Ah yes… Even in deepest ‘land locked’ Paris boats are a feature of city life as they are in London. There are odd collections of live-aboards right in the middle of the city, most have an aura of ‘in use’ and I doubt if the city ‘fathers’ would want it to be any different.

I spotted a vessel that had a familiar look. I’m sure I’ve seen her before, out on the water, during a Swale Barge & Smack event a few seasons ago… Maybe I’m wrong. She is the Marie-Jeanne. I’ve tried ‘googling’ her, to no avail!

The barge is similar to the two masted Dutch barge that sat alongside Iron Wharf, in Faversham, for a great number of years. Another is based at Wells-next-the-Sea and used as a B&B. She is the Albatross. I believe she still sails… See: http://www.albatros.eu.com/

The owner, I presumed, of the Marie-Jeanne was busy washing down his paintwork, which looked fresh. Her spars were bereft of sails but clearly freshly varnished. I imagined her shortly departing for a dry docking and bottom spruce up, then away for the coast … for the new sailing season.

My mate had wandered off over the Henry IV (???) of France bridge towards the Ile de le cite mumbling about there being plenty of ‘boats’ back home to look at… I grinned, kissed her cheek, and conformed!

Old ships are always a delight though, where ever they’re spotted…