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23
March
2008,
Sunday
In
Decize,
Canal
du
Nivernais
Cold, wet, and thoroughly unpleasant.
Still getting things ready - re-packing away those things appertaining to winter lay-up and finding the things used
all year, now hiding in strange and unknown corners.
Amongst other things, marked and folded up the plastic hull covers, and to make room for them finally decided, after some 4 to 5 years, to throw out the bags of coal, coke, kindling, and fire lighters and other bits belonging to the solid fuel stove.
Threw them away - carefully (thought was in back of mind that might want them back), cleaned out locker (ugh) - and packed away the covers, anchor, hedge trimmer, and other treasures that belong in that locker.
Spent some hours battling trying to upload the first week's web site. Very boring and frustrating. Every year I forget the minor details, but in this case I think the new computer (much smaller, lighter, and more convenient than the old one now residing at home) may have had something to do with it.
24
March
2008,
Monday
In
Decize,
Canal
du
Nivernais
It snowed - really quite heavily - last night. Was woken up at 03.30 by temperature change (it got warmer), looked blearily out of window - horrors - it was snowing - heavily. Made cup of tea, and took photo out of front door. Don't try and dust off the white specks - it really is snow.
Went back, hurriedly and gratefully, to bed, drank tea, ate biscuits and slept.
Got up at 0900 and in excitement of moment forgot it was Easter Day, and Sunday, so no eggs - boiled, baked or Easter.
Conditions were indescribable, cold, wet, frequent further snow showers, bitter wind, and as I am very scared of slipping, falling, and breaking something, remained incarcerated in the boat until mid morning when it appeared conditions were improving and lying snow was thawing.
Removed snow from jetty (washed it off) and fiddled about keeping warm.
Agreed with lock keeper that the lock booking made yesterday was a "bad thing", and best delayed until to-morrow.
Fiddled still further with web site - have finally got it up, but it will not show the pictures. The pictures are not very exciting, but it has become a mission to get them up.
Finally sorted it all out late supper time, and uploaded the whole thing all over again.
(Writing
a
year
later
-
it
was
NOT
sorted
out)
Now well after midnight, hungry, so midnight feast of Morbier cheese on rolls and
Merlot.
25
March
2008,
Tuesday
Decize
to
Beaulon,
Canal
Lateral
a
la
Loire
Woke up in 2 minds as to go or not - still very cold.
Went through the drill of leaving - up 0700, charged off for bread and forgotten or finished comestibles, topped off water, snuck up to rubbish bins and recovered fire making materials jettisoned the other day "just in case".
Sun was showing - real washed out winter sun - said good-bye again - Crown Blue Line back at work after statuary holiday - tried to find L. K. to tell him that time agreed yesterday - 10.30 - would be taken up, but he was elsewhere.
Started boat, wandered out, to find L. K. had materialized and in position, but wanted me to wait for a hire boat. O.K. by me, but insisted we would wait outside lock, so hire boat would go in first, and - as usual - Albert would stay at the back of the rising lock.
Hire boat never turned up, so off we went, still in feeble sunshine that was surprisingly warming.
Everything now marvelous - very pleasant run along canal, and through country that I know well - almost every 100 metres there was a memory, from the scruffy little canal side restaurant where we had the most marvelous Charollais steaks, to the spot we overnighted in 1999 and 2000, to the storks nest - occupied and think she was sitting. The country was quite different - never seen it so leafless and wintry. The stock are out in the pastures, but they (the paddocks) looked desperately brown and overgrazed. The grass has not really started moving, although a faint green haze can be seen on the thorn, the May is out, and sticky buds are well away on the chestnuts.
It got progressively colder as the morning wore on, and in spite of pleasure at being on my way, started to think "what I am doing here". Stopped, thankfully, at L. K.'s orders for lunch, stripped off and re-worked cold weather clothing. Hadn't reckoned it was necessary when starting as sun - feebly, was out.
Pajama trousers under slacks. Worn-out woolen sweater under Guernsey, warm waste coat over Guernsey, plastic trousers (had one little flurry of snow late morning) and heavy jacket - originally bought on out first trip in Skipton in Yorkshire. Felt like a Michelin Man, but it worked.
Lots of hot soup for lunch, and away again - improved no end in morale.
Making really quite good time now - boat would hardly move when we started, presumably due to weed growth. Still have to keep throttle higher than usual- but rev counter is sticky, anyway, so bit vague as to what is going on.
Made Beaulon about 1730, extremely pleased with the whole set-up.
Horrified to find VNF workmen on mooring - scared they were "improving" it for cafes, picnic sites and so on. But no, just replacing rubbing planks on concrete.
Just crowing over having favourite mooring all to myself when this morning's hire boat turned up. Much confusion, with Albert and the VNF workboat moored where they were, there was nowhere for them within reach of the electricity. Think they wanted to breast up to me. Anyway sorted them out with some of the extra bits carried in Albert, so they moored on the grass well away from me. Pleasant couple, and done it before.
Wednesday
26
March
2008,
Beaulon
to
Digoin,
Canal
Lateral
à
la
Loire
Thursday
27
March
2008,
Digoin
To
Genelard.
Canal
du
Centre
Friday,
28
March
2008
Genelard
to
Montchanin.
Canal
du
Centre
I have amalgamated these 3 days of this trip. Have described the country side several times in the past, it is a run I am very fond of, but there's no point in describing it again.
Really on our way, now. Trying to remember last year's get up and go routine.
At present, to get going at 0900 I have to set the alarm for 6.50, to give time for coffee and rusk in bed, get up, tidy bedroom, make, eat and clean up breakfast, check engine, unmoor, get to look like a proper boater - etc etc.
Up to lock at 0900 with hire boat- not unnaturally L.K.s want us to-gether.
As the hire boat - large and fast will be the loser, if we travel to-gether, let him sort it out.
He did! Or rather he didn't! We shared locks, and he had to wait for me at every one. Poor sod, but he got clear in the evening at Digoin.
Weather dry, but still bitter cold - very cold wind, but if no wind, and sun shining, quite warm. Got some very light snow flurries, and drizzle, but did not affect programme.
Countryside, as mentioned yesterday, and previous trips, small mixed farms, stock newly out in small paddocks, crops don't appear to have started moving yet.
Engine loosening off, (i.e. all last year's rattles have resurfaced) although have to go at 2000 rpm to make headway through the water. This, of course, may not be true - speed without a speed meter of any kind, is very subjective I want to get to Montchanin by Fri evening by, 1800 (no traffic after - locks closed), so feel under pressure, as there is no reserve time. Feel if arrival is after 1800 on Friday, there will be no one to meet me at the yard to sort out moorings, electricity etc, and to discuss what I want done - new drive plate (thing on boat that is between engine and gear box - the clutch in a car) and bottom blacking. Everything will be discussed on Monday, and nothing started before "next week" - i.e. the next Monday.
Stopped off at the large le Klerk just after Montceau for gas , and provisions. Went to town on provisions - my siege mentality well to the fore. This is the place where we can moor to the road barrier, climb across it and pick up a trolley and shop, bringing the full trolley to the boat after to offload.
The newly automaticized locks on the Canal du Centre were interesting, to say the least. They have a separate tirette at all 4 corners (the custom on the rest of this canal, and most of the greater system is 1 only tirette per lock). Although these automatic locks are designed to be user operated, they have a traveling lock keeper in little white van who actually hops out of his van at each lock, and operates the tirette. I am all for this in our current weather, when am so swaddled up in extra clothes can really do little except steer the boat and operate the throttle, but normally, it's a lot of nonsense!
Into Montchin Marine at 1745, just made it before lock closure time, to be met by Jeff, who fitted me in through a very narrow gap in the moored boats, plugged electricity, and undertook to arrange for brother-in-law to do drive plate and talked about my "programme" - of blacking, etc. Unfortunately, he has yet to order the tar I need to paint the hull with.
Then it started raining, singularly unpleasant night, strong cold wind, rain, - a very stormy night.
29
March
2008,
Saturday
Montchanin,
Canal
du
Centre
After a stormy night, woke up to calm misty sunshine - but still cold.
Sunshine appropriate for working outside or on the shore, but as present mooring is off another boat, conditions are not conducive to doing things that involve the outside, or doing them on shore.
Set a batch of washing in the machine, but the electricity blew half way through the wash - due, I think, to my trying - once again - to resurrect the old oil filled wall mounted space heater. Left wash in the machine. Suspect problem is shore side as all (2) of the electricity points are blown.
Probably a switch in the office - usually is on these occasions, so will have to await Jeff's return this evening.
Jeff's brother-in-law arrived half way through morning to discuss drive plate. Quite happy to do it next Saturday.
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03.30 a.m. shot
Beaulon,
early
spring
Canal
du
Centre
-
early
spring
Farming
Genelard
Genelard
Leaving Paray
Geoff's,
Montchanin
Tight
squeeze
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