Cruising with the Carters: Neuilly to Paris

19 kms, 4 locks, 1 tunnel

Up bright and early to go to Paris! The lock, which we stopped at last night, opened at 8.00 and we were ready but there was also a working barge at the waiting pontoon and of course that got service first, in fact even earlier than 8.00, and by 8.15 we were on our way.

As soon as we were through the lock we felt as if we were in the suburbs of Paris. Lots and lots of houses, apartment blocks, commercial and industrial buildings. And nowhere else to moor for free, just expensive marinas.

Passing an island, houses on the left and, hidden from view, houses on the right

The last two locks on the Marne are much larger, 125m by 12m (more or less). At the first of these two, Saint Maur, we had to wait for an hour as two commercial boats went downstream and a trip boat came upstream.

Entering the Saint Maur tunnel

Waiting for the Saint Maur lock

The trip boat exits the lock - at last we can get going again

Difficult lock walls

These locks also have a bigger rise/fall, over 4m as opposed to 2m and a bit of the smaller locks upstream. Also, they have corrugated sides so you have to keep a beady eye on the fenders, but the action was very gentle so it was not a problem. The last lock on the Marne river we shared with a big commercial.

Then we were onto the Seine with eyes popping out on stalks: bridges,, barges, dumb barges loading, trip boats, hotel boats, boating school boats (lots of them). There was so much action on the water with wakes causing waves that it felt like being out at sea!

The Chinagora building at the confluence of the Marne and the Seiine

Oops, Jack Sparrow sank

The Josephine Baker floating swimming pool.

Pont de Bercy

No idea! But it's impressive

As we approached the entry to the Arsenal Marina I called to announce our arrival (yesterday I phoned to book a berth for 2 nights). We were expected and the very friendly Capitain of the port said the lock would be ready in 2 minutes, told us which number berth to go to and its location. Hey presto, 2 minutes later the lock gates opened. What great service.

We found our slot, tied up and went to the Capitainerie to pay. My goodness but they are efficient in there, friendly and charming, and speak excellent English. They have given us a very convenient berth, with showers and laundry just 15m away. They provided us with maps of the city and the canals of Paris, a city guide, and 2 keys to get back into the marina (it is very secure, including patrolling guards with dogs at night). And they don’t take payment till you leave, well you can’t leave without them operating the lock so there’s no fear of anyone leaving without paying!

After lunch, a shower and a visit to the laundry (fortunately I got it in the machine before lunch and it didn’t take too long - cost for anyone heading this way: €4.80 per wash and €2.50 per dryer), we went for a walk.

First of all the Place de la Bastille (where the first French revolution began on July 14^th 1789). It is just at the end of the marina and the guys in the Capitainerie warned us that there is going to be a demonstration there tomorrow so we thought it would be best to take a look today before the trouble starts. Unfortunately, we got there to find it has been completely blocked off for “restoration work “ (or perhaps to keep the hooligans out). Then we went looking for the Place des Vosges but had left the map behind (how can we be so useless!). We didn’t find it but had good old wonder around the streets of the Marais.