After all the storms we left Nevers on a sunny morning and were third in a queue of 12 for the first lock. We stopped just before Decize for the supermarche and decided to spend the night there – very peaceful but smelly until Simon and our lovely French neighbour disposed of a disgusting huge dead fish. We went into Decize the next day and encountered a high of 52 (inside) followed by a hailstorm with hailstones the size of marbles, it was too painful to go outside to take photos and of course, more leaks. However, there was an excellent hardware store and Simon has got stuff that seals aquariums, amongst other things.
Great market the following day – I bought roast port and roast potatoes cooked in goose-fat and thyme for lunch (good for the next day too). We travelled on to Cercy-La-Tour after braving another rainstorm on the way. There was a fairground and an amazingly huge statue of the virgin on the hillside. Pleasant walk through the village once the rain stopped. We made our way to Pannecot and arrived in the middle of a camping ground with many keen fisherfolk, numerous small dogs and small children on bikes – very friendly. Especially the bread van that stopped and tooted outside our boat on the Sunday morning, so we didn’t miss out on croissants. Then we went to the village brocante – some bargains and extravagances!
On to Chatillon-en-Bezois – no moorings – so – O dear, we have to moor right under the chateau, very beautiful in the evening light. A lovely wander through the old streets and off in the morning towards Bayes. Stopped at a terrible supermarche but we have bee warned that supplies are hard to find further on. However we decide to stop at a shady spot by a lovely little converted lockhouse where we have a wonderful salad and a lovely evening on the lake.
We are now at Bayes and will stay a couple of days so Simon can finish his UNITEC assignment and we can catch up with boat maintenance – it has been full-on with locks, especially with some of the ineptitudes of the hire boats. I went for a bike ride this afternoon and surprised a fox in the woods. We are not going to be able to go down the canal to Roanne and look for llamas, as there has been a breach in the canal and its been not fixed yet. They may not fix it! There is a general water shortage and the lock-keepers have been told not to change level more than once an hour so we may have some delays.
Best meal over the last few days was boat cooked ‘Poulet Rose’ – slow cooked farm chicken steeped in half a bottle of rose, onion, garlic. Add a cup of rice 1/2 hour before being ready to eat, very succulent. Best wine – as always – Champagne. Great melon and white peaches and we have bought vegetables from the lock-keepers.
Auctally we are now near to Corbignay and access to civilisation = Internet.
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