Alouette is a Luxemotor barge built in 1910 in Zwartsluis, Holland. She was first used as a cattle transporter, and later as a shrimp fishing boat. In 2002, she was lovingly converted by a British couple into a liveaboard barge. We are her third owners - Randy and Deborah, two Americans from Colorado who escaped corporate life in search of an adventure. After a few years of searching for the right adventure, we discovered the barging life. Having sailed for most of our adult lives, it seemed a perfect fit. We spent another year looking for the right barge and in the summer of 2010 found her in Roanne, France. We've renamed her Alouette - the Lark. And so in her 100th year, together with our two Russian Blue cats, we're shoving off for a life on the canals and rivers of Europe.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Still waiting to get under way

Le Crozet

Le Crozet

Chateau de la Roche, in the Loire River

Lunch in Lyon

Lyon
Champagne on the poop deck
We are delayed for a few reasons to be disclosed later, but we had a delightful visit from long time Colorado friends and sailing buddies, Woody and Marion Norman, who celebrated their 11th anniversary with us.  We were able to tour around Roanne with them, visiting the weekly market in Marsigny, and we squeezed in a trip to our favorite big city, Lyon.  On Friday, we visited 4 medieval villages, and the Chateau de la Roche, which sits in the Loire River.
Market day, Marcigny

Market day in Marcigny

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