From the Haut Escaut to the Meuse

Up the Nimy-Blaton-Péronne, through the Canal du Centre, down the Brussels-Charleroi and along the Sambre. April 28 to May 7 2022 After 3 splendid nights on the new curved pontoon of the Royal Yacht Club of Péronnes it was time to move on. While there we had had a couple of good walks around LeContinue reading “From the Haut Escaut to the Meuse”

Day One of the 2022 Season

The Bossuit-Kortrijk Canal 25th April 2022 We are very excited about the prospect of the 2022 season – we are going to have a full six months cruising again. This follows the last two years of Brexit and Covid restrictions that resulted in a three month and a two month season. We went through theContinue reading “Day One of the 2022 Season”

A winter visit

6th – 10th December 2021 We had kept enough off our Schengen 90 days to visit Calliope at least once during the winter, and despite Covid rules both sides of the chan new requiring several tests each we decided to go. So with the ‘leaving UK’ PCR test accomplished and negative results received we wereContinue reading “A winter visit”

The Longer Way Home

Tournai to Kortrijk, via Gent 24th September to 5th October 2021 plus a week in Kortrijk We were sad to be losing our visitor Hugh, but taxi companies at the next places up the river were less than co-operative, and with his luggage Hugh was not keen on using a series of buses to getContinue reading “The Longer Way Home”

Visitors aboard for our last days in France in 2021!

With family and friends in North East France and Western Belgium 14th to 24th September 2021 We were at Corbehem, just inside Le Scarpe Superieure, which goes on to Arras, with a plan of a slow cruise to Lille; there we would meet with son and partner who were arriving by Eurostar for a shortContinue reading “Visitors aboard for our last days in France in 2021!”

Late summer in Belgium part 3

Down the Belgian Sambre with some Haut Escaut, and Canals Nimy-Blaton-Ath, de Centre and Brussels – Charleroi August 15th to 26th 2021 We left Antoing and friends Mieke and Frans, setting off up the Haut Escaut towards the two big locks at Péronnes; these still ring alarm bells in the mind of the Captain asContinue reading “Late summer in Belgium part 3”

Late Summer in Belgium – part 2

The voyage to meet Mieke and Frans Canal Bossuit-Kortrijk, L’Escaut and Canal de L’Espierres 5 – 14 August 2021 (Think I have included far too many photos! Apologies, but hope you enjoy them) Here we go at last! After 9 months of Covid- delay in the UK, and then quarantine in Kortrijk when we returnedContinue reading “Late Summer in Belgium – part 2”

Late summer in Belgium part 1

July 28 to August 5th 2021 If you have been following the Calliope blog you will know that we were stuck in the UK well past our normal April return to the boat, and when the usual cruising season begins. At first we more concerned about the Brexit effect than anything Covid related, wondering howContinue reading “Late summer in Belgium part 1”

Hull maintenance in Zelzate

29th September – 23rd October 2020 As we left the marina at Spanjeveer dawn was breaking on a lovely late September day. We were on our way to have the hull pressure washed and repainted – part of the five yearly maintenance programme. The Moervaart was glorious in the early light, and we shared theContinue reading “Hull maintenance in Zelzate”

Down and up the Durme

16th to 29th September 2020 We left Gent on the Tuesday, with a lovely send-off, knowing (or should I say thinking?) we had almost 2 weeks to kill while waiting to go into the boat yard for the 5-yearly hull cleaning and painting. The cruise out of Gent was interesting in itself, up through theContinue reading “Down and up the Durme”