30/06/2010 46:42:76N 03:36:92E
Slipped the moorings at Gannay at 09:30hrs in company with a French
Canadian, called Claude in his cruiser (like a Norfolk Broads
flatter-float) called “Finalite” . He has had a boat on the French
canals since 1999 (therefore he is a mine of useful information).
Unfortunately his Wife is not as enthusiastic and only stayed one month
this year. He is therefore thinking of selling the boat, shame it is a
lovely. 12:30hrs stopped at Beaulon for lunch, Claude supplied, table,
table cloth, glasses and a bottle of wine. (What a nice chap!) 17:30hrs
stopped with Claude at Pierrifitte-sur-Loire which has a huge fresh
water lake a short distance away. It has been so hot today that all
three of us walked over to lake and had a long relaxing swim (and a
cool off). After dinner the three of us sat under the shade of a tree
and put the world to rights. (a shame it is not as easy to do it in
reality). A beautiful sunset developed which Claude said he would love
to photograph, but he lost his camera by leaving it in a hire car a
while ago. I tried winding him up about it but he is just too laid
back. Today we covered 33 kilometres and passed through 8 locks (all
without any dramas!)
01/07/2010
09:30hrs slipped the moorings and pottered along in company with Claude
in “Finalite” until we were about a kilometre from the lock at Dijoin
and then Claude realised that we would have to speed up to get into the
lock before it closed for lunch at 12:00hrs. (lock keepers refuse to
interrupt their lunch for anything or anyone!) Rather than wait for an
hour we opened the throttles and fairly flew up to the lock, arriving
with a minute to spare, Phew! Stopped in the Port du Plaissance in
really hot and humid weather. After lunch Maureen and I cycled over to
a camp site where we had arranged to meet Maureen’s Sister, Elizabeth
and her husband, Ron who had pitched their touring caravan there.
Having helped them set up camp they then cycled back to the boat and
then we tried to find somewhere nice to eat, finishing up in a very
snooty and expensive restaurant. The service was abysmal and the meat
like leather. Needless to say no monetary tip was left, but I wanted to
give the waitress two tips, Smile and change the butcher. However
Maureen wouldn’t let me.
02/07/2010 Dijion
10:00hrs Elizabeth and Ron picked us up their car a took us out
sightseeing for the day. We intended going to Chateau Dree so off we go
being guided by the onboard satnav, towards the village of Dree. After
travelling for 1.5 hours we still hadn’t found the chateau we checked
the tourist guide and found the chateau was close to Dijoin! A further
hours driving corrected the mistake and we had a very enjoyable visit
looking at a beautiful house set in a vast well maintained garden.
Looking through the interior of the house, the guide informed us that
there were three kilometres of hand-made curtains and the huge
patterned carpets containing 215 colours in each had been hand-made in
China. Needless to say lots of photographs were taken. We returned to
their campsite and had a very nice meal under the shade of a tree,
overlooking the Loire. Not only did we have a nice meal but so did the
mosquitoes! We cycled back to boat at 22:30hrs, played cards until it
cooled down sufficient that we did not melt. The cabin was so hot
having been shut up all day.
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