly right of center looking towards the main stage. Immediately to the left of my chin is box number 5 which the phantom ordered the Opera Garnier management to permanently reserve for him - if they did not follow through on his wishes, the phantom promised the Opera another artist would meet a terrible death.

Checking out the Phantom of the Opera

City of Light

Barge Traffic Heads Slowly Upstream

In two days time we will head upstream to join our own barge "Bonheur" on the Canal du Centre, a canal that links the Rhone/Saone to the Loire valley.... except we will get there by TGV at over 300 km/hour.

Da Vinci Code Phantoms

Early morning on the trail with a double exposure reveals the ghostly images of the spirits....

More Advanced Yoga!

Advanced Yoga on a Paris Bridge

Padlock keys are Thrown into the River Seine

Sealing their love and commitment to each other, lovers from all over the world go to great lengths to artistically inscribed their padlock with their names, attach to lock to the bridge's structure then toss the keys into the River Seine.....

A Dip in the Rappahannock!

Ben and Jasmin are guests at the Rivahaven Yacht Club and Spa for a week in June. The club's pontoon boat ferries guests for evening cruises, cocktails and swimming to a secret sandy bottom location. Some evening cruises feature al fresco dining with propane tabletop rings for the chef to work his magic.

Flying through Munich Airport

Bratwurst and burger diner in the airport plaza...

Stop Messing About in Boats - The Prayer Call

There is a Trick to this RO-RO !

Different Wetback Border Crossing

Surprise! A one car ferry!

Leaving Pireaus Friday evening

Piraeus, the port of Athens, is the nautical hub of the Mediterranean Sea with ships of all sizes and almost any state of repair heading in and out this afternoon. Our ferry is heading eastwards to the Greek island of Chios at an average GPS tracked speed of 28 knots into a brisk 25 mph headwind - we arrive late at midnight and slump into bed...

Agios Spiridion

Greek waterfront in the Peloponnese with classic fishing boats - on the end of the dock are the supplies for the fish aquaculture pens.... sea bass generally available in the restaurants on the harborside.

Dinner in Naphlion

Restaurant offerings at Savouras

Harrods Egyptian Escalator

The core of Harrods store features a multi floor escalator in the theme of Inside an Egyptian Temple... very moving!

Window Shopping at Harrods!

The models of two 100+ft motor yachts grace the windows of Harrods in Knightsbridge London.... this is the world's ultimate shopping mall... Allan approves!

Across the Pond

777 jets across Labrador heading East into the short four hour night to meet the rising sun over Ireland....

Chicago...Chicago...

First step of the Ionian odyssey landing in Chicago ORD to catch next flight to London with a clear view of the waterfront and downtown towers...

Flatbread on Grill for Breakfast

Nothing like a ball of dough, rolled out into a thin layer, thrown on to the grill at max temperature... lo and behold, traditional Middle Eastern flatbread in 5 minutes - perfect vehicle for dips, snacks, sandwiches, mopping up sauces etc..

Welcome to a Great Morning on the Rivah!

Rarely does a morning go by when the scenery at RYC makes you want to run for the camera to catch that magic moment as the sun rises up from the Northern Neck (thank goodness for the NNK) and illuminates the Rappahannock River.....

What are these 3 guys pointing at?

Must be the Tarte Aux Fruits.....

Kluge or the Moet?

Celebrating a 40th Wedding Anniversary at the Yacht Club....

Frozen Wasteland