Last fiddled with 03 January 2009 and should be on axmw44.
14 Sep
2008
Sunday
In
Fragnes
Canal du Centre
Sunny, but cool, and lots of cloud.
Windy.
Fragnes moorings and surrounds.
When we first started coming here, nice quiet mooring with a water and
electricity point, and dreadful white gravel by the jetty. 
This
explains the 2004 photo showing Albert moored off the end on the
grass, but still within
reach
of the
electric power. We used to have to cycle off to the local
township for bread, etc, and the nearest shopping was Chalons (I think), or
the odd shop in an industrial township across the valley.
Now we have a high class restaurant on site, a
(very good) boulangerie, an info/tourist centre, a weak WiFi
connection, as well as the
rather strange empty roofed structure (which is still there, off to the left
of the 2004 photo), where noisy kids are inclined to
congregate. We also have lots of boats competing for space on the
moorings,
and this, apart from the price - 6 euros -, is why I spent several nights
last week comfortably all on my todd 300 metres further on down-canal in deep water
with steel piled sides.
Received a text message "Turning into Canal du
Centre". Hurrah - Australian friends on their
way. Delighted - apart from going to be super to see them, there
seemed to have been so many possibilities, including the most dire weather
and breakdowns, for a general shamboliering of "arrangements" for
a meeting of 2 lots of thoroughly independent people, on 2 different boats from 2 different countries,
from 2 different continents, half a world apart, on a third country's waterways, that the
chances of a
c.u. were ultra good.
Had 
taken a chair and was sitting in the sun
waiting for them to heave into view, but got distracted and took chair back
to boat.
Then they arrived, so moored them up just off "payant"
moorings, and settled in to talk.
Still talking when assembled in their boat for a lovely properly cooked
and properly presented dinner.
15 Sep
2008
Monday
In
Fragnes
Canal du Centre
Visitors decided to go up the Canal du Centre a little way rather than wander
down the wide - and at this stage - slightly dull R. Saône, so they beetled off
up the hill. A good idea.
Personal administration for the day - in other
words very busy day doing absolutely nothing, except vague preparations for
heading back over the top in general direction of Montchanin, and eventually
Decize.
16 Sep 2008
Tuesday
Fragnes to Pont de Cheilly Canal du Centre
Getting ready to go when Bill showed up on bike
- boat
stuck in the lock and he had been sent to get the bread. Lock had the
dry heaves
and wouldn't work.
Had quite a few duff ones myself on the way
down. Wonder if maintenance at this end is taking too second
place to the extensive development work being done up between Montceau and
Digoin with all locks being automated in the near future.
There are only 2 or 3 left on manual even now.
When L.K. fixed lock, said final good byes, and
started off up at about 10.00 after they left to go down.
Bright sunny day - but strong wind from N.
West. Find it
difficult driving accurately in following wind! Cold.
Very fond of this length of canal - across river plain to the hills always
visible in the distance. Good views ahead, and better behind.
Through locks as before - drive to far right
corner - seems a special effort has been made to put tirettes right in the
most inaccessible part of the lock, just under the waterfall from leaking
gates in a dark corner. Put bow well right beside tirette,
gallop forward through boat, and grab horrid slimy blue rope of
tirette. Pull hard and watch closely bottom gates. On the
slightest movement of gate or of linkage - or even just a groan, gallop back through boat, hit
reverse, and scuttle to rear of lock, straighten up, settle down, and
concentrate.
For the record - on this section, amongst 11
locks, between lock 34, Fragnes, and Chagny, there are five 5 metre locks out of the
11,, all with "ground
paddles". i.e. water comes in all along and below 1 side of
the lock more or less at the same time and quite vigourously.
All these 5 have floating bollards. Of the 5, 4 of them let the
water in on the bollard side, nos 24, 25, 27 and 32. No 28's
comes in on the left. Both 24 and 32 are inclined to change
direction when the lock is half full and take the boat across. I
don't understand this, but find so long as the boat is kept accurately
parallel with the lock wall, she just goes quietly across and leans against her
fenders on the other wall without drama. These locks are quite vigorous, but in no way vicious. However, I speak from a narrow
boat weighing 12+ tons, with nice long straight sides.
In Chagny, reached in time for late lunch, delighted to re-find the Cowleys
in Danum - 4 years - lovely to see people like this after so long. Quick
coffee visit after lunch then on to intended target - Santanay.
Wanted to go down to town to-morrow. However, halte completely
occupied with full sized hotel boat, and sort of large house boat.
Thought
of putting pins out, and mooring up
with them, but do not trust pins at best
of times, and this is a narrow bit of canal with a lot of traffic, and no
ways could I leave Albert and go down to the town.
Pushed on after 15 minutes of dithering, target being little jetty with
bollards seen 2 kms further up whilst coming down.
Canal seemed to go on forever (end of day syndrome), and wasted time twice
trying to get Albert into the side and moor up to revettes. Just
not quite deep enough - could force our way in, but boat lies at an
uncomfortable angle, and if level drops, can't get off.
Gave up Santenay project, and
went for jetty at Pont de
Cheilly. Very nice safe mooring, but the road rejoins the canal
about 1k back, so lot of traffic noise. Having said that - at
dusk - 1830 - the traffic ceased completely. This spot's claim
to fame appears to be where the cyclists come in their cars, and charge off
down the towing path on their bikes or roller blades - feasibly to Chalon sue Saône
Nice peaceful, quiet, night, all on my own.
17 Sep 2008
Wednesday
Pont de Cheilly to St-Bérain-sur-Dheune halte
Canal du Centre
Very cold night - almost frost, but early morning indicated a sunny day.
Booked to go on - necessary to arrange with L.K. onwards passage through
their locks either individually, or by ringing Montceau les Mines.
Particularly here - new section starts above Chagny. Find the
ringing simplest - can change mind over night, or be really late - or early.
Stopped off in St-Legers-sur-Dheune for chemist (English pills
finishing) and S.M. Out of fruit and loo paper.
Plugged in electricity - almost as an afterthought - and slightly brisk
gentleman in Locaboats fancy-dress came by wanting to know my intentions!
Don't really like these moorings where the hire company runs them "on
behalf" of the local commune. Anyway, hadn't
got not any - that foxed him.
Pushed off 1630 aiming for the little stop at St-Bérain-sur-Dheune
where we often stopped in the past, including myself on the
trip down last
week - some 6 ks and 2 locks - did not feel like any more
nights spent amongst the maddings - really enjoyed last night's peace and
privacy, and wanted more.
At St L sur D Slightly startled, when went and offered to pay for 4 hours
electricity at the hire base - Locaboats - at St Leger sur Dheune, to be charged €2.50
rather abruptly, with no receipt on offer.
Had only plugged in while shopping and eating lunch - don't really know why!
Pleasant afternoon run up to St-Bérain,
through totally rural bucolic country, and joys - mooring
was empty. Although it is right opposite road, and has no
facilities, it is quite popular - straight wall, deep water, and bollards.
Managed to spend usual inordinate time faffing over moorings, unmooring,
changing mind re-mooring and thinking again.
Seem to have got resistant to traffic noise - Albert is fairly noise proof
when shut down anyway, and roads are quiet after dusk.
L.K. drove up in little white van to
enquire future intentions
- quite startled when heard I intended to go exactly nowhere
to-morrow. Gave me a good tip - follow the dirt road through the
trees to the village - +/- 1 km - all shopping in village/town! In
my case - fresh bread and pastries.
18 Sep 2008
Thursday
In or On St-Bérain-sur-Dheune halte Canal
du Centre
Pleasant
day doing little or nothing, and sitting in the weak sunshine doing it.
Joined on the moorings in the evening by one of
those red plastic boats a bit like the Snailey boats, that look as
though they
were taken straight from the hot mold and dropped on the water,
so their whole body sagged outwards a bit before cooling and hardening.
Great fat hips and shoulders.
Slightly irritating - they ran a motor generator
from time of arrival until 8.00 p.m. Maddening noise - really
quite quiet, but very intrusive in peaceful rural setting.
Otherwise spent the day busily achieving not a lot but enjoying doing it
- or not doing it.
Lovely.
19 Sep 2008 Friday St-Bérain-sur-Dheune to
Montchanin Canal du Centre
Cold, clear, and still.
Red Plastic boat wandered off up-canal at
0915, so Bromptoned to village/town for bread at end of track to use up at least 30
mins.
Pleasant day unstressedly "going up
the hill" - had to wait at first lock - but worth it to be
"tout seul"!..
Enjoyed the hotel boat - joy of automatic
locks, they (the locks) don't know the difference between "commercials"
that have right of way
over us lesser mortals. Disadvantage
- entire clientele disembarked and stood in a row along the side of the
lock watching and commenting on me. Lots of the inevitable
"how did you get her across here?"
Stopped for lunch in the little halte at St
Julien. Still unable to replicate the 2000 photo of Albert
on this mooring before they cut all the trees down, and when he/she
(Albert) was clean, neat and tidy. There is always another
boat there. Did you bring her across the
Channel? Of course we did - there is no other route.
In the spring I listed the 5 metre locks in
the flight from St Julien to the summit, and from which side the water
rises through ground sluices, except no 4, which I had forgotten.
The answer is it comes up on the left -
opposite the floating bollards.
This
explains the 2004 photo showing Albert moored off the end on the
grass, but still within
reach
of the
electric power. We used to have to cycle off to the local
township for bread, etc, and the nearest shopping was Chalons (I think), or
the odd shop in an industrial township across the valley.
taken a chair and was sitting in the sun
waiting for them to heave into view, but got distracted and took chair back
to boat. 
and wouldn't work.
of putting pins out, and mooring up
with them, but do not trust pins at best
of times, and this is a narrow bit of canal with a lot of traffic, and no
ways could I leave Albert and go down to the town.
trip down last
week - some 6 ks and 2 locks - did not feel like any more
nights spent amongst the maddings - really enjoyed last night's peace and
privacy, and wanted more. 
were taken straight from the hot mold and dropped on the water,
so their whole body sagged outwards a bit before cooling and hardening.
Great fat hips and shoulders.
mins.
over us lesser mortals. Disadvantage
- entire clientele disembarked and stood in a row along the side of the
lock watching and commenting on me. Lots of the inevitable
"how did you get her across here?"
t
ain't.
Much
Puzzled by this - see language of notice board.
Who
does what, to whom, and in which direction?
