27th September - 3rd October
Six grown-up children and their remarkable mother cruised with us this week, along with a number of partners. There was sunshine outside and sunshine in the saloon!
There was also a beautiful bouquet of dahlias from the garden of our very own ‘Little Miss Sunshine’. Sarah kindly picks flowers from her lovely walled garden each week to adorn the saloon, and goodness, how we love them (and her!).
Tuesday night, the Luciole moored beneath the dramatic Roches du Saussois. These towering limestone cliffs are popular with climbers and slackliners, while jackdaws and peregrine falcons swoop from their perches in the crevices, soaring and sweeping on the thermals above.
Down at water level, aboard the Luciole, the family's favourite card game of competitive solitaire – or Racing Demons, as it is known in my family – was enthusiastically played out, both on the deck and in the saloon.
For Jeff, there was a quiet moment to catch up on the game he was passionate about – soccer – and enjoy a peaceful beer. Sometimes one simply has to let others get on with their games while following the really important ones!
On our way to the restaurant in Avallon, we stopped as we passed the Château of Saint-Pallaye to take a closer look at the magnificent floral carpet of pink and white cyclamen blooming beneath the trees at this time of year. Seeing really is believing!
What fun we had in Chablis, at Château Bichot! The mighty gates closed on the siblings, with their marvellous mom, Charlotte, on the other side, sharing a joke. Not for long, of course, but there was a moment when we genuinely thought a ‘get out of jail’ card really might be needed, as the lock on the gate simply would not budge!
In Auxerre, following a tour through the town and around its magnificent cathedral, where there was time for a little quiet reflection, everyone returned to the Luciole to relax on deck as the sun sank behind the city's beautiful skyline.
The view from the passerelle – the pedestrian bridge across the River Yonne – is dramatic by day and by night, with the flowers along its sides adding a wonderful splash of colour.
After the Captain's Dinner, the family strolled across the passerelle to admire the dramatic Cathedral of Saint-Étienne (a nod to son Stephen!) and the floodlit Abbey of Saint-Germain.
It was a lovely moment to reflect on the joy of family life, led by a remarkable woman, now in her tenth decade, with the timeless beauty of Auxerre's medieval buildings providing a magnificent backdrop.
The moon was a phenomenal orange as it rose into the starry sky that evening. This photograph is especially for Monica, who had been hoping to see the stars on Thursday, but sadly, the clouds had other ideas!
In the distance, the red lights of the mighty wind turbines glinted against the night sky.
The crew have felt truly honoured to share in the warmth and happiness of this very special family. There was something rather magical about the week, and somehow, this beautiful starry sky seemed to say it all.
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
