October 6th Garnat to Pierrefitte

22 km, 6 locks, 4.75 hours including 45 min stop

It is much cooler now, round about 10C when we wake up and 13C when we left at 9.00am.  By the time we stopped when the locks close for lunch it was raining and when we stopped at the port in Pierrefitte at nearly 14.00 it was only 14.7C.  That’s as good as it got.

Old lock keeper's cottage, now owned by someone who loves purple

Interesting gazebo

The huge Abbey de Sept Fons.  Still a working abbey with 90 monks. They sell their produce including a wonderful cheese.

We stopped for the lunch break just above the Besbre lock where we have been intrigued by a display of dolls and, to be honest, what looks like a lot of gaudy rubbish.  

There are dolls on each post, mostly gaudy barby dolls.

I wanted to take photos close up but it was pouring with rain.  There is an old man living alongside the canal who takes care of the place, but seems to always be dressed as gnome (it is the third time we have seen him).  Distinctly odd.

A hire boat came through Besbre lock soon after us, and the lockie had told us that we would be sharing the next with a second boat.  They stopped for the lunch break in Diou.  When we passed them on the way to the lock at the end of the lunch break there was no sign of activity.  The rain was still tipping down and we wondered if they intended to quit for the day.  When we got to the lock we tied up at the back, ready to move forward if they appeared but the lockie closed the gates immediately and let us through all on our own. Smile.