17th - 28th April 2017. Having eventually descended Bourg-le-Comte lock, we continued on to Digoin, joining the Canal du Centre there. Then it was on to Génelard where narrowboat Quaintrille joined us. Continuing on the Canal de Centre to Savernay.

Bourg-le-Comte lock should have had its new gates fitted two weeks ago, but they are now ready to use, although there is still work to do round the lock

On Monday morning we went into the lock, which was then emptied. It is a very deep lock.

Madame Eclusier then tried, and tried, to open the bottom gates, but failed. Eventually the lock was refilled and we backed out, to return to our place above the lock. I then had to walk round to the other side to retrieve Shannon, who had hopped off in the lock while we were busy minding The Puzzler! A couple of hours later we were again in the lock, with a hireboat too, while the bottom gates still were not opening. They attached some webbing strapping from the top of the right hand gate to the crane, and winched it tight. Monsieur Eclusier climbed on top of the gates to drive a wedge in, and forced the gates open. The problem was that the wooden seal between the two gates had swollen in the water, and it seemed that the winding gear had then been damaged by enthusiastic use! It was a relief to be able to continue.

At Digoin we walked by the river Loire, where the vegetation caught on this tree shows how high the floods were last year.

Sailing on over the aqueduct.

At Génelard we were joined by narrowboat Quaintrille, with Aileen and Mike on board.

After a pleasant evening on Quaintrille, we shared locks on Sunday.

There are some commercial boats on this canal, making a narrowboat look very small.

We are about to be eaten by this crocodile-type lift bridge!

We moored here at Montchanin with Debbie at the same time last year. The reservoir for the canal is reassuringly full, after a dry spring.

Our flowers are now in the big pots, but have to come inside at night still, because of the frosts. It was minus 2.6 last night, but the days are really warm. Here we are starting down the Mediterranée locks.

This last week has been one social whirl! After a pleasant evening with Jake and Rachel at Saint-Julien-sur-Dheune, we moved on to Saint-Léger-sur-Dheune, mooring by Owlpen apartment. First it was a quick(ish) drink with Gill and David there, then back to The Puzzler where Aileen and Mike joined us for the evening. Next day we caught up with them at Santenay.

On Friday we walked down to Santenay, then up through the vineyards on the other side of the valley. Every possible part of the hillside is used for more vines. They are just starting to grow.

Further on, Santenay can be seen below the vineyards.

We have reached our destination! After only one wrong turn, where the windmill was hidden behind a tree, it just took two hours to get here. It seems to be in good condition, although it is not currently in use.

We walked back down the road and then everyone had a much needed rest.

Later on Jake and Rachel arrived on Catherine Clark, and we all had a very enjoyable evening round the picnic table. Trigger and Shannon are becoming friends, though he is more enthusiastic than she is. Our pre-dinner drinks lasted until 10.30 pm!

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!

27th - 31st August. Through Génelard and Paryl-le Monial to join the Canal Latéral à la Loire.

Going through the long cutting before Génelard, there is an aluminium barge, sailing along the side wall! It is quite impressive.

The mooring at Génelard is just below the lock, at the end of the cutting. It is a large basin, with boats all around, and several camper vans too, sharing the facilities.

This attractive lock was soon after that, with the requisite pile of logs, ready for the winter.

In Paray-le Monial, there is a kilometre available for mooring. The road runs parallel to the canal, and we inadvertently moored opposite some traffic lights, so it was not a quiet place! The evening light was lovely though.

In Digoin we crossed the River Loire, on the aqueduct. We are now on the Canal Latéral à la Loire, which runs along the same valley as the river Loire.

Having crossed this aqueduct just before midday, we had to wait until 1.30 before the lock was open for use again. It is a long lunch hour here!

It is quite an impressive aqueduct over the river Loire, especially when seen from the river down below.

There are stacks of firewood everywhere. There was no house near here, so some campers helped themselves to several logs, and had a good camp fire nearby! No-one seemed to mind.

The Loire valley is quite wide here.

Ahead of us is an avenue of weeping plane trees. We have not seen any of these before, but they made a splendid display of greenery, right down to the water's edge.