log blank 2000


2001

This Weeks "We're Here" Map

(The Map is a "thumbnail", same as the pictures - click on it for full size when connected to www.)


September 23 Sunday
Jussy to Port sur Saône

Day promised well, but early morning mist developed into cloud, and light rain was falling by evening.

Pleasant run "downhill". This part of the system - the top of the Petite Saône - is really lovely, and whilst the leaves are starting to turn it has been so wet throughout the summer, everywhere is still very green.

2 problems with boat - propeller (at least think it is propeller) clatter cavitating, and gear box leaking oil.

The former has defeated us over the past 5 years - sometimes it just goes away, and then comes back. The latter we have lived with for 2 years - gentle very infrequent drip into a cup, and poured back in every 3 or 4 days.

However, fast motoring down has obviously done something nasty, and it is now leaking heavily - half a mug at least twice a day.

Called in at the neat little Nicholls harbour at Fouchécourt - they advertised both diesel sales and mechanic - and asked. Diesel Ffr 6.5 per litre - bit high.

Mechanic suggested we stopped off at Port sur Soane this afternoon, where he would work on our oil leak.

Did so! And he did so! Long sweaty afternoon, where it seemed we were going to end up with a non-operative gear box, but he got it to-gether again working, without an oil leak, so we’ll see to-morrow.

Met Freddy and Germaine - once again - ex of Tulippe, now in a "camping car", who are obviously unable to leave the waterways, or settle down and stay at home in St John de Losne. Bottle of wine, after the drip stopped dripping.
Birthday supper - filet steak - and slept over.


September 24 Monday
Port sr Saône to pk 301.5 Vereux.

Paid yesterday’s mechanic’s bill - 3 hours Ffr 200 + a few pennies! Quite ridiculously small, considering it was a Sunday afternoon, and the mechanic was, in fact, the boss or "patron".

Left 0815 - nervously!

Clatter still reasonably dreadful - stopped quite suddenly for no apparent reason for 10 minutes, then started again.
No oil leaking, and gear box working fine. Happiness.

Day fine after dull start - once again treated to fabulous sunny but autumnal views across enormous areas of a very beautiful part of France.

Stopped for lunch at the jetty that serves and advertises Soing. Seen this several times in the past, but it is only 1 boat long, and always previously occupied.

Good table and bench picnic area - enjoyed lunch sitting in the sun, then attacked propeller blades through weed hatch with a file. Over the years both edges have repeatedly hit or been hit by nasties, and the edges are burred over and rough.
Thought there might be profit in smoothing them off as far as possible while standing on head in back of engine filing in cold water.

Helped a lot - clatter still in evidence, but now liveable with.

However, as usual, 2 factors. When weed hatch released considerable vacuum built up in weed box released. Last time this was so markedly released, clatter disappeared. Having said that, tried out a length of pipe from outside air to above water level in weed box, so pressures could be released. Very Heath Robinson, but did keep pressure in weed box normal, and made no difference to clatter.

Covered some 65 kms to-day + 3 or 4 locks. It was, however, downhill, and the current is quite strong. Don’t go for this sort of thing, normally, but we are, as stated previously, on a mission to get back to Roanne in good time.

The great joy is that although fast, it was a thoroughly enjoyable run, in fine weather, with the countryside looking good.


September 25 Tuesday
pk 301.5 Vereux to Heuilley sur Saône.

Started out cold and grey, got steadily colder and grayer until it was really quite unpleasant driving.
Lit fire, then as we pulled into Grey sky lightened - just a bit - and temperature improved.

Once again, and seemingly as usual, tirette for Grey lock didn’t work, so pulled into side before "no passing" notices.

Lock keeper appeared and waved us on.
Started off, and L.K. re-appeared frantically waving us over to left or wrong side (direction of barrage).
Peniche appears from round the corner behind us going like the clappers, overtakes (more like charging past) us within the no passing section, and also carries out L.K.’s arm waggling instructions.
1 peniche and 1 narrow boat directed into same piece of water by VNF. Interesting!

Fortunately, we felt very dubious about what was going on, no instructions - or anything - over VHF, and were very hesitant about the whole thing. Work boats do, of course, have right of way, but they shouldn’t be directed to act dangerously by the authorities while using it. The actions of both the VNF L.K. and the peniche skipper were dangerous.
L.K. was - like the previous 3 or 4 locks - a youngster. Didn't see the peniche skipper - but his actions indicate idiocy.

When we asked the L.K. he hadn’t a clue as to what was, or had been, going on, or why he had done as he had, and still less had he thought of using his VHF. Once again, one realises, in the last resort the skipper only is responsible for ALL the actions and intentions of his boat.

Tied up in Grey - for the first time ever there was enough water for us not to scrape on the bottom at the moorings.
Up to S.M. but it was closed for lunch break. Curses on L.K.!

Pushed off again, and lunched at Mantoche. This is the most lovely village mooring, and we have stopped here several times in the past, only to be harassed and hassled by the local youth, either till late at night with loud voices, or "fishing" close around the boats, blocking walkways, snarling at boaters, and being generally obnoxious.
This time, not a sign of them, and had a pleasant and peaceful lunch.

On down through the slightly dull forested section to the jetty next to the sand jetty just above Heuilley.
We stayed here on the way up in July, and laughed at the jetty - a very nice safe 2 boat mooring - which had a big sign just behind it advertising all the local businesses, and an equally big sign on it say no stopping or mooring.

The no stopping sign has gone, and the advertising sign is lying on it’s face - wind damage.

We moored up, out with paints, and did sundry paint repairs on gunwales and rubbing strakes.
Poor Albert has taken a bit of a beating over the last 10 days, with speed the order of the day, and foul weather reducing the care taken whilst entering and leaving locks, and moorings, not to mention the wind.
Pleasant warm evening, sunny, drinks on jetty in sun after painting finished, but after dusk, rain again.

N.B. Sorry about all words and no pictures from here on - it just happened that way.


September 26 Wednesday
Heuilley sur Saône to St Jean de Losne.

Started off in thick fog and mist - probably too thick for safety, but lighting up our rotating yellow beacon light we nevertheless pushed off - we were on a mission.
Navigated keeping the right bank within sight. Most appropriate side as the left bank was only visible as a dark blur without details, and there were at least 2 weirs between us and the first lock, where we reckoned we would probably be stopped.
It’s red light was just visible through the mist - this was the lock at the foot of the Canal Marne a Soane.
The mist started to thin, so went ashore at the dolphins, intending to walk to the lock to discuss affairs with the L.K. (had previously called him on VHF without response) when misty red light went misty green!

Found that bridge over canal - ex river towing path bridge - impassable and wired off. S. had to back boat - a pig of a job - she/he (the boat) will only go backwards sideways - to the dolphin to pick me up.

L.K. held lock, while we sorted ourselves out, then held it further while we watered up in the lock!

Mist almost completely cleared, and we left lock in teeth of 4 hire boats patiently waiting to go up.

Since Brittany, opinion on hire boats and boaters has undergone a sea change. They spend a fortune on 6 days in a boat that is really quite difficult to drive, accepting any and all changes for the worse that the weather or the VNF can throw at them. However, conversely, there are some right arrogant burkes, at times.

Weather changed to beautiful sunny day, but chilly. Countryside looking ridiculously well for mid-autumn, with all the rain giving it a fresh green look.

Arrived in St Jean de Losne, enjoying passing our various previous picnic and overnight spots, and went straight to the diesel barge.

Filled with diesel - 142 litres, 31 gallons in 14 days, i.e. consumption 2.25 galls per day - much more than our normal 6 or so litres (1.25 galls) per day.
However, we were doing many more hours per day than normal, and driving faster than normal as well, so conclusion is obvious!

Finished off filling up, and boat starter wouldn’t turn engine over - just made silly click clunk noise. Done it before, but never so finally as now - normally we just fiddle with every wire in sight, and go on trying till it starts.
Called H20, who came willingly - boss man himself - and checked through all terminals, switches, battery, and connections with gadget.

Found poor connection on "starter solenoid". Hit it a gentle tap with hammer, and engine started beautifully. He admired my "African" hammer. Picked it up when working for Sapekoe - the hitting part had broken off the hammer head at some time in the past, and been neatly welded back on. There aren't many welded up hammer heads still in use after 25 years!

No charge - light a candle for me!

Moored up on river frontage - one space of about 16 metres available - squeezed in neatly with large population of hirers watching and gossiping and pulling wrong lines. All went well, and heard vague rumour from one that a town to which they wanted to go had been denied to them.

Pricked ears - the town - St Leger de Dhuene is on the Canal du Centre, and on our route to Roanne, is the canal closed?

Made enquiries, and horrified, flabbergasted, and really upset, to find it is closed - "lack of water" after the wettest summer imaginable. Sounds just like BW.

Fine evening, but cold, so lit fire and went to bed rather gloomily.


September 27 Thursday
In St Jean de Losne.

Much disenchanted, over yesterday’s news - no effort seems to have been made to disseminate the information on possible closure - we carry the "chomages" list with us, and checked it at Charmes, only 3 days ago.

Called at local VNF Regional office, and no questions answered directly - just more irrelevant shiny pamphlets thrust at us.

Called at H2O to deliver bottle of wine in gratitude for getting boat started on fuel pontoon yesterday, and to enquire about winterage. Price for us just over £400 for 6 months. General opinion was that closure - it happened last year as well, but a week later - is purely a cost cutting exercise, and there is no shortage of water.

Much phoning also to Plombiers sur Dijon - nice little hire base, and Dijon P.de P. itself. Took about 10 calls altogether, being shuffled around! Plombiers is closing in November, and Dijon - apart from costing over £220, sounded insecure!

Eventually, S.A. came to rescue again, and we have good moorings in St Jean de Losne for winter.
Visited them in afternoon - ideal!

Lovely sunny day - slightly bitter making, after long hard purposeless run in foul weather, with virtually nothing achieved!

Birthday supper at l’Amiral. Hilarious evening - no menus, M. le patron sporting at least 4 days beard just spouted a list, but still a good, tasty, adequate and professionally served meal.
All conversations - outside food and drink orders - were relayed to all guests - including our comments on a photo on the wall of a Narrow Boat in Bratch Locks, and the fact that we lived on one and it was my birthday!
Dead cheap, too.
Pudding arrived a la birthday cake, complete with sparklers, and singing, followed by on the cheek kiss from M. le Patron’s son, probably 5 yrs old. Poor little brute!

Walk back to boat included a sway or 2.


September 28 Friday
In St Jean de Losne.

Another mild sunny day.

Fiddled about in port doing odd jobs.
Had found we were moored next to Damon , the last of the Humber and Trent sailing "Keels", now a second home for Robert and Jill, and sailed across here by them many years ago.

Dentist - my errant crown - not a success, she spoke only fast French, and so emerged little the wiser.

Bought cable fitting for boat electricity supply. We already have several French 16 amp to caravan fittings, but to use our full extension we need the opposite - caravan fitting to Fr 16 amp.

Paid Itineris bill - lower than usual, but so it should be, no web work while we were in Brittany.

Tulippe - ex Freddy and Germaine Martz's - arrived with new owners getting yet one more lesson on driving from Freddy. Camping Car or none, I don’t think Freddy will stay away from the waterways for long.

Merchant - Barbara and Kevin - M.F.V. type craft, arrived and moored up in front on main jetty. They had the same L.K. problems as we did on the Canal de l’Est. Pity, because the L.K.s, once they got stuck in, were very good, and highly professional.

Moved Albert from jetty to CBL moorings. Like idiots, we didn’t bother yesterday, and when we came to-day it was change-over day, the whole place like a disturbed ant's nest.

Slid boat in - after trying out a couple of other places that would obviously be a nuisance - into narrow space right at edge between grass bank, and first finger.
When all the new hirers have gone to-morrow or Sunday, we’ll turn her round and tidy up a bit.


September 29 Saturday
In St Jean de Losne.

Rain off and on. Cold, occasional sun.
Lit fire.

Settled in to mooring, in slightly half hearted sort of way. We haven’t got it right yet - boat is not held well, and back end is sagging off into reeds under wind pressure.

Much end of end-of-season fiddling!

Freddy Martz - he who sold Tulippe - arrived mid-afternoon to fetch us away to see his and Germaine' s home opposite the entrance to the Canal de Bourgogne.
Intense French speaking exercise, especially when friends (French) dropped by.
Back to boat at supper time - fire out - too bad.


September 30 Sunday
In St Jean de Losne.

Moved boat to opposite side of jetty, where whilst not so hidden, we ourselves would have some sort of view and could see the pool.
Stern on mooring, and put anchor out to act as end cum keep her straight mooring.
Never put the anchor into the water before, except for brief 10 mins at Nafford lock on the R.Avon in England, 5 years ago. The significance is that we don’t actually know if our anchor and chain would hold us, but as it is the largest and heaviest we can physically lift, there is no point in getting anything bigger - even if more effective as boat holder.

Anyway, very convenient place to store the damn thing over the winter - where it belongs.

Tied everything to everything we could find, felt a lot happier and more comfortable - it may be less of a security risk to be visible than hidden. The path along the top is the "promenade" route for the locals.
The only thing foxing us for a technically perfect mooring is that the whole pontoon and finger unit moves crab-wise several yards in the wind, so in some conditions the anchor rope is too tight, and in others, it just flops and lets the boat drift into the reeds

So ends 2001 - a bit of a fizzle at the end, but lots achieved and enjoyed, none-the-less, and many happy memories of people, events and places to chew over for the next 6 months.