20th - 26th September
It was so nice to welcome back Jim – with his lovely friends and, importantly, his wish from two years ago come true – the lovely Renee. A week of ‘Indian Summer’ sunshine accompanied the Luciole for the whole cruise. Bliss.
There was lots of bike riding during the week, with matelot Tom kept busy adjusting seats and offering timings for rejoining the Luciole at lunchtime after a morning’s sojourn along the canal towpath and up into the villages. The crew were greatly impressed – we did not lose anyone this week, or even mislay anyone, and we did not have to send out a search party! Impressive – just as it was on the September 2023 cruise.
On some afternoons, however, there were more boys on bikes than girls, with the latter enjoying cards and bubbly in the saloon as we cruised.
Our Monday mooring was in Vincelles – a magical place to see the mirror-like reflections of the trees and old mill house on the River Yonne. It is especially dramatic when the leaves are beginning to turn.
As well as the keen cyclists, we had a savvy swimmer in our midst this week. The water is still warm from the summer days, and Ari swam in the rippling River Yonne and, much to everyone’s admiration, in the lavoir in Accolay. To explain, yes – this is the old washhouse of the village, where the water is not terribly deep!
Paula’s response when shown the photo is one of such wholehearted amazement, admiration and amusement, all rolled into one. It is how we all felt, to be honest.
There was lovely late-evening sunshine in Accolay as we arrived at our mooring. Vincent, our revered tour guide joined the Luciole, sitting on the wheelhouse with Charlie, Sarah and Tom for the final part of the cruise, down from the lock to the mooring.
Up on deck before the departure for Avallon and the restaurant, our lovely passengers were taking photos to remember the evening as well. As the sun sank behind the old houses, it made one realise that it will not be long before wood smoke is curling from the chimneys.
This week marks the Autumn Equinox, falling on 23 September, when day and night in France are roughly equal in length, at around 12 hours apiece.
The dramatic model at the Maison du Visiteur perfectly captures the movement of the sun around the Romanesque Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, as so beautifully explained by Christopher.
After our visit to Christopher, we wandered up the Eternal Hill to enter the Basilica. Precious moments were shared, with reflections on life and, for a few special minutes, the awe of seeing the lowering sun shining through the upper windows and onto the cross on the altar.
Cheers to you all, lovely people. What a delight it has been to cruise with you this week. The Luciole raises a glass to you all – for the miles covered, the cards dealt and that Friday flower wish from two years ago coming true. It just shows that a flower tossed into the River Yonne really can make it all the way to Paris!
Hotel barge Luciole
Cruising since 1976
Phone: 00 44 1625 576880
From USA: 011 44 1625 576880
WhatsApp: 00 33 6 09 92 20 76
Email: info@bargeluciole.com
23 Adlington Road, Bollington
SK10 5JT England
1-2 Quai de la Republique, Auxerre
89000 France
© Hotel Barge Luciole 2026
