We moored up at the tranquil log pile just on the outskirts of Digoin.Although still warm and sunny the heavy coverage of dropped leaves tells us the Autumn is well and truly here.
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| Digoin mooring at the log pile |
We had organised it so that we had a few days at Digoin before Miranda arrived. This enabled me to bring the car down from Cours Les Barres, and then to take it down to Roanne so it would be waiting for us when we arrived.
When we wandered into town we found Derek and Erica on Star of Destiny moored just the other side of the lock. It was lovely to catch up with them and we headed into town for a yummy chinese lunch.
Captain Derek and his crew...the lovely Erica....and the star of the show...their Segar!
Skilful timing had Andrew arriving back from Roanne in Digoin just minutes before Miranda's train arrived from Paris....once again the French train system proves its reliability. We walked back to the barge along the tow path and through the Port....as the Canal du centre was closed the Port was rather empty...it is normally a bustling spot. We enjoyed the warm evening with drinks and dinner up on deck.. We left the next morning .....as usual the canal was covered in a dense layer of fog...finding the entrance to the Roanne Canal meant that we were almost at the turn before we could see it. Soon after the first lock the sun broke through the fog...it was a glorious day and we headed for our first stop...Chambilly. We had barely moored when Star of Destiny pulled in...they had left the day before to spend the night at Croix Rouige....more drinks on deck...gotta love the canal life.
The next morning was clear and sunny and we set off for Briennon...saw quite a few boats on the way but all were moored and enjoying the sunshine. We spent the next night at briennon...a first [and possibly last] for us as the church clock...rather near our mooring...rang the hours...every hour...all through the night...and just in case the first peal didn't wake us, the second one certainly did....we assume that you stop hearing it after a few days...but what a noise!
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| Our mooring at Briennon |
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| Canal de Roanne |
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| It must be time for coffee! |
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| Rounding up the Charolais |
Cowboys do in by van these days....the cows don't seem to mind.
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| Fixing up the canal banks |
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| The tranquil canal |
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| The crew! |
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| A new skipper |
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| Living the dream! |
And so into Roanne. It is a strange feeling to have finished such a terrific summer of cruising summer cruising. We were quickly moored up in our new berth.... we have moved to a very nice spot up near the capitainerrie. Much of the port is still empty...and looks so different...and with so many regular .barges not coming back this year we look forward to meeting lots of new folks Most of the barges will be coming in over the next few weeks.
We had a whole day with Miranda in Roanne - so whizzed around to a large supermarket, and a quick visit to Noz ( a sort of end-of-line warehouse...packed with all sorts of surprising things] in the morning, and then out to Chinese buffet lunch....as Miranda is a vegetarian, and French chefs cannot believe that everyone does not eat flesh our dining choices are limited, however the trusty Chinese comes into its own on these occasions. In the afternoon we went up to the Chateau de La Roche a vertiable fairy tale castle which is on a rocky outcrop in the Loire...normally it is surrounded by water right up to the causeway...but this year the water levels are way down...as clearly demonstrated in these pictures. It is no wonder that several canals have had to close early to conserve water.
The next morning we got up early and I drove Miranda into Lyon, to get the train to Paris. From there she headed off to London for the night and then onto New York. Lyon, Paris, London and New York within a day can't be bad!
