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Still
happily
making
an
effort
-
albeit
intermittently
-
at
the
painting,
in
Cours
les
Barres.
Somehow
last
month dissolved itself away far too quickly, and
October
arrived
with
lock-keeper
telling
us
that
they
were
in
winter
mode.
Ring
up
and
book
when
one
wants
to
move.
With
the
clocks
going
back
-
or
did
they
go
forward?
-
at
the
end
of
last
month
felt
that
the
season
really
had
ended,
and
it
was
no
use
pretending.
It
was
time
to
go
-
especially
as
I
was
booked
on
Eurostar
to
UK,
and
SNCF
Decize
to
Paris
for
the
30th.
Took
us
-
very
slowly
-
back
to-wards
Decize,
sleeping
over
canalside
on
a
spot
that
my
Navicarte
told
me
we
had
stopped
off
at
in
2001.
Didn't
recognise
it,
but
looked
like
the
sort
of
place
we
would
have
stopped
at
-
quiet,
revetts
and
a
nice
view.
Project
in
Decize
-
"winterise"
Albert.
Usual
performance
-
trying
to
get
engine
antifreeze
up
to
strength
as
measured
on
my
little
old
Halfords
measurer,
making
new
covers
for
the
windows
area
of
the
hull,
cleaning
and
tidying
everything
away
so
no
chance
whatsoever
of
finding
it
next
year,
and
stocking
domestic
supplies.
In
the
former
baffled
by
total
non
availability
of
concentrated
anti-freeze,
and
the
discovery
that
the
ready
mixed
stuff
-
when
measured
-
was
nowhere
near
the
claimed
specs
of
-20,
-25,
or
-30.
Bit
of
fiddling
managed
to
get
it
to
more
or
less
right
-
but
essential
to
bring
neat
anti-freeze
out
next
year.
Bought
new
covers
for
windows,
but
sods
law
-
eyelets
were
in
different
place
to
last
lot,
so
poor
match
with
holdfasts
on
hull.
However,
the
plastic
-
same
price
as
last
time
-
seemed
much
stronger
and
better.
As
before,
bemused
populace
with
constant
lighting
up
of
engine
and
turning
boat
round
to
get
at
other
side.
Also,
as
before,
did
the
job
during
3
days
of
strong
winds
across
Albert.
Nearly
went
kite
surfing,
at
one
stage.
30th
arrived
far
too
soon,
battened
everything
down,
and
trotted
along
to
wait
for
taxi.
Once
again
-
expected
taxi
didn't
arrive,
but
have
got
so
cynical,
that
had
ordered
it
a
good
45
mins
before
required
time,
so
another
one
obtained
(only
had
20
Euro
note,
and
replacement
taxi
had
no
change!),
and
in
due
course
mounted
train,
and
arrived
in
Paris.
Rogue
taxi
driver
(what
is
it
between
me
and
taxis?)
hi-jacked
me
off
train
with
specious
promises,
but
feeling
deeply
suspicious
-
never
been
followed
into
the
loo
by
a
taxi
driver
before
-
finally
lost
nerve
when
saw
his
car,
and
even
more
when
I
extracted
a
quote
out
of
him
-
25
Euros
to
Gare
du Nord.
Walked
away!
Into
Eurostar
queue
for
train,
to
be
assured
by
charming
girl
that
my
ticket
was
actually
for
yesterday,
the
29th,
go
along
to
ticket
office
and
get
another!
Was
totally
horrified
-
frequently
make
jokes
about
going
dilly
in
old
age,
but
did
not
reckon
it
had
got
as
bad
as
that.
Another
charming
girl
did
mysterious
things
with
a
computer,
gave
me
an
up
to
date
ticket,
but
told
me
to
start
off
on
one
of
the
jump
seats
at
the
end
of
the
coach,
as
the
train
was
theoretically
full.
Then
as
soon
as
doors
shut
grab
any
empty
seat
in
carriage.
Worked
a
treat. Balance
of
journey
home
fine,
except
for
desperate
overcrowding
of
commuter
train Waterloo-Brockenhurst.
So ends our second "truncated" season. Never mind shortness
- incredibly lucky to have a suitable boat in a superb base, on the pick of the
waterways, and to be able to enjoy it so much.
Planning for next year already well in hand, whilst watching sheets of cold
rain in Lymington. Scotland next week, Antipodes for
Christmas, the soonest possible - perhaps Easter - Albert.
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Nevers Cathedral
Double Lock to
aqueduct
over River Allier
Peniche bows in
lock
They really do go that close
Wind
vane
Silhouette of Loire work boat
Loire at
Decize
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