2006

BACK TO CALENDAR 2006

 

2.2  3 July to 9 July 2006

 

 

3 July, Monday, in Belleville, Canal Lateral a la Loire

In Belleville - problem   

An enormous crown has come off one of my teeth.   Except for the sharp edge of the original tooth it does not hurt.  But, obviously I have to go to a dentist.   The nearest convenient dentist is in Briare.   If I leave and go to Briare I shall have to go to said dentist.   I am scared of dentists.   If I stay here, I physically cannot go to a dentist, so "it is not my fault".

Stay here

 

4 July, Tuesday, in Belleville, Canal Lateral a Loire 

Still in Belleville - not really doing very much.

Tooth beginning to hurt.

Weather warming up big time.

 

5 July, Wednesday Bellville to Briare, Canal Lateral a la Loire and Canal de Briare

Finally got myself away - it seems difficult to make the actual final decision to leave a place unless a firm decision and some sort of plan has been made the night before.

Enjoyed being on the move and uncluttered again, but this part of the Lateral itself is dull, bushy, and little to see from the boat.

However, although I have never done it, visits to the Round Lock, and to the short Embranchment de Chatillon - the old canal down to the Loire - should be made.   Why did I not do it?   Tunnel Vision, and tooth.   Having decided to get to Briare to-day, I seemed unable to think of anything else.

Must go next year!

Over the aqueduct into Briare - always a very impressive part of the trip - little Albert crossing the huge and lengthy "Pont de Canal" over the Loire right into Briare.   No pictures this year, I was a bit busy trying to see if anyone was coming the other way over the aqueduct - not uncommon, it is uncontrolled one way traffic. 

Lots of pictures in July 2002, when I had just got my Fuji didgy camera.   Talking of which - we took one of those Dixons insurances out to cover it for loss or repair.   This has paid for itself hands down several times over - quite early in the camera's life I dropped it down the steel companion steps of the boat, and on another occasion let it swing hard on it's strap against a drawer knob of my desk.   Both events were terminal, but the camera is still going more than strong.   It died once again last Christmas, and was repaired/replaced, and seems to be better than ever.   It has been back for repair at least 6 times - all free.

Tied up on "Commercial" jetty.   For a proportion of each month this belongs to hotel boats, and one has to go right round Briare, and down into the basin to the Port de Plaisance.   But I was lucky.

Lit out on bike to find dentist and explore.

Found dentist at mid-day.   Appointment arranged 1630!

Lunched and explored old canal up from Loire - the other "half" of the embranchement de Chatillon.   In the old days - like Decize now - all traffic had to go down into the Loire, and out again on the other side.   A no-no in times of flood, and very time consuming.   Hence building of the aqueduct, leaving the old canal to serve as water sports areas, moorings, access to the P. de P. and beauty spots within the town.   The river lock is still there, but not operable.  The dentist's surgery looks over one of the basins.

Went to dentist.  Took lots of X=rays and put them straight onto the computer screen in front of us.  Wanted to remove balance of tooth, couldn't glue crown back in (why not? - not enough original tooth?? but it's been like that for years), ground sharp edges, promised me no abscess or other problems, charged me €20.00!

 

6 July, Thursday  Briare to Rogny

Left Briare - having "shopped".   Intention to go into Rogny, explore, see Val and Geoff, then go up to the summit and stop over for 2 or 3 days in summit pound on beautiful mooring by top lock we enjoyed so much in 2002.

Set off up hill - automatic chain, only to be told by slightly aggressive female lock keeper that she would be turning the electricity off for lunch.   Some do this, some don't.   Seemed a bit childish, but there you go.

Through first 2, then 1145 and locks switched off.   Had own lunch - a bit crossly - then up to next.   Automatically let me in, shut gates, and then - equally automatically - did nothing.   The classic disaster scenario.   In bottom of lock, lock won't fill to lift me up, gates shut,  daren't climb ladder,  don't have tel no,  and tel won't work at bottom of 10 metre hole, anyway.   Just waited.

Eventually, scooter noises up top and lock filled.

Rest of flight ridiculous situation of boat going up automatic flight accompanied by L.K. operating the tirettes!   Obviously an unreliable flight, hence switch off at lunch time.   Probably job creation to keep unions quiet, as well.

Suddenly realised I was on the summit pound - my memory of relative position of Rogny and summit completely wrong.  Rogny is some 6 locks after the summit.   Was half asleep and enjoying the run at the time, anyway, so was past the spot I wanted to moor in before I realised I was there.

Tied up on canal moorings under trees just beyond Rogny.   These used to be town moorings, and except for the concrete built up part at beginning, where the hotel boats moored, free.

Length now taken over by slightly unfortunate couple who promise repairs, parts supply, chandlery, moorings with facilities, winterage, etc etc etc, but actually supply absolutely nothing - and reportedly even that they do badly or not at all, who demanded €12 for first night and half thereafter, to include electricity and water, neither of which were supplied - or even available.  Fatuous argument,  and price grudgingly halved first night to €6.oo for bog standard piece of canalside with dicey pegs in soft ground!   Boaters - Beware!!!   Should have made major fuss - these people are crooks - but am boating for fun, not to have wars all round the system.   Grin and bear it, warn everyone else, and don't come back.

 

 

 

7 July Friday in Rogny

Spent happy day wandering around Rogny - see photos.

Quite a historic spot with it's very old, but now unused, 7 lock staircase.

 

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8 July, Saturday Rogny to near Dammerie-sur-Loing

Very pleasant lunch with Geoff and Val in their quite charming cottage with they have and are renovating superbly.

Then off - quite pleased to be off the moorings - nasty atmosphere all round.

Then went on - only about 4 kms - to spot we used before.   Unfortunately, there was no great requirement then for shade, and once again I had details wrong - 4 years ago, after all.   Now sun is piercingly hot, although not out all the time, and shade vital.

Found reasonable bush mooring, but once again my B & Q hedge trimmer has given up the ghost, so improvements had to be done with hand sheers.  Hot!

 

9 July Sunday Dammerie-sur-Loing to Chatillon-Coligny Canal de Briare

Gentle wander through forested and bushy countryside.

Warm to hot - wanted to tie up at Chatillon Coligny - remembered very neat free mooring with all facilities -  but worried it might be too hot with heat coming in off high walls, etc.   

The last lock before Chat-Coll is the famous one where the L.K. rescued a rather scrubby length of mooring rope from the long grass where I left it 4 years ago, and returned it to me when we passed through 3 years ago.   Sadly, there are very few resident lock keepers now, out of season they look after 2 or even 3 mounted on a scooter or in a van, and in season temporary workers make up the bulk of them.

No problem, in fact - although there was enough breeze to keep it livable.

Moored up to the toilet holding tank pump out site at the bottom end of the jetty, exactly where we moored some 6 years ago.   I doubt the pump-out has been used in that time, as I believe there is only 1 other such establishment in France.

Met - re-met - Frank,  with his lovely and immaculate little Peter Nichols cruiser.

Up to the town - hadn't remembered it all to start with, but it, and it's dreadful 1 way system, quickly came back to me.