2004

BACK TO CALENDAR 2004

2.2   28 June to 4 July 2004

 

This Weeks "We-think-we-are-here-map".  (Our position at the END of the week).

 

 

The Map is a "thumbnail", click on it for full size whilst still connected to the web-site

 

 

Monday,  28 June 2004                   In Chatel Censoir.   Canal de Nivernais

Herself to St J. de L. to "return" car to Allan's grange for undercover storage till autumn.   Back with Brian of Seabird who had ridden down with her and was doing the same thing in reverse.    Back about 1530.

Otherwise, jobs and cleaning on boat, and gossiping.

 

Tuesday  29 June 2004         Chatel Censoir to Mailly la Ville   Canal de Nivernais

Set out after lunch - target Mailly le Chateau.

Lovely day, countryside bush, forest, and some cultivation - now in the Yonne Valley, typical Nivernais country and outlook.

As before - but didn't remember it - mooring virtually impossible for us at Mailly le Chateau - stone or earth bank canal sides shallowly curved.   We are square sided, and tying up to these places - unless seriously for the night - too much effort!   If we do do it we have to use the ladders/gangplanks to hold us off the canal sides/bottom, and tie up very tight with 2 springs, and at least 2 ropes to bollards or trees.

Went straight on to Mailly la Ville - pleasant village - only 2 to 3 kms on - with 2 pontoons with electricity and water, all free.

 

Wednesday  30 June 2004            in Mailly la Ville       Canal de Nivernais

Cycled back to Mailly le Chateau along tow path.    First had to put new tire onto herself's bike - rim wire stripping out.

Tar and gravel - easy ride and not far.

Climbed up to Chateau - bit of a nostalgia trip, this, we last went up in 1999!

Enjoyed village - unbelievably quiet - very pretty in sunlight.

Studied view, Took lots of photos, and wandered back down, and eventually to boat.

Asked St Nicolas - patron Saint of boaters - in his little shrine on the side of the bridge - to look after us.   Took his photo as well!

Nice "day off"!

 

Thursday  1 July 2004          Mailly la Ville to Bailly     Canal de Nivernais

Cleaned a lot of the boat(!)

Found place inside boat for mooring pins, mallet, and rope cutting panga.   Up to now they have had a permanent place in the cockpit, but in view of recent break-ins into boats  in and around Auxerre and Migennes seems tactless to leave ideal assault weapons outside the boat ready for instant use.

Bought fresh cherries at first lock - super year for them, this year.   Big, fat and tasty.   Popped stones at passing boats.

Moored up at long moorings at Bailly below the Caves - they take you on a long trip deep underground into their cellars, and one buys lots of their wine.   The moorings have always had water - which works - but the electricity points were vandalised before our time.

Slightly un-nerving.   The jetty is below trees, and hence darkish.   For the first time ever, we were totally alone on it.   Possible for imagination to get over-active.

Went for a cycle ride back to the hire base at Vincelotte.

Quiet night!

 

Friday  2 July 2004           Bailly  Canal de Nivernais to  Gurgy   River Yonne

Grey windy and cold.

Before we have always stopped over in Auxerre, on the quai opposite the base, Aquarelle.

Reckoned not strictly sensible to go there again - we are told that one of the break-ins was on that quai.

Filled with diesel - 115 litres - €1.05 per litre now - and pushed straight on for Gurgy, down the Yonne a little way, and more out in the sticks.

Always a pleasant village mooring - caters more for camping cars than boats (there were 16 the night we stayed over) and for the first time ever we were able to get the boat right in to the shore.  As everywhere else on the system - certainly on the parts we've been to - water levels are high. 

 

Saturday 3 July 2004                Gurgy to le Vieux Pecheur    River Yonne

Bread and small S.M. in the morning.

Bread good, but "SuperMarket" on way out.   Virtually nothing on shelves except vegs outside.  Used to be a very good stocking up place, but this time nothing.

Bought more cherries from private stall, 

Set off again - really enjoying R Yonne this time round, although weather so changeable.

Stopped at lunch time in a vicious wind storm - so strong couldn't turn the boat to moor facing upstream - but by afternoon it had dropped to almost complete calm.

Stopped at Juliette du Pontet's mooring at the old barrage and lock.   Comfortable, quiet, private - although constant fisherman traffic wandering up and down.   (Probably good thing, as spot is quite remote from security point of view).

 

Sunday  4 July 2004             Vieux Pecheur to Villeneuve       River Yonne

Nice clear sunny start at 0930.

Major clean-up of bug hatch from last night.

Into Joigny to look at moorings (Locaboat base) - far better and more practicable than we remembered.

Bought bread, quick look round, and then off down river.

Countryside looking superb - into larger grain farm area mixed with vineyards and maize.

Combining beginning on valley side slopes - saw first combining this year early in week - just back in June.

Into Villeneuve, and tied up to town wall, as 2 years ago.   Began to think we were not being told something we should know - last time there were dozens of boats, and a hotel boat here.   This time we were the only boat plugged into electricity, and only other boat a very small German yacht.

There is a P. de P. of sorts opposite, but looked very cramped, a bit dingy and full.    Certainly no room for a boat  of our dimensions.

Pictures:-

1.   Mailly la Ville

2 & 3.  Mailly le chateau.

4.   Auxerre.

5.   Joigny

6.   Villeneuve

7.   Simplified Map reading.