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October 2nd
Saturday
Pierrefitte to Chassenarde.
Weather still dicey, very changeable and cool.
"Called in" to Digoin, to show Ruth, had lunch tied up near shops at aqueduct end of town, turned in canal - presence of large boat at diesel point, and strong wind made going into P. de P. inappropriate.
Whilst polishing brass, Roger Preem, of Calcutt boats near Rugby, passed us in his small but very beautiful Luxmotor.
Turned down Roanne to Digoin Canal in late afternoon - still cool and showery - and went thtrough top flight on thisd canal of 3 locks.
Tied up just beyond 3rd lock - site determined by shallow sides to canal. Found some sheet piling revetments, but still had to leave back end dangling in canal.
 
October 3rd
Sunday
Chassenarde to Iguerande.
Gentle unhassly day motoring between showers, down the "canal tranquile", which it is.
There were no other boats whsatso-ever, excrept 1 yellow hire boat, which might have been yesterday or to-day!
Decided to moor up at Iguerande, where we moored in May/June and had good supper at the Auberge oppposite the moorings.
As mooring up time aproached, and we got closer to Iguerande, a big black cloud chased us.
Didn't make it - got caught by the rain 800 metres back - torrential downpour, and of course, by the time we had sorted clothes and boat out, we had arrived at moorings anyway, and rain had stopped.
Evidence for the last 3 kms, and all around Iguerande of remarkable storm, branches in canal, trees broken off or uprooted and laid along sides of canal, where they had been hastily hauled out.
Connected up electricty, horrified to find Fr 30! normally Ftr10 per night, but didn't matter - combination of both heaters and the Hoover blew it, anyway, and got money back.
Went to Madam again, who was tactful enough to recognise us, and handshakes all round! Had perfectly enormous meal - helpings far too big, unusual for French, but very good.
Night cold - almost frosty.
 
October 4th
Monday
Iguerande to Roanne.
Tension high - would there be space for us for the winter in Roanne? Only really know when we arrive!
Cool day, but virtually no rain, although threatening.
Highlight was lunch, when the sun came out, we found a nice spot, with a nice view, and sat on the side of the canal in the sun and ate our meal. There was no hurry - we were well up to time, and no-body else seemed to be moving on the waterway, so no competition to get to Roanne first, so we just lazed the lunch hour away,. and arrived at Roanne lock exactly 1 hour after we had promised.
This hardly mattered, as the L.K. himself only arrived as we were leaving the lock.
We were actually seen through by a gentleman (needed a shave) who told us he was not the L.K. - perish the thought - but the Capitaine du Porte.
This was the guy we wanted to see, anyway, and we were mighty relieved to see there was plenty of space in the Porte. Indeed, it was emptier than when we came here in May/June.
Having said that, it appears that a lot of boats are booked and due to come, and that we were expected - nice feeling!
Tied up much further up on the temporary overnighters mooring - near to the fr1 public loos, etc. Handy for tippping ours into.
SWITCHED OFF ENGINE.
Trotted up to railway station to sort out Ruth's trains, buy her ticket, etc. All v successful, and discovered that all those over 65 are automatically entitled to 25% discount.
Also quicky to S.M.
Very cold squally weather - must be very humid as windows streaming condensation.
 
October 5th
Tuesday
In Roanne.
Ruth to train at 0830 to go "home". Sad!
Day's project was to pay mobile phone bill.
Did it at Post Office, with cash bought transfer, and faxed them. All available at "Poste"- make transfer, photo-copy document, send fax! Most helpful young lady who understood our French perfectly!
Wandered across town, establishing position of France Telecom for visit to-morrow to sort out mini messages.
Passed Peugeot Cycle shop - also on the list for attention - velocettes for the elderly?
No time - had to rush back to do the washing - although freezing cold, blowing a hooly, and pissing with rain.
Got it all dry with assistance of blow heater, but condensation even worse.
Checked, cleaned, and topped up engine and domestic batteries. Finally - after 5 months - connected battery charging half of invertor so that we can charge batteries from shore power. Trouble was directions - and design - were by an Irishman, how do you "equalise" batteries when charging them?
Anyway, we think we are now charging boat batteries from shore mains - we certainly hope we are.
Evening cleared to cold, and almost frosty, but still very high humidity - the dew or condensation on the outside of the boat was very intense.
Cold in the boat and a bit bleak - perhaps morale is being affected by "end-of-trip-itis"
 
October 6th
Wednesday
In Roanne.
Nice warm lie in.
To-day's projects - Mini messages, moorings, etc.
Visited Capitainerie on bike and arranged to meat Jackie (Capitaine du Port) in afternoon to decide what we needed and when.
Went up town to France Telecom to their after sales fellows.
Chap spent a 1ong time with mobile sorting out mini message - had to change it from English to French first. Don't know what he did, but it certainly appeared that there was a problem, which is now solved! The only problem as far as we are concerned, is our inability to send messages to networks other than Itineris.
Lunch in unbelievably warm sun on side of moorings - chairs, table, everything out!
Joined by "Jackie" to discuss moorings. Probably very little more expensive (fr 350 ?) to take out full annual, as opposed to hivernage (fr 1100) + Oct, + May days.
It was costing us just under £1400 per year mooring in Devizes marina! Price for 6 months was little less, and price per month (calculated on a daily basis, was, pro rata, almost double.
Started cleaning in the afternoon - everything off roof, wash, clean and polish.
Met "Limie" with whom we are to be breasted, if we all agree. 17m Dutch Barge, bought only 2 months ago
 
October 7th
Thursday
In Roanne.
Very cold night. Awoke to very thick cold clammy mist enshrouding port completely - no visibility.
Projects for day - paying for moorings, looking at motor bicycles, cashing travellors cheques, and continuing with boat cleaning.
Planning all very well - round to Capitainerie, meeting "Limie" on the way - invitation to coffee.
Bill paying took an hour of discussion and gossip.
More gossip with resident but not very willing mechanic, Geoff (not unwilling - but lives here on a grubby peniche, and knows it all, so is roped in when he would rather be doing something else, and frequently inveigled into looking after other peoples boats, with the result that there is a whole zeribar of small unoccupied boats around his boat.
Too late now to go into town,without clashing with 1200 knock-off, so to coffee and lots of gossip with "Limie", against whom "Albert" is to be moored (on the outside) when we are away.
Back for lunch in sun like yesterday, but even warmer. Joined for coffee by Michel - French/Australian from yacht next door - and the Dutch owner of the very large Dutch Barge (27m) oppposite.
Tried charger
 
October 8th
Friday
In Roanne.
Ran engine first thing - in spite of cold and neglect since we arrived she started at first kick. The charging indicator showed the batteries almost ¾ charged - just pray we are not hurting them by over-charging, with too high or too fast a charge..
Weather even better than yesterday, bright warm sun virtually all day, after usual misty start.
Having bought ferry tickets yesterday, to-day's "project" was train tickets and times.
Spent morning on haircuts, followed by gossip with other boaters on the way back, which took till late lunch time.
It is very difficult to get anything serious done here - there is far too much going on, as more boats arrive for the winter every day, get greeted, or re-greeted. This appears to be a very Brit port.
Afternoon back to travel agent to upgrade ferry cabin, but the idiots started being silly, so did it over the pay phone outside the boat and credit card!
Discussed bikes with David & Jaquie of "Kate Mary of Arun" - they were busy buying a new bike with all bells and whistles for £130, very light and nice looking from the bike shop over the road from our mooring.
 
October 9th
Saturday
In Roanne.
Tried to Hoover, but Hoover dead. Ripped it to pices, and found switch jamed "off."
Fixed and re-assembled and it worked, but bits left over, and cable wouldn't retract.
About par for the course.
Cleaned 2nd half of right side, turned boat and cleaned left side.
Ran engine and found batteries well up.
Several hoses weeping slightly, so tightened jubilee clips. Still not happy with cooling system??
Walk right round port in evening, and met Maurice and Kay from "Sea Major" outside the shower block by the Capitainery. They have a shower, but are very nervous, and are making everybody else nervous, of condensation. In fact it appears to be the "in" thing to worry about this autumn/winter, and has got us worried as well!
As there is nothing we can do about it, except not leave the boat shut up with heaters on, worrying is all we can do.
Electricity is readily available