26/06/2010 47:01:54N 03:01:99E
09:30hrs slipped the moorings at Cours les Barres and headed for what
we thought was to be a major problem, the huge double lock at les
Guetin. It raises boats 9.23 metres! We had prepared with extra long
ropes and to our pleasant surprise it was really easy. The lock keeper
was helpful and he kept the inrush of water down to a minimum which
meant we were not bounced all over the lock. As we rose majestically
above the surrounding countryside we could see that the dutch in “Bella
Vista” and the English couple in “Zuiderdiep” had caught us up and were
waiting for the lock to re-cycle. We left the lock and travelled across
the Loire in an aquaduct. It is a very strange experience to travel in
a boat across a huge river and you are doing it about a fifty feet up
in the air. At 12:30hrs we stopped for lunch at the cruiser hire place
at Plagny. Then we carried on, turning down the side canal that leads
to the Port du Plaissance at Nevers. As we went through the lock at
the entrance to the small canal we met up with a huge flat barge
converted to be propelled by paddles driven by tourists sitting in
buckets seats pedalling furiously. There must have been over thirty
people of all ages taking part and having great fun. We tied up on the
pontoon in marina at 17:00hrs, having covered 25 kilometres and passed
through 5 locks. We then cycled two kilometres to a supermarket and
bought provisions and a 12 volt fridge that was on offer. Brilliant
perhaps we can now have cold beers, a luxury we have not enjoyed on
board since our old fridge gave up the ghost. Later the two cruisers
“Bella Vista” and Zuiderdiep arrived and tied up nearby. Today has been
a real scorcher.
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