2008

BACK TO CALENDAR 2008

3.4 31 Aug to 6 Sept 2008  

 

Last fiddled with 03 January 2009 and should be on axmw44.

 

To the Map on the Contents Page Just click on the words.

 

 

31 Aug 2008              Sunday                     in Artaix,                               Canal de  Roanne à Digoin, 

 

Decided to get down to it and find out why engine room floor keeps getting puddles.

 

Found!

 

Pushed and pulled bits connected with water cooling system resulting in whole - ostensibly bolted on - rear section of heat exchanger box on side of engine came away with balance of coolant.

All looked pretty terminal.

Shaken panic - things learned as bush mechanic in Africa do not train one to fiddle profitably with small marine diesels in Europe Inland waters some 40 years later.

Phillip, (Phillippe?)  next door boat, French/Belgian highly organised chap traveling, on his own, with boat, motor scooter and car (professed hobby as young man, charging around Europe in sports cars - usually English ones- that broke down regularly and had to be stripped and repaired road-side) - came and had a look and listened to my panic stricken moans.

Suggested further dismantling, to get bits that were rattling around loose inside out.

Rather unwillingly, and distinctly scared that I was about to make bad worse, gave it a go.    Would have enjoyed situation if not so fraught - tried to get Phillip to do it using body language to indicate inability whilst leaving clear path through to engine, tools, etc..   He wasn't having any - plenty directions - good ones too - but it was my problem.   One stage "listen to what I have to say, do not fiddle with engine while I am talking". 

Got it all out - problem was obvious.   2 little welds had broken, allowing several parts that should have been as one to separate.

Easy to re-weld (for a welder) but vital to get all lined up properly, or it would break again.

 

Phillip knew of suitable garage type general workshop repair establishment in Marcigny - about 3 kms back down canal and the same straight across country.   "I will meet you there outside Atac supermarket to-morrow 10 o'clock - not 5 too, and not 5 past", and take you to the repairer and arrange all there.

 

Magnificent - went to bed with an almost tranquil mind, it was going to work.

 

Took no photos of the "drama" - it was too series for that.    I was scared of putting the mokkers on, as well.

 

Heavy winds and rain storms in night - everything bunged up with dead leaves.

 

 

1 Sept 2008              Monday                     In Artaix                        Canal de  Roanne à Digoin, 

 

Woke full of energy!!

 

Pedaled off down to Marcigny to arrive some 45 minutes early - intentionally to combine supermarket visit.

 

Duly met Phillip at 10 o'clock - not 5 too, nor 5 past - and followed a short distance to garage/repair establishment.   M. le Patron summoned, and detailed discussion followed, some of which - especially the bits about how important it was that the welding should result in the bits all being exactly lined up and straight, I understood.

Not sure what the metal was - suspect stainless steel, no rust or nasty, but it had spent it's life in a cooling system and was only stained brown????

Anyway, after a couple of false starts, welding was completed, size and straightness were checked, very carefully, and completed job returned to me to be packed in ruck-sac along with lettuce and tomatoes.

Bill? What did I suggest?.   I suggested a sum.   M. le Patron said half that was more than adequate - I insisted on original sum - half for work done,  half for immediate completion!

All being satisfied, returned to boat, calling at Chambilly bakery on way back, and by lunch time engine was whole again.    Only snag, couldn't remember which way up it went  (it came out in bits, and was sort of cylindrical, but Phillip tried working it back to first principles and after further study, reckoned it wouldn't really matter!

Filled fluid, ran engine up to operating temperature, and marvels, engine all appeared happy and contented, leak proof and refused to get too hot.

Cleared up mess, cleaned out engine space floor, and sighed sighs of relief and hope for the morrow. 

 

2 Sept 2008              Tuesday,                  Artaix to Croix Rouge             Canal de  Roanne à Digoin,

 

Extremely pleasant gentle run through well remembered canal.   Only 2 days since I came down.

Watched engine temp gauge very carefully, and frequent forries down to see if any spare water around, or if water level was dropping.  Nil.

All extremely joyful.

 

Stopped in Chambilly for bread - there is an extremely extra good baker there, who doesn't seem to shut on Mondays or Tuesdays.

 

Sadly, couldn't just sit in lock like last time - boat coming up, so had to moor up in the basin.   Dreadful jetty here - high rough concrete, no bollards, specially designed to gronch Albert's sides hideously and completely.

Strong cross wind messing things, as well.

Managed to moor to basin side - sloping wall, and backed along and up to jetty,  using it as getting on and off point over Albert's stern.

 

Past "Wisteria Halte" - d'Avrilly - enormous run wild Wisterias all over everything since the garde keepers house was abandoned many years ago..        A favourite place of ours and definitely a ................  Cannot remember the word, (something like "pilgramage - but not that) but we always stopped here, and naturally stopped this time to look around although      

 

Used to have endless competitions to photograph the flowers if season right.     Now it has all been tidied up - march of the times?

 

Another very pleasant tranquil run along main portion of this delightful canal, reached Croix Rouge without pushing it, and stopped to have private celebration supper.   Pork Chops, Apple sauce (compôte des pommes), chips, salad with chunks of cheese in it as well as usuals.

3 Sept  2008         Wednesday    Croix Rouge to Paray le Monial   Canal de  Roanne à Digoin and Canal du Centre

Up to tee junction to join last 2 kms of Canal Lateral, past Sue in "Krells" who was occupying "my own"  little canalside mooring where they cut the firewood and  keep the grass down so it is easy to get at and moor to the steel piles.

Didn't stop - 1145 and wanted to catch the lock before 12 midday.   Never very sure who that lock belongs to - significance is that Canal du Centre do not stop for 1 hr at midday, the Lateral do.

Into outskirts of Digoin, moored up at the sign that says it is too shallow to moor here, and nipped up to baker - another very good - really good - baker, but Mme the Patroness is a bit sharp and gloomy. 

On to Paray after lunch, to do super market shop in big SM on outskirts of Paray.

After shopping, moored for night to roadside bollards overlooking Liddle.    Always used to have long discussions on suitability of this spot as a safe - from nasty people - mooring, and as to it's quietness.   In past days the old main trunk-road-almost-motorway ran right opposite alongside the canal, and mooring anywhere in Paray was horrid.   Road is now re-routed - 4 years ago - and all is much quieter.   As far as safety is concerned - have moored here several times - avoiding the actual seats and have had no problems.  It looks a bit scruffy, but doesn't appear to draw the town youth.

The P. de P at the end of town charges 7 Euros a night, and only offers the usual electricity and water.  If neither required, why go there?  It is, if anything, less secure, being a regular meeting place for lots of youngster on their scooters coming to gossip.  It is a gamble as to whether the Capitaine guy actually comes and collects the fees - he only seems to come 3 or 4 times a week, but there is no point in going in and risking it if facilities not required - so we didn't, but watched a simply enormous Dutch Barge - English Flag whom I had already met at the Supermarket, go in and fail to find a place.   

Significance - don't want him in front of me to-morrow, and he is, probably fortunately, far too big to share.    I don't mind wasting my own time myself - indeed enjoy it, - but am deeply resentful of having it wasted for me by other people.

Quiet night - deeply grateful at how well Albert went to-day.   Cool, quiet, and comfortable.   Also pleased at how little traffic now uses the road opposite at nights.

 

4 Sept 2008              Thursday                   Paray le Monial to Genelard.             Canal du Centre

 

Got away down to control lock at exit to Paray at just after 8.00.

 

Nothing moves before 9, but the thought of being blocked all the way down the Centre precluded any desire to sleep late.   Preferred just to sit and drift about outside closed lock, finishing breakfast.

In fact, L.K. arrived well up to time, and Albert was in lock by 08.55 -  saw huge Dutch barge just creeping round corner from P de P as we came up in the lock.

Relief.

 

Made good time, and had pleasant almost un-dramatic cruising up the Bourbince Valley through to Genelard.   Like this run - once again, pleasantly bucolic, and whilst undramatic - pleasing to the eye. 

 

Most locks on the Canal du Centre are now automatic, but there are still 3 or 4 manually operated.   It is the done thing, in some circles, to bemoan the installation of the new automatic kit, but personally I do prefer it.   It is some years since we lost the old system of each lock having it's own L.K living in the lock cottage right by the lock.   Various alternatives are being, or have been tried but really automation has got to be the only way ahead in this day and age when there can be no question of dedicated live ins..

. 

Duly found space in Genelard moorings - 1 only left, there were already 7 boats on the moorings - tied up and settled down.

Again - Albert's insides had behaved impeccably all day.

 

 

 

5 Sept 2008               Friday                     Genelard to Montchanin            Canal du Centre,

 

Away promptly again,  but again did the drifting about in lock entrance act - this time involuntarily.  

 L.K.s - 2 of them in one car -  arrived late, and asked me to wait further for "another boat".   Minor tussle, I knew there was no other boat - discussed  with other boats on the moorings going my way last night and knew both were coming through much later!

L.K.s went all round moorings trying to persuade moored up boats to come on through, but without success.

 

Eventually got away into gradually worsening weather.

 

Steady run up into Montceau.    It all appeared new to me, since it some time since did this section going uphill.

 

Telephone rang in middle of one of the frequent rainstorms - how does one handle a brolley, a tiller, a telephone, the throttle, and the entry into a lock all at once.   The telephone was to inform me that family is increasing world population by 1 in due course, so it was well worth it.

 

Through the big magnificent lift bridges in the  middle of town (love this bit), straight to le Klerk canalside just after.

 

Transferred 2 jerrycan fulls into boat's main tank and re-filled them at pumps.   Difference in price is 30 to 40 centimes a litre nowadays - 2 jerrycans = 40 litres, saving of 35 c over 40 litres is 14 euros, or about £12.00.   Slightly peeved at having to buy so much - left Decize absolutely full - so it seems we are using about a gallon, or 4.5 litres a day.

Decided against doing domestic shopping here - would have entailed unmooring and re-mooring further along opposite the shop itself, and last time I shopped here was not impressed.

 

Pushed on to Montchanin arriving about 6.00 p.m. onto the end of the bank by the VNF workshops,   Next to Phillip!   Genelard to  Montchanin is a long run to do in a day, and felt very happy to stop. 

 

Weather still very ordinary - gusting heavy rain showers.

 

 

 

6 Sept 2008               Saturday                  In Montchanin

 

Wind, rain, dry, sun, gossip.

 

Long day yesterday, so happy to do nothing.

Pictures:-   

Top Left                Artaix Halte - typical countryside beyond trees

Top Right                Digoin - Roanne Country  (Pity about the tel poles)

2 Centres                Wisteria Halte (d'Avrilly)

Left Middle             Over the End

Right Bottom            Downhill

Left Bottom             Canal du Centre