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1.6 10 to 16 June 2007

10 June 2007 Sunday Chatel Coligny to Montcresson. Canal de Briare

Uploaded last week's log. Absolutely horrified at size of photos and verbal diarrhea - Sorry! Only realized when it was well on it's way, and did not dare stop it, (a) because connection with Orange France was weak, and (b) because I would never get it away at all if I stopped sending and started fiddling with it.

Off in cool overcast 0915, but was trapped just behind one of the many hotel boats, pseudo hotel boats, and "Captain's Guests" boats that seem to litter the moorings on this section of this canal this year. He was cunning, quickly untied and started off when he saw me go upstream 100 metres to turned round.

Through Montbouy - happy memories of enormous tree shading the revetts and deep water canal side just above lock. Theoretically peniche overnight stop, but am sure it is much too shallow for them, really. Never seen anyone on it but ourselves.

Was aiming for a length of well revetted canal, where the local householders with rather smart houses set back in the forest, had kept the grass and bush along the canalside short and neat, improving the looks of their properties no end, even though there is a dirty great fence - with gate per house - between canal property and theirs. Very successful stop here last year with friendly householders coming down to gossip. Am not absolutely sure of the form, but believe, in France - unlike England - the VNF or government own a strip along both sides of the waterway, so although they keep the towing path passable, the off side is allowed to degenerate into impassable untidy bush, so if a good spot can be found - and there are plenty that can be made good with a pair of hedge shears - a very pleasant private secure mooring may be enjoyed. In this case, no improvement was necessary, but to my astonishment the water was too shallow for Albert, and we couldn't get in. Don't

understand - the canal is full - may-be I tried during a down surge, and if I had waited 20 minutes wouldn't have had trouble. Found good spot in shade for lunch on opposite side, and during it the possible trouble causers passed - 2 full sized hotel boats coming upstream.

The picture of the mooring is from last year's log - not having much luck this year with appropriate weather for photography. This year's log about this particular spot appears to be an almost word for word repetition of last year's - embarrassing!

Lost shade after lunch - and weather had got hot and sticky - so moved on to village Montcresson. Found perfection - mown grass, deep water, revetts, shade, no visible dwellings, and quiet once a youth with a scooter had got bored and gone home.

11 June 2007 Monday Montcresson to Montargis Canal de Briare

Nice early start in warm sunshine.

Weather steadily deteriorated, until by Montargis - late morning - raining heavily.

Montargis P de P full - nose to tail - of large boats. In principle, don't really like that P de P at top end of Montargis, anyway, far too open and public to the streets, and got a bad name for thefts and break-ins.

Went through the 2 town locks, to big port area right in front of police station - obvious place to stop, now, if water and electricity are not essential.. They've been developing this area for some time - it is the old port area, anyway, and it is finished, in so far as intended - no water or electrics, but plenty bollards, nice quay except a lot of it is yellow pea gravel, and, of course, security is good! I believe the target customers are hotel boats, and rumour had it that the top 2 births - one of which I was on - are taken at week-ends. The place is about same distance from S.M. as P. de P., and there are plenty boulangeries and small shops close. Spent afternoon and evening sussing the area - there is even a large brico just behind the moorings. 1 way traffic system is as baffling as all of them are to me - have absolutely no sense of direction at all and, as usual, got thoroughly lost, ending amongst council flats apparently exclusively occupied by Moroccans.!

Heard of bike theft from P de P that evening.

12 June 2007 Tuesday Montargis to Château-Landon Canal du Loing

Rain eased off during night, and away by about 0930.

Still haven't erected bimini, on no occasion have I been in the least made uncomfortable by sun. Getting bit nervous that all the struts, currently bound in a bundle with masking tape and lying on the boarding ladders on top of boat, will start disappearing.

This is the stretch where we spent that Pentecost bank holiday one year listening to the L.K.s lovely old air organ, and sure enough, there he and it still were.

He didn't have much to say, but he retires next year, so be quick if you want to see and hear it! You will have to ask - he is a very quiet unassuming individual.

Nice stretch this, along with yesterday's - mostly deep green forest sides, quiet and private, and almost secretive.

Stopped over at Chateau-Landon, with deep feeling of superiority - probably about the 5th time Albert has moored here. The quays were full - 3 boats, and a large one on the other. However, was actually more comfortable, and far safer, on the revetts between, and far enough away to be able to run engine for electricity when I forgot to turn the computer and lights off.

13 June 2007 Wednesday Château-Landon to Nemours + 4 kms Canal du Loing

Last night, at mooring was asked by a cruiser - English, Dutch, Australian ? if I would not go through the lock at 0900 (normal starting time, these days), as "I was slower than her, and would hold her up". So I agreed to go after they had gone. Very peculiar - slightly taken aback. Would have put it more tactfully, myself!

After they were out of sight, wandered up to lock, and got a loud and long lecture from a Belgium in an enormous steel thing to the effect that I couldn't wait outside the lock as the L.K. was gone to his other lock with a couple of boats. Why not, I wondered, and then anyway the gates opened! Where do these people come from?

Chateau-Landon lock still offers a water hose. Great joy - able to water up while sitting in lock doing not much else. Traffic seemed to have gone - including the Belgium - the other way!

Countryside still largely forested, but like yesterday - silos and attendant villages, and canalside dwellings the order of the day. Down here there are gravel pits in the Loing River - just alongside canal, and there was provision for grain storage and transport - although it doesn't appear to be used now-a-days. Lucky break at lunch time - needed bread quite badly, only a 3 day knuckle end remaining. Tied up at end of side street of residential village - much sweat, as there was just a fraction too little water for Albert - think it was Bagneaux, but not sure - mounted bike, and found open boulangerie right opposite road end. 20 minutes to tie boat, 4 minutes to go for bread and be back with it, 60 minutes to untie boat, find shade and have lunch!

Went straight through Nemours - there is a sort of P. de P. in the town, but pretty horrid and only one boat long - otherwise the only place to moor up is a very hot and dusty looking builders yard. Ended up 4 kms out under trees on the off side against revetts - once again - short grass, and comfortable. Passing of 2 empty peniches concerned me at the time - the canal is not all that wide at that spot, but Albert never moved. They were a tandem pair from the river that had been uncoupled. No cabin on front one, and lots of cables and protuberances and nice cabin on other. Must look more closely, and see if they use the engine of the front one when traveling lashed up. I always thought the front peniche of a tandem pair was dumb, but certainly not in this case. Offered a sup from my G & T to driver of front boat, and got lots of back chat. Driver of rear boat looked like young wife or daughter - no interest in invitation, anyway.

Weather broke - again - and torrential rain dumped drowned blossom and rubbish all over boat.

Nice quiet spot - nice houses opposite, but no sign of occupants.

14 June 2007 Thursday Nemours + 4 kms to Moret-sur-Loing Canal du Loing

Better morning - but not good promise, weather wise. Once again dull, threatening and overcast.

Set off very relaxed. Intended to get to Moret-sur-Loing, (Silsey's town) which is on the canal but just short of tee junction into River Seine, 15 kms and 6 locks before lunch. In view of overcrowding of moorings up the canal - Chateau-Landon, Chatillon Coligny and Montargis P. de P. - concerned that would find the neat little halt just below last lock also full, and have to go down to the river, where there is a perfectly good P de P slightly upstream but very much on the river bank, virtually on the corner right opposite the bunker station, is very liable to turbulent bouncing by heavy river traffic.

Got to last lock, but not in time to go through before lunch, so temporary tie-up for lunch - 3 boats on 2 boat jetty. News on space down below not good, but live in hope, and go through and see.

Place was, technically, full, but managed to moor half boat to a bit of jetty, and leave the other half dangling, partially tied across the water to a cruiser on one of the other pontoons. Met, for first time, Sue in N.B.Kells - been living on her over her for some 4 years on her own.

Got electricity, badly needed as wanted to do a big wash, and haven't so far tried the machine on boat-made electricity. I know there shouldn't be a problem theoretically - the numbers are correct, but on boat electricity the hoover makes funny noises when starting, my new B & D superdooper pickitallup Dustbuster won't charge, and each season my electric tooth brush charger has died after 6 weeks - to be replaced under guarantee in the autumn. However, I do not want to make any points on what should or should not happen with the washing machine, I just want to have clean kit!!

Got engine oil changed, and changed the oil filter cartridge - relieved to find that the non standard non Nanni cartridges I brought from UK did, in fact, fit - unlike the proper Nanni ones I tried to use last year.

15 June 2007 Friday in Moret-sur-Loing Canal du Loing

Singularly unsuccessful stay in Moret. Weather is unsettled to the point of lunacy - 1 minute nice warm sunshine, then gale force gusty winds, then very sudden very heavy rain storms.
Visited S.M. discovering that the rather circuitous route we always followed was quite unnecessary - it is just up the back from the moorings.
Got washing done, but only just saved it when drying, at the expense of getting myself soaked, laughed at, and blamed for the onset of the rain.
Picture is typical weather - but don't miss the rainbow - when I shot it, I didn't know it was there.

16 June 2007 Saturday in Moret-sur-Loing

General move off this morning, jetty became free over full length, so turned boat round, re-moored more comfortably, and spent morning battling with gas water heater, whose pilot light showed signs of blocking - a big yellow floppy flame, instead of small strong blue one. Cured that, but couldn't cure some of the main burners that are also burning very yellow - just read book-of-the- words, and will try again.

Watered up, and wasted time!

Cycled down to P. de P. on river. Very quiet, and probably bouncing over week-end not a problem.