Page 4 of CarMike2177 Travel Blog Posts


Europe » France » Centre January 21st 2011

A locaboat in a lock...the consequences of not being prepared.... The next morning we waved good-bye to Chris and Phil and told them we were heading for Fragnes – just before the River Saone. They said they would see us there or in Chalon. We headed off into the chilly morning and soon met up with another English boat going down the canal. We'd seen far more since coming off the Nivernais. The couple on board spent their Summers here with their boat and went home for the winter. Nice. We spent the day hopping from lock to lock with their boat, chatting as we waited. They told us of how they'd gotten stuck in a broken lock once before, stranded in a little village whilst it took two days to fix and how they'sd once ... read more

Europe » France » Burgundy January 21st 2011

Completing the Canals We left Chatillon on the afternoon of the 19th after Mike had serviced the engine. We'd decided to push on and get through the canals and to Chalon Sur Saone as quickly as possible to make sure we got to Lyon in time to meet Fred and Becks. In the next 5 days we completed 55 locks and crossed the aqueduct over the Loire, arriving on a grey Friday at Montceau Les Mines. We'd relaxed in the sun, bundled up in the rain and eaten on the move so we could cover as much distance as we could. By the end of those 5 days he weather had turned from glorious sunshine to drizzle, but Montceau wasn't a bad place. It was bustling with crowds as the strikes were still going on and ... read more
crossing the aqueduct at Digoin
Early morning mist as the sun rises
Hmmm - not the safest way to peel an orange

Europe » France » Burgundy January 21st 2011

My Birthday: Chatillon -en-Bazois The journey to Chatillon was completed in stunning sunshine. We saw herons, birds of prey, egrets, grebes, ducks, dragonfly, butterflies and lots more luscious green scenery with the occasional village or chateau nestled amongst it. We'd completed our lunch stop sipping wine in a lovely little tavern alongside a triple staircase lock whilst waiting for the lockeeper to eat his lunch. We arrived into beautiful Chatillon en Bazois at 4pm after completing 14 locks. The mooring was free and was beneath a gorgeous château alongside the canal. I decided I'd be perfectly happy spending my birthday here. We explored the town on our bikes, found the supermarket, booked a restaurant for my birthday dinner the following night and discovered that the château only opened twice a year, but that September 18th was ... read more
Chateau grounds
Moored up at Chatillon
My birthday!

Europe » France » Burgundy January 21st 2011

I was awoken abruptly at 5am the morning after we reached Baye. The boat listed heavily starboard, the doors banged open, and I heard swearing and shouting. In my half sleeping state I momentarily believed we'd been boarded by pirates. I then recognised the swearing, cursing voice and heavy footfalls as those of my dear hublet. I lifted my head and opened one eye as he slammed clumsily into the bathroom. “Baby, what's going on?” I asked “What time is it?” The response was more swearing. “Mike?” I asked “I've got a hook in my head.” came his reply. I thought I'd misheard. “What?” “ I've got a hook in my head.” “Are you alright?” I asked “Yeah, I'm just getting it out.” He replied. After a minute or so he emerged with a cut across ... read more
My gorgeous hublet - note the cut on the forehead...

Europe » France » Burgundy January 13th 2011

We spent the next few days getting through as many locks as we could in order to reach Sardy Les Epiry and the start of the 16 lock staircase to summit the Nivernais. Mike finally succeeded in catching a fish – a bream from what we could gather – and we ate it with some bread. Tasty but very boney, we actually spent more time spitting bones than eating! I gunned 6 more lift bridges, each one feeling easier, my fitness was definitely improving from all this jumping on and off, lassooing bollards and turning winches! We also met a lovely young eclusier who operated 3 locks and told us he had been really busy all day. He gratefully accepted our offer of a beer but proudly refused to let us open the gates while he ... read more
Beautiful sunset
Ensign in the woodland
Entering the one way system at the summit

Europe » France » Burgundy December 8th 2010

It was a Saturday evening when we arrived in Clamecy, so we decided to go out for dinner. We'd been barbecuing a lot lately. So, after showering and making ourselves presentable, we headed off to the town centre. We walked around the cobbled streets and saw a gorgeous little place tucked away in a back street. Couples and small groups sat on the decked and fenced veranda outside, illuminated by fairy and candle lights and chatting quietly. Gorgeous coloured glasses sat atop unique antique tables draped in pristine linens and silks. Inside we could see walls chock full of cuckoo clocks, teddy bears, old French posters and Arabian drapes. A waiter in a suit and a petite middle aged woman draped in elegant silks and sporting beautiful jewellery waited on people. It looked like a fabulous ... read more
car on bike by medieval thing
Clamecy church tower at dusk
Clamecy church tower silhoutted in the sunset

Europe » France » Burgundy December 8th 2010

To get to Clamecy from Mailly La Ville we had to pass through 14 locks and something the pilot guide listed as a 'life bridge'. “What's that?” I said to Mike. “Not sure,” he replied “we'll find out when we get to it.” “Do you think we can get to Clamecy before the locks shut at 6?” I asked. “If we don't have to wait to long we should be fine.” Mike replied. “It's a lot of locks, but it's only 32 km.” To begin with we were lucky with the locks. The first four were ready as soon as we arrived and we passed through all of them in two hours with no problem. Each lock was unique, some decorated with flowers, gnomes or 'welcome' signs in various languages. Some were painted in pretty colours, ... read more
Me with Snow White and her dwarves in the gorgeous lock
Mike driving in the sunshine
Mike inside the world's prettiest lock

Europe » France » Burgundy December 8th 2010

We awoke early in Cravant and decided to get a whole day of travelling in. By nine am we'd eaten, washed up and were ready to go. By the time the locks shut for lunch, we'd managed to get through five of them – the most we'd accomplished in a day on the Nivernais so far! We'd also passed through more stunning scenery including a gorgeous gorge and narrow one way section of the canal. We arrived at lock six of the day just after they'd closed for lunch. There was already a boat tied to the small waiting platform so we decided to tie to the big barge bollard and have lunch whilst we waited for the lock to re-open. As we neared it, Mike asked if I wanted to try lassoing it. My lassoing ... read more
Gorgeous gorge on the Nivernais
Lizard at Mailly
Lock at Mailly La Ville

Europe December 5th 2010

Just before four we left our mooring at Bailly and headed upriver. We knew we only had a few hours before the locks closed so decided to go until we spotted somewhere that looked nice for an overnight stay. After three locks, two hours and just seven kilometres covered, we spotted a grassy inlet and quay in a little bay with a few boats already moored up. We went closer and saw that, although there was not enough space for us to fit on the main quay ans tie to the bollards provided, there was space for us along the sides of the bay where we could hammer in our pegs and tie safely for the night. Mike motored in and I leapt off the bow with a mid ships rope in hand and pulled the ... read more
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Europe » France » Burgundy » Auxerre December 5th 2010

We instantly fell in love with the Nivernais. The first lock was small, painted prettily, old fashioned and not anywhere near as deep and daunting as the huge ones on the Seine. We passed through with no problem, and I successfully lassoed the bollard with one centre line after a few botched attempts– woo-hoo! Score one for Carly. We emerged from the lock onto a narrow canal surrounded by trees, flowers and an abundance of natural beauty. This was how we'd imagined the inland waterways to look – natural, unspoilt, beautiful. Suddenly the drizzle didn't seem a problem. It was slow going on the Nivernais – it took us almost 3 hours to cover the 13km and 7 locks to Bailly – but the individuality of each lock and the beauty of the surroundings made it ... read more
Bailly mooring
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Sunlight through the trees at Bailly




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