Underway for the season

We headed off with no real plan for the year.  We thought that we might only do a short cruise this season, and then leave the boat in Roanne and do some exploring of other places in Europe - our current thoughts are to visit Berlin and Prague.

After a night in Briennon we headed to Melay.   However whilst we were there the lock at Bourge le Compte broke, and we ended up staying for 3 weeks until it was fixed.  However we were not lonely, lots of folks came to call and Brian and Mary bought Kyrennia up...so we joined them for a lunch at a little Melay cafe.  Katinka and Scott come to visit on Eendracht, as they took guests for a short cruise.

                                             Home for almost 3 weeks.

Eendract rafted against us for the night,

Scott always said his was bigger!

After a couple of nights at Digoin at the log pile, we headed off to Paray Le Monial.  This is a lovely town and one of our favourite stops. We visited the ceramics museum that also had a Laguile knife exhibition.

Part of  the exhibition ...it was huge.

The steps in knife and spoon making.

Now thats a knife!

Mark and Mary came up to Paray, and Brian and Mary were in Digoin, So we picked up Brian and Mary in the car all got together for a Chinese buffet.

Seems just like old times!

Brian and Andrew wonder it they could go just one more round.

Then on to Genelard, where we caught up with Debbie and Randy. The Port which had been almost empty  few days earlier was packed. The locks ahead were having problems and boats were holding back. We changed moorings until we finally got this one...thanks to Mark and Mary setting sail early one morning.

Ahhh, the serentity.

Barges and boats bumper to bumper, and all had to pull back for the fireworks on Bastille Eve.Except for us...on the other side....right in the firing line...great view BUT we did have buckets of water ready!

Over the years we have made three or four attempts to visit the Chateau de Digoine. It has been recently sold and has been renovated. So at long last it reopened and we toured the stately rooms, and walked the gardens.

No photos allowed inside but it was well worth the visit.

For some reason Genelard has a Reggae festival, which was small but quite fun.

These children are wondering what a 'good vibration' is.

Mark and Mary very kindly invited us for dinner and we were able to admire their wonderful Vide Grenier purchases. Mark is known for his ability to hunt down the unusual and the beautiful....we cite Mary as a classic find!

A beautiful lady

Stylish stove

And the clock that says it all...what a find!