Seaape's travel log
Seascapes Travel Log
Michael Grew
Thu 19 May 2011 17:41
Tournus 17.05.2011. 46:43:74N 04:54:84E
Left the moorings at Pont de Vaux at 09:05hrs and very slowly and gingerly made our way towards the marina exit, waving goodbye to Robin and Madeline on âHoneysuckleâ as we passed by. Then into the canal that leads to River Saone. I was taking it very slowly as the depth of the canal is recorded as only 1.2metres and there had been a long dry spell with no rain at all. ( The Seadog draws 1.2metres) Last year when we came into Pont de Vaux we rubbed along the bottom virtually full length of the canal ( thatâs 3 Kilometres) The other concern was that because not only is it shallow it is narrow as well and if we were to meet another vessel going the other way one of us would probably run aground. As it turned out when we did meet another boat it was in the bit of the canal that widens out (Phew!)/ Having successfully operated the electric lock, we passed out into the River Soane which was practically deserted apart from a lone fisherman in a small dinghy that was moored by the bridge. We turned North and went upstream against a mere 2 knot current. (We had been concerned that the Soane could be swollen with snowmelt and then the current runs at over 8 knots) We stopped at Tournus town quay, arriving just as a large cruiser was leaving, very lucky, the quay is very small and spaces are at a premium normally. Our lines were taken by an English guy who had been moored two boats down from us in Pont de Vaux.Had lunch in bright hot sunshine sitting in the cockpit whilst watching the world go by. In the afternoon we went for a wander around the town, calling in at the ironmongers ( I forget the French for it!) and bought some yacht varnish and the supermarket to buy the makings of the evening meal. We thought we would have to purchase very small amounts of perishable foodstuffs because the new fridge I installed in October to replace the useless electric cooler box, didnât seemed to be working. The heat exchanger in the back would get very hot and stink the boat out with the smell of burning paint, but flatly refused to cool the inside of the cabinet. However when we returned after our walk, the cabinet was cold and the ice tray had frost on it!! Thank goodness, we can now have cold drinks and solid butter. During the afternoon one of the local hire boats arrived with two Australian couples on board, I helped them tie up. After dinner we played cards until it got too dark, then turned in to read in bed.
Tournus. 18.05.2011. 46:43:74N 04:54:84E
Awoke to another glorious sunny morning. Had breakfast in the cockpit and afterwards I started rubbing down the rest of the rubbing strake varnish whilst Maureen went off to the shops. I then put the first coat of varnish on the port side. Looks much better! The Australians came along and had a chet (chat) they then went off into town to visit the cathedral. We lazed around in the sun reading waiting for the varnish to dry. While were having lunch in the cockpit the Aussies came back and had another chet. They intended going on down to Pont de Vaux but we suggested that they go and visit the old hospital in Tournus before they left as there is not a great deal to see in Pont de Vaux, but probably worth a lunchtime stop. It would be an easy trip back from there to Croisery, where they have to leave the boat at the end of their charter, tomorrow. They took our advice and walked back into the town. I put on the second coat of varnish on the rubbing strake. The sun was very hot so it wasnât going to take long for that to dry. While were eating dinner in the cockpit a huge double barge came steaming up the river creating a huge wash that caused our boat to surge violently, pulling out the screws that secure the stern fairlead to the thwart and bending the metal fairlead. B*****d!!! Luckily we didnât lose it overboard. Yet another job to deal with. Spent the evening playing cards.
Tournus 19.05.2011. 46:43:74N 04:54:84E
Awoke to the sound of rain pattering on the coachroof. That should help a bit to raise the water levels. After breakfast I felt a bump on the boat as though someone came on to our deck. I looked out of the cabin but couldnât see anyone and thought no more about it. Shortly afterwards the Aussieâs boat left to go down river. A few minutes later I went up into the cockpit and found a bag with two croissants in and message from the Aussies thanking us for the advice we had given them. I wish we had taken the trouble to see them off now! But it was raining particularly hard then (thatâs my excuse anyway). I finished off reading my book (the second so far!) and Maureen continued with her knitting and the rain continued to fall. By the time lunch finished it started to brighten up so we decided to continue our journey northwards up river. As we were preparing to leave one of the hire boats went past going upstream. Terrific that meant if we got a move on and followed him we would be able to get into the lock together. Lock keepers (eclusiers) are a very environmentally conscious lot (or are they just plain lazy?) and insist on trying to fill a lock with boats before operating their gates. Knowing the next lock was a huge one it was important to go in with someone else. We made into the lock behind the hire cruiser and tied up, but then had a ten minute wait whilst a large tourist barge loaded with day trippers joined us. The barge came alongside us and a few hundred photographs were taken of âSeascapeâ I did think of signing a few autographs. As the lock was filling up I called to the captain of the barge and offered to let him go first. He grinned and said we should go first as it would make it easier for his female helms(woman). I said âThank you, I realise you have a broad beamâ he pointed to his helms(woman) and said âHer?â If looks could kill he would be dead. We carried on upstream into weather that looked more and more threatening. As we approached Chalon sur Saone down came the rain in stair-rods and there were a few streaks of lightening. I think must be the norm for Chalon. Last year we had violent thunderstorms here. However by the time we got into the marina the rain had stopped and we were able to moor up in the dry.Then up to McDonalds for our evening banquet whilst using their free WiFi facility.
Michael![:-)]()