The Hewitts barging in France 2010 - 2017: September 2013

After a lovely relaxing month we headed south on our way home.As the weeks went by we noticed less and less boats passing, the locks north of Montargis up to the Seine are being automated this year and long closures were expected and this was certainly reflected somewhat in the ebb and flow of boats, but still there were many fewer on the water than when we where here last in 2011. Finally came the 1st of September, time for us to start the return journey. We did a little cruise and arrived at Montbuoy, a very small village, but a good bread shop. We lounged about on the grassy area next to the quay. All was looking great.. However, as with the rest of our season, there was a problem ahead. This time a wall falling in on one of the flight of six locks with at Rogny, and it will take a week to fix. We were delighted with Montbouy so settled back down. A little amusement was provided one day with a party of 4 Americans who had set off from their cruise ship that morning, arranging to be picked up at a rural mooring....no map, no phones, no money...no idea really. We supplied lots of iced water, kind words and a way of contacting the mother ship. They provided us with lots of laughs. and the following day tastings of a really special Kentucky Burbon and some scrummy chocs from Mazet.

Happily ensconced on the quay, shady tree...tick. Sunshine....tick. All good....tick.

This very pretty cottage came complete with 6 Silky Terriers,2 cats, and a great veggie garden.

With the backup of boats, the next port at Chatillon Coligny is full, so we will stay at Montbouy until someone leaves. Doug and Sutsan are there with another Roanne boat, Duck Story. We have just heard from Doug that Duck story will leave on Thursday, so we will head down first thing in the morning.Clear run, not another boat in sight.

We arrived in Chatillon-Coligny at. lunchtime and tied onto the wall. About 30 minutes later Duck Story left and we pulled into her spot. This town was already old when the canals were built. The 12th century |Chateau was at once stage surrounded by moats and the town has grown up around the waterways, today you get just glimpses of these waterways now they are in the centre of the town. As the weather was lovely we had drinks on the quay that night...and enjoyed the starry, starry skies. Next day was market day and the centre of the town was bustling with all kinds of fresh and local products, as well as the now inevitable 'African' stall selling reggae products from the West Indies...not to mention the South American alpaca garments and wooden musical instruments. Tiny town in the heart of France...no way, the rest of the world comes on market day. As we were exhausted by the splendours of the marketplace we treated ourselves to a bistro lunch...4 courses, plus wine and coffee...sure thing....and the cost, the reliable budget pleasing 12 euros each...read this and weep Melbournites....lol.

After a few happys days at Chatillon Coligny came the good news. The lock at Rogny was repaired and the canal hed reopened.... we headed South. We stopped overnight at Dainmarie, a very quiet little port, on route to Ouzouere Sur Treze. ...a quick walk up the hill into the town revealed....nothing, no where to spend a euro except at the post office that opens two days a week....and yet the good people of this town provide a beautifully fitted little Port with free power and water , night lighting, everything a happy bargee needs....we thank them indeed.

The next morning we started one of our best days cruising ever. There are 12 locks between Rogny and OZT. We arrived at the first lock exactly at 9. We were met by the lock keeper who whizzed us through the first 6 locks by 10.10! ...this readers is a miracle of the finest order...a rare and wonderful event. We said farewell to our fav.lockeeper as he had to turn the locks around for a large cruise ship which we met in the top pound...an open area of water , usually between a set of up and down locks...providing room for boats to moor overnight if they can't 'do' the locks before closing, or perhaps to turn a big barge around, not always easy on the narrow canals.

We then proceed to the 'down' locks...these are automatic for descending boats [you can put the ropes on the bollards yourself]. But the day got even better, as we approached the 2nd 'down' lock a trusty duo of matelots appeared to help us, locals may recognize the unmissable profiles of Nico and Ianne. A quick dash downstairs and I was able to provide Nico with a suitable hat.

Nico and Ianne had heard we were on our way and had ridden up to meet us, and see us safely home. We had heard that the port was nearly full, however just before we arrived a boat left leaving a lovely spot between Doug and Sutsan and Nico and Ianne. So after a flat out run to the last lock we arrived at 12 just before the locks closed. Sutsan even made up a reserved sign for us.

It was great to catch up with everyone with drinks and snacks aboard Affleur'D'O...as usual we sorted out all the problems of the world. As the weather forecast was not too good we decided to head off the next day and head for Beaulieu, where I can get the bus and train back to Montargis to collect the car - even if it was an early start with the 7am bus!

From Beaulieu we headed down to Lere, where Nico and Ianne very kindly drove my car down - then walked back to Beaulieu! We had a lovely few days there including outings to Vide Greniers, and the lovely old town of Bourges with Doug and Sutsan.

After an overnight stop at Herry, our next stop was the lovely new port at Beffes with Doug and Sutsan. This was only opened this year.

Carpe Diem rafted on us until a space came free round the corner in the afternoon

Another hard day on the canals!

We had a lovely surprise in Beffes. Our friends Frances and Nellie, stopped by for a visit and kindly took us back to their home for a scrumptious dinner. It was lovely to catch up with them.

Then onto Cours les Barre. Doug and Sutsan had guests who arrived by car and they very kindly drove back and brought mine down from Lere. We decided to leave the car here until we got back to Roanne.

After a lovely few days in Cours les Barre and Fleury we headed into one of the Roanne boaters favorite ports at Beaulon.

While we were there a number of old friends appeared on their way back to Roanne, plus some boats that are heading there for the first time. After a lovely week at Beaulon we headed south, with a night stop at Diou. This is a lovely little port, so we headed of for another Brasserie lunch with Doug and Sutsan. No wonder food in France is so good - here is the lunch menu for the primary school!

And this is for the little kids!

Then onto Digoin to visit the supermarket, and down to Melay for a few days. Peter and Jane from Tokoloshe, who are now moored on the midi came up to Roane for the day and then drove up and spent the night with us in Melay. After drinks with Doug and Sutsan, Nico and Ianne we had a lovely dinner on board. It was great to catch up with them.

Arriving at Melay


Nico and Ianne arrive a few days later

Then off back home to Roanne. The port is much busier this year with lots of new boats. This is really good as hopefully it will become profitable! Good for us all.

We currently have a very slow internet connection - so I will update this a little later! It is a little later and we are in Chatilon Coligny - and they have free WiFi in the port - so we are now all up to date! Also we have been able to update both the laptop and tablet - whoopee! However we have found that our new laptop will not read the SD card from Laurels camera - so I will have to get a new cable when we see some shops again, and then add some more pics.

Heading off from Beaulieu, we went to one of our favorite little ports at Ouzouer sur Treze. We picked up the car from Braire and spent a very pleasant few days there. Mark and Mary came to visit and spent the night with us....great to catch up with them. It was excellent timing as there was a fete in the port on the Saturday night, with of course the traditional french line dancing! Mary and Laurel scooted a boot or two but the belles du France were way too good! Sunday of course we did what we do best...yup, another vide grenier. Mary kindly added to my jampots with a doozy, shaped like a pineapple and it sits on its own leaf....and according to a later visit by Cordelia it is exactly 'on trend'.

Then up to the Rogny, famous for its old 7 locks. As the weather was lovely and there was a huge fireworks display on the Saturday night we decided to stay until after the weekend. A very quiet time as Rogny is a small village. After a week of beautiful weather Saturday produced torrential rain - this did not bode well for the firework spectacular. Just as it got dark (around 10pm) the rain stopped and we all trooped over for the display. There was a huge crowd, even though unlike normal fireworks nights, there was an entry charge of 10 Euros each.

It was a huge show with lots of moving coloured spotlights shining through the smoke. Quite spectacular, but a little slow in getting started, as they tried to dry everything out and remove the covers from the fireworks.

Our next port was the small but very pretty town of Chatilon Coligny. We spent two nights here...the town provides a very well equipped halte nautique.

Then up to Montargis where we planned to stay for a month. As has been the case this year mooring was almost empty, last time we had to wait a couple of days to get a 'good spot' but when we arrived this time only one other boat was moored.

This is quite a big town, and with the car became an ideal touring base. As we were here two years ago we were quite familiar with the town and it was good to be back. We met ,as usual, some great folk and were delighted to catch up with the Aussies on Shiralee.....simply had to have drinks to celebrate!

Doug and Sutsan were not far away up on the Yvonne, and in keeping with their 'trail of destruction, in 2013 the locks broke down behind them, this month it would be the lock at Sens, just a few days after they passed through, a month later and it still has not been repaired...We drove up to visit them at Sens, before the lock crash and and a little later Nemours....we found the best Chinese restaurant in France....sushi heaven for those so inclined!

We did an outing to the large town of Orleans (famous for Joan of Arc).

A very french bar!

LIFE WAS GOING WELL...and then

we had a small catastrophe. We discovered our laptop does not like Rose, after Laurel knocked her glass over and soaked the keyboard and it died! So our challenge was to buy a replacement. A french laptop is no good as the keyboard layout is wrong. So we thought we would buy a tablet . Whilst we love the tablet we found that you also need a laptop. With Cordelia planning a visit we tried to order one from the UK - however although they said that they accepted international credit cards, this proved impossible. So after a lot of mucking about we sent the money to Cordelia, who bought it for us, and then brought it over with her. So this is our first epistle on the shiny new toy!

Cordelia and two of her housemates, Megan and Sasha came for a visit over a UK long weekend. We manged to pack a lot into the two days with outings to Vide Greniers, albeit between the rain showers (we have had a month of pure sunshine - they arrived and the rain started, they left and the rain stopped!), lunch out, and of course for Cordelia a visit to Gifi and NOS! On the Saturday night there was a fete and fireworks display at the next village of Villemandeur. Unfortunately the rain didn't stop, however with umbellas up we trotted off. Before the fireworks, there was a marching band. You had to feel sorry for them as they marched through the torrential rain. Every few minutes the saxophone and tuba players had to tip there instruments upside down to empty out the water! The fireworks all worked well despite the rain!