12th - 16th April. Debbie is with us on the Canal du Centre from Digoin, via Paray-le-Monial and Génelard to Montchanin.

From our mooring we were straight into lock 1 on the Canal du Centre, and on over the aqueduct to cross the river Loire, into the town of Digoin. Shannon was not too sure about the aqueduct! We have followed the Loire all the way from Roanne, but will now be beside La Bourbince river as we continue along the Canal du Centre. In Digoin our first visit was the Ceramics Documentation Centre, where we learned all about the Digoin Pottery Industry. This is well worth a visit.

Eglise Notre Dame de la Providence dominates the centre of Digoin. Look at the left top of the tower!

Yes, it is a real stork on her nest! She was still for so long that at first we thought she was a sculpture.

Having been built in 1869, this is a comparatively modern church. It was built in the Romano- Byzantine style, so is different to most of the older churches.

Moving on along the Canal du Centre to Paray-le-Monial, we continued the religious theme with a visit to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. This church was rebuilt in the Romanesque style on a 12th century base, we think in the late 19th century. It was promoted to the status of Basilica in 1875.

Inside, it is quite different to the church at Digoin.

There are cloisters within the Basilica. This reminded me of the race in the film “Chariots of Fire”.

From the other side of the building the varied levels make the Basilica look like a different church!

This laden donkey seems to be quite happy on his travels.

Wednesday was quite cold, so Shannon is wearing her jersey. The black skies behind were very threatening, but did not catch us until we were moored at Génelard.

Two hours later, the weather had cleared, and we were delighted when Cassandra and Heidi joined us that evening.

This bridge at Génelard was a checkpoint during the second World War, between the occupied territory, and the free French. The museum here was extremely interesting, teaching us a lot about the occupation of France during World War II.

The picture of the working boat in the cutting after Génelard, reminds us of times gone by too.

Another momento of the pottery of the area can be seen in this sculpture at Ciry-le-Noble. It is decorated all over with pieces of broken pottery.

We moved on to Montchanin quite early, hoping to avoid the following storm. Debbie will take a taxi from here tomorrow to Le Creusot, on the long haul back to England. We have had a great week with her, and Toad too, of course!

The black clouds arrive later in the day, bringing this hail storm!

21st - 26th August. On the Rhône to Rhine canal, then on to Saint-Jean-de Losne on the river Saône, then the Canal du Centre from Chalon-sur-Saône to Saint-Leger-sur Dheune.

Continuing along the Rhône to Rhine Canal, we reached the final three locks, which drop us back down into the river Saône.

We soon arrived at Saint-Jean-de-Losne, where a family from King's Lynn moored outside us. We visited Blanquart's Chandlery, to discover that the Canal de Bourgogne was closed last week, until November. We had been going to go that way so it is a change of plan! It is lucky that the Canal du Centre is still open.

This pretty evening light over the Saône was followed by a superb firework display. Shannon hated it! Life can be tough at times!

Moving on down the river, we pulled in at Gergy. It makes a change to be on such wide water again. We have pushed on through some very wet weather to get here, covering 42.5 kilometres today.

At Chalon-sur-Saône it is a right turn off the river, where we rise up on to the Canal du Centre, through this ten metre lock. It is numbered Mediterrenée 35.

The bottom gate closes in two sections behind us, as it is such a deep lock.

The calm waters of the Canal du Centre lie ahead of The Puzzler.

This is the best lock garden which we have seen, with so many different flowers.

Passing a wood yard, it was interesting to see the tree trunks being sprayed to keep them wet, while they are seasoning.

Our first rainbow for ages.

In the centre of Chagney, this metal cockerel rules the roost. The cockerel is the national symbol of France.

We have been seeing vineyards all along the hillsides, but here they are very close to the canal.

It was nice to meet our Swiss friends again, as they return along the Canal du Centre.

Walking through Saint-Léger-sur-Dheune, the trees are starting to show their autumn colours.

From Saint-Léger-sur-Dheune there are five very deep locks. There are floating bollards for the ropes, which does help. All the locks up from the Saône are numbered from Mediterranée 35 to 1.

The boat must be tied securely, as the side ground paddles are quite fierce. In one lock this incoming water reached the top deck of The Puzzler, to soak our canal guide book.

It was a relief to reach the calm waters of the summit pound. This canal has been so much better than we were expecting. Our next locks will start at Océan 1.