Wednesday 12th June
The final 25 miles to Paris today, and like the rest of the Seine so far there aren't too many decent stopping places where you are protected from the wash of the barges which run all night, the wash of some of which generates waves nearly a metre high. The stop in Bougival was in a quiet branch of the river thankfully.
As we approached Paris, the river gradually became busier with barges and tourist boats and with the banks lined bow to stern with houseboats of all shapes, sizes and age.
During the passage the weather was very mixed, and going past the Eiffel tower finally revealed clear blue skies, although half an hour later the heavens opened as we passed Notre-Dame Cathedral propped up with its recent scaffolding.
Less than half a mile past Notre-Dame we negotiated the second and final lock of the day and entered the tranquility, apart from road traffic and the occasional French police siren, of Port de l'Arsenal located next to the Bastille. A well deserved few days rest as a tourist!
A few words on navigation of the Seine. To date we have relied on a Fluviacarte guide which provides a very detailed chart of every km of the river. It's not just a matter of keeping to the left or right bank, as the channel side changes every few miles, why, I don't really know, except that I suspect it's to allow upstream traffic slightly more favourable conditions compared with downstream traffic. Although if this was the case you might expect upstream traffic to always be on the inside of bends, but this isn't always the case. Through Paris, the bridge arches are narrow in many instances, and controlled with one and two way traffic signs as well as no entry signs. These combined with signs telling you to switch sides, and direction signs round the many islands, plus barges and large and fast bateau mouches, makes the few miles through central Paris an interesting challenge! But we made it.
