French canals timings and options

[tomdmx]

We are slowly proceeding towards the champagne region of France and enjoying the trip very much but I had a major realisation, something that did not occur to me before or maybe I just lost track of time...
If we take our time and enjoy september in the Champagne and surrounding regions, means that we wont get to Saone/Rhone until end of Sep or early October...
Does that mean that we will get wet and cold ie...are we hitting the Rivers too late for a pleasure trip? My wife is defo not keen on cold weather and to be fair nor am I..to a point where Im thinking that we take our time and when we hit October, transport the yacht down to the med...(and if so will we be missing on much)

 

[Grehan]

Where are you hoping to get to? By when?
In France last year September and October were like the best of a good English summer. I don't know what the longer-term forecast is for this year, but we've often been travelling and enjoying it into early November.
Provided that heavy rains don't happen (and you avoid or wait out any Mistral) your journey down the Rhone (if that's what you're intending) could be completely delightful.
If it comes to it, the best place to lift out and transport from might be Valence (Port de l'Eperviere) - they have a travelift there.

 

[stearman65]

The Med' in winter

Can be just as bad as here, the picture shows our Moody 40 in Port Grimaud on Boxing Day 2004, yes it says "frost".
Stearman65

 

[binch]

Haste???

Grehan's advice is accurate.
Don't hang about too long.
Once you get to the Saone, you'll move fast downstream. You can if you like keep on much later.
We have twice done that journey both ways. I advise making a bid to get over the watershed as soon as you can.
And get up early.
It is quite important to rest a day now and then