Links to Other Sites of Interest.
Bill Davies. The Official Bill Davies Web Site. Bill lives permanently on board his Narrow Boat Rosy, usually on the waterways of France.
Now made it to the sunny South.
Wilderness. The Virtual Clubhouse of The Wilderness Boat Owners Club. Much of interest to all trailboaters with several reports of club cruises in France.
Has now been revamped.
Gamebird. A trailable Sea Otter resident in Lowland Scotland. Much information about the waterways North of The Border.
Sea Otter. A comprehensive site by the Aluminium Boat Builders, Sea Otter. More than 200 boats have been completed since "High Jump", not only trailable but all types up to 50ft Narrow Boats and Dutch Barges.
Migennes. Joe Parfitt's boat and barge repair yard situated at Laroche Migennes, where the Canal de Bourgogne meets The River Yonne. For those taking a narrow boat to France, this is a very good place to be craned in. It may be tempting to take the cheap option and use Calais as your start point. However you will be dumped in the outer basin and even if not swamped by a fast moving tug your voyage will then begin on some of the most heavily used commercial waterways where you will immediately be mixing it with huge fast moving barges. Opt to start with the quiet, smaller, Bourgogne or Nivernais.
Site Revamped and updated March 08.
Chomages. Site is operated by a Dutch Barge owners Group. Has a section which details all Chomages (Stoppages) throughout Europe. Includes all French canals, commercial and leisure.
Albert. The log of the Narrow Boat Albert.
Very sadly Catherine Howard died in 2005. From 1999 until this sad event this was the best of the French cruising logs. These elderly people really got around. A wealth of detailed information on the French Waterways, written with a dry wit which I loved. All still available on line.
John Howard is now cruising single handed and his weekly updates have restarted, as sharp as ever.
23 March 08. Delighted to say he is back again, on board for the 2008 season.
Cindy B. A 26ft Sea Otter owned by Rosie and Mark. A good start - we await trip reports. (Come on - how about some trip reports)
V.N.F. (Voies Navigables de France.) This is the Waterway Authority responsible for the majority of navigable Waterways in France.
Most notable exception, not responsibility of VNF, are the Brittany canals and rivers where no licence is required. Also Rivers Lot, Baise and Charente.
Boat Licences obtainable on line.
Eclaircie. American couple living on a 22M Dutch Barge in France. Now moored long term in The Arsenal, Paris.
Idling By. A 57ft Narrow Boat. Transported to France April 2005.
We met them at Dun sur Meuse in June 07.
Monthly reports.
Wintering 07/08 at Armentieres.
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One Roam. This company supplies a SIM card which enables use of mobile telephone in France (or elsewhere World Wide) at reasonable cost. Best feature for us is no charge for incoming calls. Saves a lot of money, and means we can be relaxed about using the mobile.