Barging in France is about relaxation, the food, the wine, and the superb scenery. Usually these are the reasons people give when asked why they sign up for these famous canal trips through Burgundy. But when it is over and they are asked what their fondest memories are, often it is to do with the captain and the crew, shared days out, evenings on deck and the feeling of being cossetted and looked after by superbly trained group of people who over a period of six days become your friends.
The Captain of the Barge
The barge captains are wine experts, and certainly Captain Donald Morrison of L'Impressionisste is someone who knows all there is to know about wine, who can advise on the buying of a good vintage, what wine accompanies what food to best advantage, or just what to sample on a wine tasting. An obvious history buff, his knowledge of France and all things French encompasses art and architecture, palaces and plastic arts, and he makes a perfect guide when he takes clients to historical palaces and chateaux like Clos de Vougeot, headquarters of the esteemed Chevaliers du Tastevin, and the fortified hilltop town of Chateauneuf-en-Auxois.
All the captains of GoBarging's vessels meet the guests personally at the pick-up point in Paris or Dijon, and during the drive to the barge he will pass on snippets of information about the area, weather forecasts, menu updates and promises of perfect days to come.
The soft burr in Donald's voice marks him as unmistakably Scottish and he is an inveterate story teller, never happier than when he is talking about Scotland and France, his hobbies (which include gardening), and his love of cooking. A fugitive from a career in IT, he seems to have discovered the perfect recipe for a happy life. Often to be seen emerging from the kitchen of the barge, his once strong desire to open a restaurant obviously encourages him to linger around the cooking pots watching and learning.
Age 47 he has barged and sailed all the French canals over the last few years. As well as the French waterways he has also barged and sailed the Scottish canals where he can often be found captaining The Scottish Highlander, one of European Waterways luxury boutique barges that cruises along lochs, rivers and the scenic Caledonian Canal from Inverness towards Fort William. Describing the cruise he talks lyrically about the heather-clad hillsides, ancient castles and the Glens, Munroes and Bens of the spectacular Highlands and he admits to a tentative belief in the Loch Ness Monster!
The Crew of Go-Barging's Barges
GoBarging.com (European Waterways) has a well-deserved reputation for looking after clients and the captain is but one of a friendly crew dedicated to caring for his passengers. The rest of the crew will consist of three or four staff, male and female, who share the duties - manning the locks, waiting on tables, cleaning, tidying the cabins, serving meals and drinks, and driving the sight-seeing mini-bus on visits to villages and towns..
The crew on the barge L'Impressionisste which is currently on the lower Burgundy Canal in the east of Burgundy, is no exception. As it cruises through the Cote d'Or department , one of the most important areas in the world for the production of fine wine, they are on hand to point out interesting things along the way, the parasite mistletoe growing in the poplar trees, the vines heavy with the Pinot Noir grapes of the area, a Chateau on a hilltop or some interesting rock faces. (The sister boat La Belle Epoque passes through the famous Les Saussois area, where the spectacular rockface is used as a training site for rock climbers).
Clients and Crew are Friends at End of Idyllic Trip
By the time the cruise is over, clients and crew are close friends, email addresses are exchanged, invitations passed out, and promises made to return for another trip. The final night is party night when everyone dresses up after a week in which "dressing down" has been the order of the day. The Elza who helped open and close the locks is a far cry from the elegant young lady who clinks glasses with the guests, Chef Andre has left his whites in the kitchen, Eli the pilot sports a Scottish tie and Alex has dressed up for the occasion. But it is Captain Donald to whom the prize must go, as he steps on deck wearing his kilt - every inch the Captain of the ship, a Scottish Captain in France.
Mari Nicholson - Award Winning travel writer and historian, member of British Guild of Travel Writers.Travelwriters.co.uk, and Society of Women Writers and ...
