Saturday 14th September 2024

Early start this morning, so we were surprised to find so many people thronging the breakfast room!!! There were 11 of us, so had difficulty finding table space! Walked en masse back to the rowing club near the Plage de Meaux. Rocked up to find the place a hive of activity…lots of local club members readying their vessels for the Marne. Eight of the Lea rowers took to a large coxed eight; Aki joined a coxless four with two local ladies. I got into Jean-Evre’s motor boat to follow the teams up-river. He was acting as safety pilot. 

We went up-river for about 6km, turning the boats around just after the bridges at Tilport, to the east of Meaux. Nice day...sunny, but a bit chilly, especially when Jean-Evre pressed the accelerator. Back at the clubhouse, three boats had to be de-rigged and strapped to a trailer prior to tomorrow morning's journey to western Paris for the Traversee. I sat and watched in awe, the teamwork evidently extending beyond the boating...it was a well-organised team effort. The club had laid on a well-deserved picnic lunch, putting tables out below a large tree in the grounds of the clubhouse. 

We wandered back along the banks of the Marne to the hotel for a lie down, before heading into Meaux to take in the medieval vibes. Sat out at a brasserie opposite the impressive Town Hall and had a beer in the company of David and Lucy, a couple of River Lea rowing club members, and watched the weddings for a bit. Wandered into the town centre to take a look at the magnificent cathedral, which is partly under tarpaulin as restoration works are carried out. Happened upon another bunch of River Lea club members in the square enjoying a beer; much debate ensued about where to eat this evening. The gang eventually plumbed for C Comme Ca on the other side of the river, s short walk from the hotel, and we arranged to meet there at 1900. Aki and I sloped off for a champagne aperitif in the nice wine bar, then walked across to the hotel to pick up Piers, who we found waiting outside. The restaurant was sizeable, and they had arranged a long table to accommodate all eleven of us. The food was reasonably priced, and OK...went for three courses, not being able to resist the temptation of a creme brulee before we sorted out the bill and ambled back to the hotel for an early night.