Menetreol-Sous-Sancerre to Chatillon-Sur-Loire

2/10/2012

We set off at exactly the time we had advised the last lock keeper yesterday under a threatening sky - a slightly rare occurence for us! It was an hour to the first lock so time to wake up, or so we thought.

On arrival J's throwing arm finally hit the target, getting a subdued Bravo from the keeper, but there ended our success; as we were locking down we thought we'd break a habit and try with a single central line rather than the usual fore and aft - big mistake! An unexpected gust of wind had us well out of shape, and then to make matters worse the line got stuck on the cleat and had to be cut free, leaving us drifting until then engines could be restarted - the lock keeper merely shook his head :-(

The next lock was calm and still, but we had two ropes on anyway - tranquil! If it ain't broke, don't fix it, we are a two rope boat and no mistake!!

Some phone calls today confirmed at that our alternative route from Paris is well and truly open (today!) so will keep an eye as we progress in that direction to be sure not to get caught out again.

Back at the lock / wine cave and we stocked up on Sancerre, hoping to share with visitors some time in the near future - again, keeper not in the know about the canal du Centre, and we saw out friends from Digoin on the way out who wished us luck on the new journey.

We had to wait at the next lock for the lunch break - and realised on arrival they were in the process of draining the section we were in; with the depth sounder screeching a regular alarm (the fish finder that is, the actual depth sounder melts down at vital moments and was reading 109m!)  we could see the lock was on free flow, and the keeper confirmed he was significantly dropping the level we were to leave for works... Phew, pretty thankful we were going the right way there! And the other side we are positively wallowing in a comfortable 2.1m of water!

Another couple of locks before we called it a day at Chatillon-Sur-Loire - its the Le Boat rental depot, and we asked about any contacts for a lift and transport option (hedging our bets!) but they never take the boats out so he was little help. Otherwise its a nice (paying) mooring with all necessary shops in town within easy walk - and the weather held for us all day so very grateful for that. Tomorrows a busy day (that stretch with lots of linked automatic locks) so a take away is on the cards. And we must study the book a bit - all the way in the other direction we moored for free, but suddenly we're paying most nights?! Bit of investigation needed!

Photos to follow

Cours-Les-Barres to Menetreol-Sous-Sancerre

01/10/2012

9 locks

We set off early, and caught up with the cool lock keeper who had separated us from the rental muppet in the past for the double 'automatic' lock, again with MVuu. We left the barge behind but waited for an enormous Le Boat rental at the next lock before moving on; arriving at the next at 12.10 we broke out the sandwiches, and our lock mates sent forward a delegate to ask if we were settling in - they hadn't been on the canals long enough to know the locks were out of action between 12 and 1!

A Thames Barge?!

We were through in no time once the lunch break was over, and Roxy managed a quick dip at the next lock, although we hadn't even noticed she'd got off the boat. The lock keeper said if we were in a rush we could go through the next one without him as he had boats waiting but we declined. All this way we've been letting the lock keepers know the canal du centre is closed - none have been aware, and this one thinks the last boat he let through is trying for the Med that way, hope not for his sake.

Strange tree-ballphenomenon - can anyone enlighten us?!

Roxy had a keen paramour at the next lock, in the shape of a Jack Russel - it looked like he was ready to jump the gap at one point but we were ready to repel boarders!

It felt like a long day when we got to our destination - full of boats, but some skippers helpful in identifying depths at the mooring and kindly helping with our lines - a little rare with French boaters.

The mooring is very close to the main road, so a little noisy but otherwise a lovely spot, with cafes and restaurants but no conveniences, and payment needed for electricity. This is very definitely rural France, with more tractor sightings here than Ferraris in Monaco. We took Roxy back up to the previous lock via the tow path for a wee swim (her, not us!) before dinner and called it an early night. 

Nevers to Cours-Les-Barres

We had planned a late start to time the locks just right (old hands now, don't you know!) and ensure different stopping places on the way back up the canal, so said goodbye to Anita and Albert on 'Coin Perdu' and accepted their kind gift of a no longer used copy of the Guide Fluvial to aid our journey; and this after a lift to the supermarket yesterday in return for a nano-second of translation - thanks guys!

We passed Tracker on route, and breezed the pont canal and double lock, this time accompanied by a really lovely little barge out of the UK, MVuu.

Our planned stop at Cours-Les-Barres turned up some familiar faces, with Rival already in place, as well as Michael and crew on the Mabel-Rose, a UK style narrow boat. The stop is lovely, with landscaped gardens, built in barbecues and cthe usual onveniences, as well as free water and electricity. J was guineapig in the showers - verdict COLD! But all else was great.

The guys on Rival couldn't be more helpful, and gave us pages of info on our new route, and invaluable insights, so thanks so much for that. They and Mabel-Rose also came up with contacts in case we are forced to make the drastic choice of a lift out and transport back to the Saone river should conditions dictate... Finges crossed it doesn't come to that!

All were up good and early to wave goodbye and we set off at sparrows (9.30!!) to get a few k's under our belts in a northerly direction.