October 4th and 5th Decize - Vanneaux - Garnat

16 kms, 4 locks, 4.5 hours, including waiting time

Taken yesterday, exiting the port at Decize onto the Canal Lateral a la Loire.  Turn right to Nevers, turn left to Digoin

A swan family we saw in the spring, now all grown up

The Dude with Dreadlocks and bad attitude.  Please excuse bad focus!

8.30 we left Decize and were waiting at the Saulx lock a few minutes before 9.00.  15 minutes later there was still no sign of the lockie so I phoned.  The chap I spoke to was most surpised that we were still waiting and said he would send someone.  Over half an hour later the lockie ambled up, took an age to park his car, ambled around for 10 minutes, and eventually opened the lock gates for us.  He took our lines, pulled us right to the front of the lock and opened the sluices at full tilt so we bounced around as if we were white-water rafting!  It was the same Dude with Dreadlocks from the evening before, I guess he was annoyed with us for changing our plans.

Another rainy day, and so chilly that the hats and gloves came out.  Our kind of weather; we were more than happy!

Because of the hold up at the first lock we could not get to our destination before the locks close for lunch at 12.00 so we tied up at the small waiting quay just below Vannaeux lock just 5 minutes after the hour.  However, it was operated by a much friendlier and more co-operative lockie and he called us into the lock 10 minutes before the end of his lunch break.

It continued to rain on and off for the rest of the day.  A hire boat arrived late in the evening and had to be pulled out of the lock by the lock keeper and punters.  Soon afterwards a mechanic turned up and got the engine going.

 

12 kms, 2 locks, less than 2 hours

This morning, grey and drizzly again but not so cold.  The hire boat left just before us so we shared the 2 locks with them to Garnat, one of our favourite stops.  

A cornfield, not yet harvested, and dark forbidding clouds

A pretty lock

Leaves alongside the canal turning bright red

And fields that were bleached white 2 weeks ago are now turning bright green

We arrived at 11.30 and I paid a visit to the boulangerie just 300m away.  Then we cleaned the fenders, hull and deck till the rain drove us inside. In the afternoon we took a ride to the funny ProxiMarche with its huge DIY section.