2008
 
BACK TO CALENDAR 2008   
     
3.3  24 to 30 Aug 2008
Last fiddled with 03 January 2009 and should be on axmw44.
 
To the Map on the Contents Page Just click on the words.
 
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24 August 2008              Sunday                           Decize  In Bassin de la Jonction                  Canal Lateral à la Loire
General fiddling about,  preparations and gossiping.   
Fun!
 
 
 
25 August 2008              Monday                          Decize   In Bassin de la Jonction                  Canal Lateral à la Loire
As yesterday
 
 
26 August 2008              Tuesday                         Decize to Beaulon                                        Canal Lateral à la Loire
We're off!  
Countryside, presumably after the wet summer, very green and lush.   Little sign of autumn unless searched for.   The small grain is off - gather the French just made it,  but the harvest season was disastrously rained in UK.
 
p8260090lunch_stop.jpg (235076 bytes)Described this section of canal several times before in various logs, so except to say the canal runs along beside and in the valley of the Loire until Digoin will leave detailed description.
Fair amount of agribusiness  - vast fields and incredible overhead sprinkler systems on wheels almost a km long irrigating maize - but not this year.
For the second time missed the stork's nest, that has been here since we've been coming over.   Know exactly what to look for, and where to look, there was even a young stork sitting on a tree, but no ways could I find the nest.   Do other people know something I don't know?
Beaulon mooring  jetty completely full with 2 large Dutch boats.   Hivered and hovered as to what to do, eventually moored across the end, got a chair and book out, and went in sulked in the shade for an hour. 
 
Finally made up extra my 40m cable with new caravan plug-ends - been carrying the cable for at least 4 years on it's original reel from B & Q or where-ever.
 
 
 
27 August 2008              Wednesday                    Beaulon to canalside PK 11                             Canal Lateral à la Loire
Still sulking a bit - for years have considered this mooring to be "mine",  presumably during that time have been lucky to have it to myself
Pushed off on the dot 0900.
Eventually ran out of energy - had hoped to make Digoin, or go down first 2 or 3 kms of Canal de Digoin à Roanne, but stopped 6 kms short of Digoin.
Moored up with brackets onto steal canal bank revets 
Waited - sweatily - for shade to arrive from trees on far side, but had miscalculated direction of movement of sun, so stayed warmish, although nights now cool.
 
 
 
28 August 2008              Thursday                       PK 11 to Croix Rouge            Canal Lateral à la Loire and Canal Roanne à Digoin
Turned off and pottered down to the little halte nowhere in particular, known as la Beaune or Croix Rouge.  
 
Stayed here frequently in the past and usually seem to meet somebody interesting - this time a South African couple from Cape Town who keep their boat in Roanne and re-met Phillip Bénard in a very pretty little schalk sort of boat with very turned up nose bows.   Many boaters will remember Phillip as lock keeper below Auxerre on the Nivernais  and as - with Joe Parfitt - one of the movers and shakers in the "Les Amis du Canal du Nivernais" and it's twinning  with the Kennet and Avon Canal in UK.  (www.nivernais.org)
 
Jetty at Croix Rouge is only just long enough for 1 boat (or 2 small ones), and the depth is too small for most people - includingp8290092.croix_rouge_dcnr.jpg (215611 bytes) Albert.   There is  a tiny shower block, with one tap set up for hose connectors, but need a long hose to water the boat.
 
Countryside is back to small fields, hedges around them, and white moos.
 
Had only decided to come down here at the last minute, as well forward of time required to get to the Soane by about the 10th to meet up with Australian friends in a hire boat.
 
Always liked the Canal Roanne à Digoin,  and just as happy as before to be back on it.   Always feel the whole area is somehow out of the mainstream of French Waterways, and is quiet and unconcerned as a result.   See they are just starting to put power onto one or two of the lock and gate mechanisms.
 
 
29 August 2008               Friday                          Croix Rouge to Artaix                                  Canal Roanne a Digoin
Still hot, but enjoyable run down partially remembered canal.  Very agricultural - small fields delineated with real hedges, as further back up the Lateral.
 
Into Artaix - probably my favourite or 2nd favourite, on whole system - so far.
 
Found South Africans, an huge Dutch Barge thing (English) and little cruiser - belonging to Phillip, of whom more later.   Had to do a bit of shuffling to get me in, but managed it and settled down after the usual committee meeting.
An electric point with 2 outlets has been tied to electric pole on road, but both occupied.   Was given an outlet by the Dutch Barge - having promised each other that we would not both switch on our kettles or microwaves at the same time.
 
Albert has taken to leaving pools of water on engine room floor and is running hot.   Have been running a bit faster than necessary - probably only natural impatience -  there is absolutely no need for extra speed.    Am trying to teach myself to be fairly rigid about it - it appears that Albert's hull speed through the water is 1 km per every 10 minutes, almost exactly.   Any increase in throttle setting - unless a fairly major one - has little effect on boat speed - just gets the engine hot and uses a lot more fuel.   It is, however, very difficult when running behind perceived schedule, or trying to get to a lock "in time",  to maintain patience and throttle setting.  Also habit - learnt to go fast last season and first half of this this in attempt to get to moorings out of the rain and dry off.  
Practicing going slow - furiously.
 
 
30 August 2008               Saturday                      In Artaix                                                     Canal Roanne a Digoin
Dutch Barge left, so transferred electrics to socket in shower - one I have always used.
 
Did washing, seemed to be a massive amount,  moorings almost surrounded by trees supporting lines of hanging shirts, pants, and shorts - all mine.   Fortunately weather fine.
 
Cycled down to epicerie in village - salads, veg etc. -, all the time trying to find something more important to look at than the water on the engine room floor.

 

 

Pictures:-   top left - lunch stop
         low right - Croix Rouge Halte