The Magnificent Meuse

– part 1 From Belgium into France 7th – 13th May 2022   We didn’t start at the bottom, or the mouth, of the Meuse; we joined at Namur, so this account does not do full justice to the river. It was a rather overcast day when we left the Sambre and found turning upstreamContinue reading “The Magnificent Meuse”

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”

Short Trip on the Scheldt

(Actually the Haut Escaut; we are in Wallonia!) From Bossuit, at the end of the canal from Kortrijk, it is not far to Peronnes where we were to join the Nimy-Blaton- Peronnes canal – just 27 kilometres. Nonetheless, in our new sedate gentle mindset we took a break of two nights along the way atContinue reading “Short Trip on the Scheldt”

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”

The long Covid winter

Well it is now nine months and six days since we left our lovely Calliope secured for the winter in Kortrijk on the river Leie. We had expected it to be for six months and nine days, not the other way round! However the various twists and turns of Covid-19 have made it difficult toContinue reading “The long Covid winter”