Anjodi, cruising along the Canal du Midi, painting by Stanley Rose

Hello lock-keeper readers,

Welcome to our December,special Holiday edition of the lock-keeper,

This month we thought it would be nice to look forward to the upcoming Holiday season and give the lock-keeper a Holiday make-over.

We feature L'Art de Vivre, cruising the Nivernais Canal in Burgundy, France, and to celebrate the Holidays we have a fun competition for you to enter.

You can win a cruise for two on L'Art de Vivre and we are even offering an additional 50% discount for two of your friends to travel with you.....quite a prize..!

All you have to do is think of a caption for our "lock-gates" photograph below...enter the competition on our website www.gobarging.com, and that's it - you are in the draw....see further details below...

During this close season, we asked our Captains to tell us how their luxury barges spend the winter and give us some information on their plans for 2004 - we feature some of their feedback below....

I'd also like to announce that our 2004 season Brochure is now available, and you can order a copy via our website.

We hope you enjoy this sixth edition of the lock-keeper, and we look forward to hearing from you, and seeing you at www.gobarging.com, where you will find out all about GoBarging and keep up to date with the latest news as it breaks....

please read on and welcome aboard,

best regards, and Happy Holidays to you...

Derek Banks, Chairman Happy Holidays to all our readers

Derek Banks - Chairman


Happy Holidays to all our readers

L'Art de Vivre

The Art of Living - a luxury cruise along the Nivernais Canal,
Burgundy, France

L'Art de Vivre started life as a Scottish munitions carrier and survived long enough to be transformed by a team of skilled craftsmen into a floating celebration of the Burgundian "good life".

Your crew of four comprises Captain, Tour guide, Master Chef and Hostess, all with a love for the Nivernais canal and all secure in the knowledge that their vessel represents L'Art de Vivre itself.

The region simply oozes charm and the cruise is a journey back in time along a magical waterway.
Her hand crafted interior has recently seen the addition of large bronze portholes and new furnishings, and her cruise route allows an in depth view of France really off the beaten track. Wine and Dine in luxury surroundings, aboard L'Art de Vivre, cruising the Upper Nivernais canal in Burgundy

White Charolais cattle stare at the barge as it passes under the hand operated lifting bridges, wild boar can sometimes be spotted early in the morning mists, and kingfishers flash blue and yellow along the river banks.

This area is close to the original starting point of the company at Fleury and totally retains its charm 30 years later.


Don't just take our word for it, read what Angela Delaplaine told us about her cruise on L' Art de Vivre from Oct 12th-19th, 2003.

L'Art de Vivre cruising the Upper Nivernais canal in Burgundy The cabins were perfectly laid out. Space was used efficiently but luxuriously. The bathrooms were lovely and water pressure was great. We found the beds to be very comfortable and towels and linens were of the highest quality.

We credit the crew (Martin, Dino, Rachel, and Rebecca) with making what would have been a great vacation, an extraordinary one. They were wonderful, professional, fun, and supremely accommodating.

All food and drinks were excellent - really 5 star. Rebecca is a gifted chef. Presentation, variety, quality of selections were of the highest caliber. The excursions were also excellent. The crew provided informative commentary at all stops and even as we were cruising.

The barge route was breathtaking. We went as far as Auxerre. It was a fabulous combination of natural scenery, small villages, larger villages, and towns. All in all, the barge and the cabin exceeded expectations. I knew it would be wonderful but it was so much more. The high points of the cruise were... All meals!, and the Balloon trip.

This was one of the most delightful trips we've ever had. We look forward to our next barge experience! Thank you!!

Visit our new L'Art de Vivre Family cruise itinerary here,


Happy Holidays to all our readers

Find out how our Barges spend the Winter

Magna Carta cruising the Royal River Thames in England

Well as most of the barges are being 'put to bed' for the winter, Magna Carta has been in St Katharine's dock London for the annual World Travel Market.

This prestigious event draws travel professionals from all over the world and having Magna Carta close by enabled many new and old contacts to come aboard and experience the luxury Magna Carta has to offer.


Without exception, those who visited commented that the photos simply do not do the barge justice. Everybody was amazed at the size of cabins, the attention to detail, the comfort of the saloon and the general ambience created aboard.

The brand new sun-deck heater was a valuable addition in November and it was good to point out to all visitors that for the 2004 season the lower sun-deck will have a canopy. This means that guests can be sheltered from the sun (or rain) and still be outside. The upper sun-deck will remain as it always has.

Magna Carta is unique in many ways; not least it's ability for year round cruising and diverse special interest itineraries.

We are presently preparing for a number of Christmas parties and with huge excitement our first ever Theatre cruise in January. The Theatre cruise includes tickets to chosen shows, surprise guest visits aboard Magna Carta by stars from the world of music and theatre, back stage tours and a professional theatre guide for the week.

Remember for 2004 Magna Carta cruises the open countryside from Hampton Court Palace to Henley-on-Thames but charter enquiries can add cruising through London if they wish.

Winter work

In general, the winter months are a time for repairs and upgrades, and if you could see the lists supplied by our Captains...they certainly will be busy over the next few months....from steelwork and hull painting, new fixtures and fittings, woodwork, general maintenance, engine stripdowns and overhauls, the lists are endless..!!

However, this work is essential to ensure that next year we continue to provide the highest levels of service to our clients...suffice to say, the crews are not all lying on the beach somewhere right now...



Holiday Competition

Win a luxury barge cruise for two on L'Art de Vivre in Spring 2004


Now for some fun.....this is a photograph of Derek Banks and Captain Leigh Wootton leaning over the lock gates at one of the many locks on the Nivernais canal.

Derek Banks and Captain Leigh Wooton leaning on the lock gates, discussing what..??
The question is..... what are they saying.....??

We are giving away a week on L'Art de Vivre in Spring 2004 to the lucky person who provides us with the best caption for this photo

The only rule is that it has to make us laugh....


The prize is a cabin for two aboard L'Art de Vivre, on an all-inclusive six night cruise along the Upper Nivernais canal in Burgundy.

A fabulous prize indeed, but we are not finished there...we will also throw in a 50% discount for two friends to join you on the cruise, simply enter their details on the competition form and if you win, they get to come along too....

So, get thinking about that caption, decide who is saying what to whom, and enter the competition on our website www.gobarging.com

The competition closes on 31st December, and we will announce the lucky winners in the January edition of the lock-keeper. Good Luck..!


If you have any suggestions, feedback or barging stories to tell us, then please e-mail us. We'll be glad to hear from you and share your inputs in the lock-keeper. There will also be some spot prizes for good submissions...

Why not email this edition on to a friend, and let them share the fun. New subscribers can sign-up here, and are very welcome. More people are joining every day, so let's keep building a great Barging community..!

That's about it for this Holiday edition, and hopefully the above articles have whet your appetite for that well-earned luxury cruise..!

Please visit www.gobarging.com and have a look around, or follow the individual links above.

The next edition of the lock-keeper will be out in January, 2004, so we'll see you then. Happy Holidays to all our readers




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