Our grandsons were with us for 3,5 days. As promised we climbed the Eiffel Tower with them. To the second level, that is, which is as high as their grandfather thought acceptable. It's on 115,73 meters, soundly beating the record of slightly over 100 meters, an achievement that was made ages ago on the Dom Tower in Utrecht. It was a piece of cake altogether, so the Dutch proverb "een mens lijdt het meest van het lijden dat hij vreest" ("a man suffers the most from fearing the worst", something like that) was, as almost always, absolutely appropriate.

Some fortnight before we admired the tower from the river Seine. This time it was the other way around. We looked in amazement at this vieuw from the Eiffel Tower. The river in front of us, then the the Jardins du Trocadéro and the Palais de Chaillot immediately behind it, followed by the absolutely beautiful and interesting city of Paris with La Defense in the background. We'll be back for sure!!

Yes reader, you are abslolutely right, we were unable to resist the temptation to go to Place du Tertre and have a portrait made of our grandsons. It's ultimately tourist-behaviour - and we loved it!

The journey to our winter mooring took us two days, Saturday the 20st and Sunday the 21st of October. The weather on Saturday was horrible, so we were pleased to find this overnight stop. For the record: close to Ponthierry (who cares??).

One word comes to mind to describe the weather on Sunday the 21st: glorious. Autumn coulors with the sun on them and an absolutely peaceful river. One could make a thousand pictures..... Here is just one of them.

La Seine continues to the left. On the right Le Loing is visible, merging with La Seine. Our winter mooring is situated about two kilometers upstream on Le Loing.

And there we are, moored at Moret-sur-Loing since the 21st of October. For the Google Earth fans: 48'22.6881N - 002'49.0612E. We are planning to be here during the winter period, leaving at the end of March 2013 - as always depending on the weather. After the Auxerre-disappointment (the intended Marina informed us inaccurate about closed locks) we are very pleased to have found this place. More about Moret-sur-Loing next week.

Last but not least a picture of our present front vieuw. The river Loing comes from the right and is unnavigable further upstream. In the middle of the picture the first lock onto the Canal du Loing is visible. Could be worse, couldn't it?