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Guest Column

December 2003

BARGING? MAIS OUI!

by David Fenwick - Avanti Destinations

My first barge experience was on the barge ‘Lafayette’, which wound its way through Alsace-Lorraine on the Marne-Rhine Canal. At the time, I owned and operated World Touring Air in Seattle, was totally bored with air-consolidation, and looking for something more interesting to do than sell cheap airline seats. My first three days on the barge were very active: visiting chateaux, a famous French glass factory, a church with paintings by Chagall, and walking and biking the tow-paths along the canal. On the fourth day, there was an afternoon excursion to a vineyard for wine tasting - what could be better - my favorite thing to do! Except ... I fell asleep on deck, and didn’t wake up until the group returned. After 25 years in the travel business, I had finally RELAXED!

Now, 15 years later, I have been on over 40 barges in Europe and have found each barge has its own charm & individuality. Many barges are owner operated and each barge - along with its owner, has its own personality and quirks. Some barges must leave their generators on all night for power, while others hook up to their own land lines. Some have installed a new generation of generator and air-conditioning systems, where they can hardly be heard when operating during the night. Many of the barges are owner operated, with each owner adding his personality to the equation. Two owners are gourmet chefs, a few were sailors and owned boats in the Mediterranean, others were boat builders, and one was a marketing consultant for a large English firm.

The first canals were constructed back in the time of Louis XlV, to connect the major rivers in France, and provide a means of transporting everything from building supplies to wine, from one part of the country to another. Bordeaux could now move wine to Provence - stone from Provence to Paris- even kings from Paris to their chateaux in the Loire. The original barges were pulled through the canals by animals on the tow paths. But since the time of mechanization, tow paths have been used for walking and biking - thank you
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King Louis for planning ahead, and thinking of future tourists. All the tourist barges today were once commercial barges, but have been striped down to the hull and rebuilt with hotel facilities, beautiful wood paneling, & luxurious fittings.

The larger hotel barges carry 20 - 24 passengers, have the smallest cabins, but also carry more passengers allowing more diversity in communicating with your fellow travelers. As the number of passengers decrease the size of the cabins increase, offering more comfort & spaciousness - some barges even have full length bath tubs and individually controlled stereo systems in each cabin. The charter-only barges usually carry 4-8 passengers and are perfect for couples or families traveling together. Booking a barge is not like booking an air ticket. The more you know about your client, the more likely they can be matched with a barge that will fit their requirements. Book with a company that knows the diversity of this fascinating product and who can assist you in selecting the right barge.

A good friend once described barging in France, as 33 different cheeses, 22 different wines in 11 meals, coupled with great conversation and as much relaxation as you could desire. Actually, it’s much more than gourmet dining & fine wines. Some 10 years ago I wrote the following to describe barging, and my feelings have not changed.

“Cruise down an 18th century canal through moss-covered locks, passing through a countryside that seems forgotten by time ... ride a bike along the tow - paths or stroll along a country lane in the fresh morning air ... take excursions that steal you away to quaint villages to wonder through open-air markets and to taste the pleasures of the region’s vineyards. the food, the wines, and the romance of it all, will live in your memories for ever.”

by David Fenwick

For barges in England, Belgium, France, Holland, Ireland and Scotland call Avanti Destinations at: 1-800-422-5053. I can be reached for consulting on this wonderful way to experience Europe at 206-550-7334.

P.S. The logo of my first company - World Touring - was designed in 1972 in a pub over a pint of ale, by an Englishman who was the Travel Editor of the Seattle P.I. - Time does fly - doesn’t it DB?

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