Dammarie Sur Loing to Montargis

4/10/2012

This morning brought heavy rain, and much worse, strong winds. With the height of the boat and its relative lack of weight, we're blown about like a cork on water, and as we are consistently heading down in the locks it's not a good idea to push on in this weather.

It would have been nice to chill in front of a movie and get a load of laundry done, but the electricity went out in the mooring at 8.30 and the Mairie weren't in a rush to get it back on (or may have been behind the switch off in the first place, who knows?!) so A descended into the engine room to commune with the beasts (Ford and Lehman to give them names) while J wet weather geared up to present our excuses to the lock keeper who was there just for us at 9.30. He took it well, and suggested we postpone til after lunch, but I could walk on to the next lock to change that if I wanted(?!) - after a little persuasion, and views of driving rain out of the window, he handed over his phone number for further communication.

So we set off in sunlight and light breezes a 13.00 on the dot, and the second lock in the set managed by this keeper is his home, and featured previously as it is by far the prettiest lock we've been through. At the next, the geese who previously rose all hell of noise on our passing barely ruffled a feather!

Having set off late we had made plans to stop in Montbouy - continuing with our plan to not stop in the same place twice - only to be warned by the next lock keeper there was no space.

 We didn't dare ask the hotel barge to shimmy up the quay a bit - how many rude ways was he going to find to say 'No'? - so we set our sights on Montargis for a second time, but decided to treat ourselves to the paying port (last time no water or electricity!). As it turns out, our late arrival didn't suit the Captains working hours, so it turned out not to be paying after all, and we were greeted on the quayside (and helped with lines) by the guys on the lovely barge Edwina-Rose who we met here last time. Not only did they help with the lines, they also poured us a glass (or two) of wine, before sharing their knowledge of our new route - Thanks guys! Not far to stumble home for an early lights out!

Chatillon Sur Loire to Dammarie Sur Loing

Well, as it turns out the 18 locks in a day personal best was not to be beaten as today produced a relatively chilled 13 locks!

The Pont Canal at Briare was doddle without the ferocious wind last time around, and the canal de Briare itself is wide and deep compared to the Canal Laterale a la Loire of the last few days.

We got into the chains of automatic locks having been warned that staff numbers are now reduced so we'd not be accompanied the whole way, but that proved something of a challenge; even with the fly bridge we have, when you drive into the bottom of a 4m corridoor, its hard to see the bollards you're hopefully throwing ropes at, so much ingenuity was needed. Efforts had to be doubled in one lock where the bar activator wasn't working at all and A had to climb off the boat to push the button!

Having been told we'd catch up with a keeper halfway through the cycle we were surprised to make it to the end without sight nor sound of a professional; we've put it down to our obvious skill, but truth be told its low man power combined with long lunch breaks ;-)

We reached the summit, and again the wind is blowing a hoolie, so not helpful that the lock wasn't ready for us - with a huge Restaurant barge coming up the chain from the other side it was all toomuch for the brain of the system, but eventually it gave in as we went through the sensors first. At the next a good old fashioned kick was needed to persuade the gates open was the way to go, and the restaurant boat, also all over the place despite weighing probably 40 tonnes, remebered us from last time, commenting that then too the wind had not been in our favour. Was it so recently, or was he bowled over by the suave lines of the Goodbye George?!

As planned we were battling on with our ambitious itinerary, reaching the 4th to last at 16.30 to find no-one in sight. With a mooring back a mere 100m we reversed onto the quay and settled in - it seemed a reasonable time to stop afterall. The lock keeper eventually burned up in his van, aggressively defensive, expecting an earful for not being there when we arrived, and was quite deflated by our own lack of aggression. This was indeed a lucky turn of events as we would never have made our planned destination - an elderly Altzheimers patient had gone missing the previous night and the last lock on our itinerary was closed for dredging in case the worst had happened. Delighted to hear the next day that said gentleman was retuned home safe and sound.

 

Chatillon sur Loire to... we'll see!

3/10/2012

Today we relive the 18 lock day - maybe more!

Having checked the forecaset its showing rain tomorrow so we're going to get our heads down and get as much done as possible in the dry; only it already rained over breakfast and now the sun is out, so wet weather gear at the ready and we'll do our best.

Unlimited internet runs out tonight so updates might be a little less frequent, we'll do our best!