2008

BACK TO CALENDAR 2008

 

 

 3.7_21 to 27 September 2008

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

21 Sep 2008              Sunday                     Ciry to Génelarde                                      Canal du Centre

Pleasant half morning's run - deservedly so, as I forgot my traditional boiled egg for breakfast.   

 

I do like this canal!

 

Very surprised to find Génelarde once again full.   Suspect at this time boats that have their winter moorings on a monthly basis from October on are inclined to hang around on the free moorings doing winter jobs before taking up those moorings.   Been quite surprised at how full all the recognised moorings (especially those supplyimg free water and electricity) have been on this trip for the last 4 weeks - mostly seem to be Brits, and plenty of them.

 

Intended to stay for 2 or 3 days just for a bit of doing-nothing, so needed facilities (water and electricity).   

 

The paragraph is essentially uninerestesting, except to a boat actually going there - I put it in for my own future reference!

 

The grass side of the basin - which has 1 electric point with 4 X 16 amp outlets,  was host to 3 largish boats - all looking very permanent - on the vertical concrete wall part.   The sloping length was free, and  1 electric point was available.

On the gravelly side - again 1 point with 4 electric outlets - 2 X 16 amp, 2 X 32 amp - there were only 4 boats and lots of space, but both the 16 amp electric points were occupied, and although the large 32 amp sockets were vacant, I don't, as yet, have a 32 amp plug.   Went on internet, and discovered the units used here are all made in UK.   Found the manufacturers.

Didn't realise about the power points on the gravel side - never been enough boats to make it an issue when Albert has moored here before -, so tried there first, but considerable antipathy when it was clear I wanted electricity.  People are very possessive and no suggestion of sharing power points was made - very silly - I carry a 3 way gang socket and 2 camping pigtails just for this sort of occasion, have often used them, and never yet have I experienced the fuse going from overload!  But more, later on this.   In passing - back some weeks,  chap with enormous Dutch Barge at Artaix on the Digoine-Roanne canal was happy to plug me into his boat, so that we shared - no probs at all.

 

Went back over onto sloping length on the grass side, and, for the first time this season had to put out the ladder gang planks to keep Albert from creeping up onto and sticking at a quaint angle on the sloping concrete every time the water level changed when the lock was emptied, or the downstream one filled,  They also make for easier embarking/disembarking by the elderly - but are reasonably fiendish and back damaging things to deploy!!   Managed a thoroughly comfortable and safe moor up, eventually, even borrowing next door's hose (had met him at Montchanin 3 weeks ago when his steering stopped taking  him to where he wanted to go) to water up.

 

22 Sep 2008              Monday                   In Génelarde                             Canal du Centre

Masterly inactivity.

 

23 Sep 2008              Tuesday                   In Génelarde                             Canal du Centre

This is a very important date.

 

General pull out first thing of other boats, leaving space and electricity and vertical wall on gravel side.   Moved over forthwith, so could depart to-morrow without last minute tidying up of roof top, and bits and pieces that all live on the ladders.   Managed to extend this operation to fill the morning more than adequately.

 

In evening small boat full of Australians arrived needing electricity, so arranged to test my split supply gadgetry (all the bits are professional and or domestic items bought in a supermarket) in anger.   Both of us plugged in to the one outlet, turned on everything in both boats -  in Albert I had an oil filled radiator on max, the mains battery charger, lights, the lot,  and asked him to do the same (he had similar kit).   He did - no probs.   Put kettle on, still no probs!   He didn't have a kettle.   However, having said all that, the French system of protecting their electrical outlets is a bit quaint, at times.   If one overloads any 1 of the four or more circuits in or on a distribution point, the whole point goes phut, the mains power to the entire point is cut off,  and frantic searches have to made to find the main distribution board, and then probably the bloke from the mairie has top be called, who is the only one with a key.   The circuit breakers "protecting" each socket outlet appear to be stronger than the main circuit breaker protecting the whole unit.   

 

The picture is not for entertainment - just for reference when I cannot find the original, and want to buy the equivalent plug fitting in UK.   (The handkerchief is to hold it at the right angle for photographing)

 

 

24 Sep 2008              Wednesday               In Génelarde       Canal du Centre

Stayed 1 extra day, as thick fog delayed morning departure on 3rd day till mid-day, and hate starting in the middle of the day.

25 Sep 2008              Thursday                  Génelarde to Paray le Monial          Canal du Centre

Enjoyable run, described here-in several times before.   Think the significance is the lack of trees and bush along the canal sides, so one can see everywhere, and one feels very much part of the open countryside, and outlook is not confined in one's own corridor.  

Along here life can be exciting.    The road keeps to the line of the original towing path, and bits of it are quite busy.   Hence, when going in this direction - i.e. north, - and one is keeping to the right or close to the road barrier, on a right hand corner one can be faced with a south bound lorry - also keeping to his right - bearing down in an extremely threatening manner.   If attention to steering has wandered, this can be quite terrifying.

Stopped off again in Digoin for bread - moor up at the signs painted on the canal wall warning of depths .40 to .80 metres depth.  lk back to the bridge, turn left, and look about 100 yds up on the right.   Very very nice bread - really nice bread, but madame is a bit ????  Even so - well worth stopping off for it.

On to Paray in the afternoon, where, once again, eschewed P de P costs, going up into the town a bit, opposite the road, as before.   Noticeable how quickly it gets dark after mooring up, tidying up, and sitting and thinking for a bit.   

Did a quick dash to Lidls, but more for interest than with intent - they do quite a good line in small - genuinely waterproof - plaster dressings, but in general boat is extremely well stocked.     There is a lot to be said for the "siege mentality" that I appear to have developed in the past 3 years.

26 Sep 2008               Friday                      Paray to Pierrefitte

 

Still fun - 4th time along here this year, following lots of times in recent years.   It is probably arguable that there are better things to do than sitting on hard wooden seats in the open on the back of a narrow boat travelling along canals traversed many times before - but I cannot think of any.

 

 

27 Sep 2008               Saturday                  Pierrefitte to Beaulon

As above - into favourite mooring, to find just 1 hire boat type cruiser on jetty.

Jetty heavy timber rubbing straikes had fallen off, but made with a piece of cord to reconnect them, so Albert protected from the long bolts that are always left and stick our quite horrendously on these occasions.   Remember, there was a span of VNF lads repairing this very jetty, and renewing this timber when we called here at Easter - but they clearly did not finish.

Pictures:-   

Top right - Génelarde early a.m.

Top left - canal reflections (I have thousands of these - cannot resist taking them)

Mid right  -  Opposite Albert's moorings, at night - Paray le Monial

bottom left  -  bucolic Canal Lateral a la Loire.

Bottom right   - Ultimate gongoozla.   Arrived on back of Ma's bike (see shadow near bows) and was curiosity on 2 feet.   Gave them prints up at the lock - screams of joy!