Month: January 2019

Contributor: Andrew Brown, Canaux et rivières du Nord

Andrew Brown, a member of our European network through his membership of the Northern Canals and Rivers Network, passionate about Edith Cavell (British nurse who cared for wounded soldiers during the “Great War” and helped many Allied soldiers to escape from Belgium, it was shot by the Germans in 1915) is also passionate about a great machine, the “machine Robert” located at the lock of Hachette, on the channel of the Sambre, a video evokes this ancestor witnessed the heritage of the canals of the North. Note that the people of Maroilles have plans to create a “corner” Stevenson in the house of the lock keeper Hachette. Stevenson, another passion of our friend Andrew.

Film Youtube in French: https://youtu.be/1x1yx2rhpiI

More information (French) PATRIMOINE INDUSTRIEL WALLONIE-BRUXELLES

Contributor: Michel Hembacher, the Yvoir association

As a preamble to the 140th anniversary of a certain Robert Louis Stevenson’s roaming trip on foot -accompanied by a she-donkey carrying his belongings- from September 22nd to October 4th, 1878, between Le-Monastier-sur-Gazeille and St-Jean-du-Gard through the natural areas of Velay and Gévaudan, Mont-Lozère and Cévennes, eight visually impaired people decided to walk -without any human assistance- part of the route followed by the Scot -a mythical way which has now become the famous GR 70. ….

RANDO YVOIR SEPT 2018 – EN

Contributor: Lucile Pantel, Cévennes

A late article but still pleasant and useful, published by the local newspaper Lozère Nouvelle, in its 10 January 2019 edition, thanks to the tenacity and pertinence of Lucille who wrote the article.

Contributor: Michel Joullie of la Modestine Society,

A nice drawing by Bernard Deubelbeiss with the New Year wishes from Michel Joullie of the Modestine Society,

MODESTINE SOCIETY voeux 2019_web

Contributor: Christian Brochier

May 2019 be for you a year of joy, health and happiness. That the year will find us gathered around our friend travel writer to exchange, learn more and more from him and his work and celebrate them both.
Having finished 2018 with gifts, why not start the same this new year.
It is indeed a beautiful gift, received at the foot of the Christmas tree, this 160 page comic book entitled  “HERMISTON “, translation from the novel  “Weir of HERMISTON” that Stevenson started writing at Vailima before he succumbed to a cerebral attack.
The author and draftsman, Jean Harambat has scrupulously translated the original following numerous indications given by Stevenson himself in his writings and in particular his correspondence. The result is a prose which, although not aesthetic, is rather rough as if carved with an axe, and invites the reader into the harshness of the time and the Scottish moors. The novel revisits many themes that were dear to RLS and that he missed about his native country.
Enjoy reading this new addition to the Stevenson library.

We will continue with two promises for this year,
One, is a gift of the ‘Arethusa ‘ board game that “the canals of the north, in the wake of R.L. Stevenson” will offer to some lucky schools, literary, cultural, academic or tourist organisations in the north of France and in the Hainaut region of Belgium. For more information see the articles in the press  le journal La Thierache et l’Aisne Nouvelle.

The other being the opening of the repair site of the Canal de la Sambre in Oise, press articles kindly communicated by our friend Jean Louis Felbacq of  “Thiérache future Tradition “. 

Press articles: La Thierache 

Best wishes, Christian