Cruising, friends and chateaus

After leaving the Roanne Canal we cross the Aquaduct across the Loire into Digoin.

I did discover that it is not that easy to hold a camera recording a video whilst steering across an aquaduct!

After a couple of days in Digoin we headed into Paray and collected the car from Roanne. This gave us a chance to catch up on our shopping, and of course go out to a vide grenier or two. We visited one at Paray airfield where they had a display of vintage planes and cars....they also offered flights in vintage planes for just 35euros...not for us, both not good with heights.

these look just a little flimsy for flight methinks!

The vintage motorbikes drew happy 'bikkies'

Am sure somebody will recognize exactly the year and brand of this beauty.

Fancy this stylish ride?

Lots of 2 cvs and a renegade MGB

Then onto Genelard where we were looking forward to catching up with Mark and Mary.

Whilst the canals are very quiet with not many boats around, we shared Genelard with four other Aussie boats. One night we had an impromptu dinner on deck which was great fun.

Mark and Mary arrived but could only spend a night with us as they needed to get up to St Julien Sur Dheune to pick up some guests. Mark worked his vegetarian magic with a seafood and pasta dinner...and of course there were gin and tonics. A warm and clear night under the trees, part of the ongoing charm of Genelard. We were delighted to catch up with their newish poodle, the well named Saga.

Nooit Waalmacht arrives.

Now thats what we call a Captain!

And off they go.

After some very strange weather, rain and more rain right through June and into July, it has now turned really hot, seeing us on our comfy chairs under the trees, and a run of the bedroom aircon at bedtime - delicious!

Genelard has Bastille eve fireworks. They set the fireworks off over the port and we were asked to reverse back a few hundred yards.

Car and barge nicely side by side.

For a small town they do a terrific fireworks.

A band and a buffet (and of course a bar) to watch the fireworks

A grand finale with music and a huge burst of fireworks.

Temporary mooring to miss the fireworks

We did an outing to visit the Chateau de Dree which is near Charolles - home of the Charrolais cattle and only a short drive away.

The chateau is currently owned by Mr Preufot, who has spent a fortune making it look fantastic.When he purchased the property in 1996 it had been completely stripped of fixtures and fittings. He then scoured antique shops and auctions to get the right style and vintage of furnishings. The result is a house that looks as if most things were original to the house. He uses part of one wing as a holiday house and comes down for the month of August. Not a bad pad.

It started as a two wing hunting lodge, and has been added to over the years to make it a truyt grand Chateau.

Laurel tries the portico on for size! Fits nicely she thinks.

This room is stunning,blues,yellows and delicate furniture.

Only the delicate plasterwork on the ceiling is original.

The formal dining room set for a simple supper

This carpet was recreated, thousands of knots per square metre. All hand made....in China. The craftwork is stunning, a credit to all those who spent a full year to make it...all by hand. It was the only place that could produce it in less than 5 years, at a price that was 'affordable'

The modern kitchen, based on the style used at the end of the 19th century. Includes plate warmers, a slow cooker oven that used just embers to give a constant heat. Four different sorts of ovens....meat,bread, cakes and general.