Day 6   Seine River, St. Andyles, and Conflans

Early in the morning, we left Rouen heading up the river.  The weather had changed.  Up to this time, we had clear skies with low wind speed and hot daytime temperatures.  This morning, the sky was lightly overcast with a stronger Northeast wind and cool temperatures.  We passed the same scenery that we had been by on the way down the river, but it  seemed fresh and new.  Perhaps we had passed some of it at night the first time.  Anyway, we enjoyed the Seine River and the hills and villages alongside it.  There were a number of birds that vied for attention:  gulls, swans, ducks, and a host of others.  There were boats and barges carrying loads down the river.  There were fishermen, kayakers, rowers, and even water skiers.  This was also a time of leisurely sitting and visiting with fellow travelers.  After several days, we had gotten to know a number of people and come to enjoy being with them, learning about their work, their homes, their families, their other travel experiences.  There were a surprising number of links and commonalities among the people we met.

At about noon, we reached the village of St. Andyles.  This was a quaint town that had roots back to the 11th century and structures in town to prove it.  But it had another interesting structure sititing on the hill above the town.  That structure was a castle that had been built by Richard the Lionhearted in the 11th century to help keep his hold on this section of France.  We walked up the very steep hill to the castle ruins.  We saw partial walls of the various buildings of the castle.  The main structure was being restored, but had not progressed far.  The view from the hill was spectacular.  The castle had been strategically located to be able to see enemies and fend them off the hill, but we had the same view.  We could see down and over the village of St. Andyles with its large church.  We could see over a wide expanse of the Seine River valley, and we could see the next hill behind the castle ruins.  The climb was difficult, but the sights and the view were worth it.  After looking the ruins for a time, we went back doen the hill (still just as steep as ever) and explored along some of the quaint stores an shops. 

We had to get back to the boat for a departure for Conflans.  A light shower fell just after we reached the boat.  Then it rained during the night.  So far, the weather has been perfect.  Conflans was an interesting town whose history was based on trade on the Seine and Oise Rivers that met at this place.  The Oise River provided a connection with Belgium, so Conflans was a center for trade for several centuries.  There, we would spend the night.  All meals were on the boat.  Again we saw the scenes of the river as we travelled.  We saw more factories and business along the river banck.  We saw a fair amount of agriculture along and near the river.  We saw hundreds of boats of all sizes tied up at docks.  Most appeared to be permanent homes.

This was an interesting and relaxing day, although the climb up to the castle required a significant expenditure of energy, we found the day slow and pleasant.