Cruising with the Carters: Sept 15th and 16th

Sept 15th Fleury

Another burning hot, pitiless day – so we stayed put.

In the early morning before it got too hot (it peaked at 35C) I went for a walk and Ian did some maintenance: sanding various wooden bits and pieces on the deck that were beginning to look rather tatty.

Yesterday evening, after we had tied up, a hire boat with 3 South African couples on board tied up just ahead of us and, after dinner, we joined them for a drink at the bar/restaurant at the Halte. All very chatty and jovial and no one seemed to drink too much. However, after we had retired for the night a huge row broke out on their boat; voices raised in heated argument.

This morning, while I was walking, I heard raised voices and rounded a bend to see one of the couples involved in a furious argument. I quickly backtracked, but heard enough to think this is a seriously unhappy marriage. Oh dear, what an uncomfortable week it is going to be for them all!

The wild mooring from the bridge

Ian hard at work

The Hlate from the bridge, with al fresco bar/restaurant

At the Halte, a bicycle work shop: tools on chains

Parched cow pastures and sun-bleached cattle

A beautiful old Renault

Ahhh, I'm missing my cats

Sept 16^th

Fleury to Vanneaux

28 kms, 6 locks, 6.5 hours including a long stop at lunch hour

We left Fleury at 8.15, after a quick run to the boulangerie for a baguette, a croissant and a pain au chocolat (10 minutes there and back).

We arrived at the first lock spot on at 9.00 but there was no lockie in attendance and we had to phone. Less than 5 minutes later the lockie arrived. We had the first 2 locks to ourselves but at the first lock after Decize (where there is a hire boat base) there was already a boat waiting in the lock. After 2 locks we ran into the lock-keepers lunch hour and tied up in the deep shade of a huge oak tree, which dropped acorns through the open hatch.

We were at the next lock at 1.00, end of the lunch hour, but the other boat only turned up 20 minutes later – I guess they had a long lunch hour. Meanwhile the lady lockie kept us entertained “fishing” for a long handled fork which had fallen into the lock (used to haul branches and other rubbish out of the lock).

We are back at the Halte at Vanneaux where there is free electricity and water, both necessary in the blistering heat to run the big household fan and have lots of showers.