Histoire d'eau DIARY - September 2008

The weather has started to fall away, as sometimes is the case in September. We have had some days when it has rained all day. Fortunately it is not cold and we are still getting some sunny patches and pleasant evenings.

We arrived at Cours-les-Barres at about 5:50pm, having passed Sally & Foster (on "Vagabond") at Beffes. We moored up behind Anna's newly named boat - "Annabelle" (formerly "Severn Goose").

When "Vagabond" arrived we got together aboard Anna's boat and caught up with everyone. Anna was kind enough also to throw a dinner party for us all - including Rosie & Peter (from Marseilles-les-Aubigny) and Gordon & Gwyn from "Redquest".



Cours-les-Barres to Digoin: Thursday September 4th to Tuesday September 9th:

Another good trip along this part of the canal. Met up with Katinka & Scott from "Eendract" and Jean-Pierre & José from "J&J". We also had a great meal in Digoin at the Logis de France hotel called "Les Diligences" (means "Stagecoach", I think).



Paray-le-Monial: Wednesday September 10th to Saturday September 13th:

Paray this year has turned out to be a bit of an "eat & drink" fest! We met up again with Jean-Pierre & José and had a great lunch aboard "J&J" when they arrived. I had previously told José that I had never tried cheval (horse), even though when we lived in The Netherlands there were quite a few butchers who specialised in "horse". I explained that Pete refused to buy horse (she was into riding at the time). José told me that, similar to The Netherlands, there a number of "horse butchers" in Belgium (where they hail from), and that she would get some and cook it for me. Well, she did, and it was great. A stronger slightly gamier taste than beef, but to my mind very similar... and the Belgians can cook!

Katinka & Scott then also arrived and we had drinks in the evening aboard "Eendract". Simon and Mae caught the train up from Roanne the following day and we had lunch aboard "Histoire d'eau". This degenerated later into a long dinner, again onboard "Histoire d'eau" but supplied by José & Jean-Pierre. Simon & Mae stayed on and Scott & Katinka came over.

Liver intact (just) we had a rest day before Deb (Pete's sister) & Rod arrived the next morning by train from Paris (having flown in from Melbourne that day). Back at it - lunch at the "Trois Pidgeons" in town.

By now we needed some exercise; a long walk along the canal before dinner. Someone has to do it.

I was grateful for Deb bringing her computer, and even happier when our 3G card, which the thieves in Paris had missed, worked instantly and perfectly well when we plugged it into the computers USB port. We could now catch up on a few emails and do some Australian banking again.

The next morning we topped up with water and left for Génelard.


Génelard to Blanzy: Sunday September 14th to Tuesday September 16th:

Arrived at Génelard (7 locks, 20 kms, 4.5 hours later) in time for a walk arond town and a stretch of the legs. It was Deb & Rod's wedding anniversary that day, so we all shared a bottle of Champagne (or two).

We moved on to Montceau-les-Mines the following day, only spending one night there, and then on to Blanzy. This is where we picked up Chris & Sophie in 2004 when they joined us for a week. (Chris is Deb & Rod's son).

The weather has been fine, but has turned quite cold. Apparently drinking beer makes you forget how cold it is.






Blanzy to Santenay to Chagny: Wednesday September 17th to Sunday September 21st:

This stretch of the canal; we're now on the "Canal du Centre"; takes us through Montchanin and St. Leger-sur-Dheune and on to Santenay and Chagny, which are at the southern end of the famous "Côte d'Or" wine region (consequently the Champagne is thus graciously retired, and the local Pinot Noirs are brought out!).

We managed a good mooring at the quay in Santenay - not always easy to do as many boats seem to like to spend some time here. In fact, even though we have been here a number of times before and have tried to stay here, we have never before today been lucky enough to find any space on the quay. It is a great little mooring, sitting above the village of Santenay, about a kilometer away.

This area demands you visit at least one winery and have a least one burgundian meal at a local restaurant... so we did.

Had a good lunch at "Le Terroir" in the village square.

We moved on to Chagny after Santenay, only about 6 kms away, where we stayed for a couple of days. Unfortunately, this is where Deb & Rod leave us - on the train again back to Paris.






Chagny to St. Jean-de-Losne: Monday September 22nd to Saturday September 27th:

With Deb and Rod gone, our time in France for 2008 is rapidly coming to an end. The trip from Chagny to Fragnes, which is the last village on the canal before we break-out onto the River Saone, is only about 11 kms with 11 locks - just over 5 hours of cruising.

We spent three days in Fragnes, where the port has been greatly upgraded since we were last here. We were fortunate to catch up with Malcolm & Janet (on "Antonia"). They had American guests onboard and invited us over for a drink. Always a good night with these guys.

The trip from Fragnes to St. Jean-de-Losne is a little longer leg than we usually cover; being about 85 kms, but only having three locks (albeit very large river locks) and took us just over 7 hours.

St. Jean is our last port on the river, where we can catch up with a few people we know in the area and where we can buy a few things in town, before heading for our winter port.




St. Symphorien-sur-Saone: Sunday September 28th to Saturday October 4th:

Home port...

We are now tucked up and have winterized the boat in preparation for "Histoire d'eau sitting through a cold winter, 'til we arrive back again in 2009.

PS: if you're interested in seeing some photographs of the Gare d'eau in St. Jean in January, just click here .