Cercy-La-Tour, Panneçot, Moulins-Engelbert, Fleury, and Chatillion-en-Bazois FR 14-20 June 2023 We started out on the Canal du Nivernais, a canal that is known as one of the most beautiful in France, but also for low bridges and shallow depths. Thanks to Michelle and Steve Eeles who have provided some of these photos. Bridge profile and map taken from Guide Fluvial Loire Nivernais - Éditions du Breil. Our first stop on the Canal du Nivernais was actually to go to the supermarket. We stopped after the first lock to do this and say goodbye to Margie and Neil. We had been warned that there was bad weed in the first 8-10 kms and we found this to be true really limiting our speed. We could see behind the boat that we were almost ploughing up the weed. The Nivernais is known for low bridges and shallow pounds and it proved to be the case. Many of the bridges are arched and have bits sticking out into the canal at the bottom. Because of our stop for the supermarket we didn't make the last lock before the lock keepers went off for lunch, so we stopped to have lunch on a picnic table in the shade. Then we had only one lock and a guard lock before we got to our mooring in Cercy La Tour. Howard and Michelle did a tour around the town on the bikes but Steve and I stayed home. howard took the oportunity to have a fish in the morning, he had a nice net of Skimmers upto about a 1lb. He was very happy. Then we all cycled up to the open-air market in town on top of the hill. I was able to have a sneaky look in the church while the cleaner was just finishing up. There were also great views from around where the statue of Notre Dame de Nievre which looks over the town. Howard took the camera over to take the shots as my foot was quite sore. After the market, Steve, Michelle and I went for a cycle around the town and tried to find some SIM cards for Steve and Michelle. The next morning Michelle had to catch the train at about 7am to join her cycling tour. We all got up to say goodbye and Steve went down to the station with her. When we started the engine at 8:45, the lady from the boat behind us said that the lock keeper had said that they would be going through the lock with us. We went into the lock, and the lock keeper locked us through alone, and the other boat locked through after us. A little down the canal there was another boat, so in the end there were two boats behind us locking together. After a couple of locks the eclusier asked us to stop at "the grand large" (the big wide), and let the other boats pass us. In the end we had to wait about 20 minutes for them to pass us, and then another 20 minutes wait while they were in the lock, and then we were too late to make the last lock before lunch. It was only 5 kms away but we were only going 5 kms an hour so we pressed on and waited in the lock for the lock-keeper to return. After the final lock we just had a guard lock (which they have when the river joins the canal, in case of flood, but which is usually left open) and then we were at Panneçot where we had a nice mooring at the camping area. After lunch we had a small ride to the next lock, which is supposed to be the prettiest on the Nivernais, and to the bridge just after it which is the lowest on the canal. The next day we cycled the 6 kms to the town of Moulins-Englebert. There were a couple of hills which my electric bike sailed up, whilst Steve and Howard had to do some hard work. Above the town are the ruins of an old chateau. We had a cycle around town to see the other interesting buildings. There were a few places where there were scenes painted on walls and even a trompe l'oeil. We stopped at a restaurant "Le Marquis" for lunch. The restaurant offerred a menu of starter, main and dessert, but only one choice for starter and main and two for dessert. Our hostess cooked everything there, and then served it all herself. She was delightful and friendly and we had a terrific lunch. As we couldn't choose between the 2 desserts she let us have mixte - ie a bit of both. We really enjoyed the meal and had a great time and recommend the resturant if you ever visitng. After lunch Howard and Steve went to the supermarket and then we cycled home. The next morning we set off, and after the first lock was the lowest bridge on the canal. We passed under the bridge without any problems. It rained a little from time to time, and we completed our trip well before lunch, mooring just before the Fleury lock. We went for a little ride in the local area, and had a look at the river just near our mooring. In the afternoon Howard and Steve got stuck into grinding and then painting the front deck. It was hot hard work. We had dinner on the back deck but there were storm clouds around, and eventually we gave up and took down the canopy. It did end up raining quite heavily, although there wasn't a lot of wind. The next morning, Monday, we set off towards Chatillion-en-Bazois. We knew that this was going to be a very windy journey. We made good time with every lock being ready for us when we arrived, and with Howard getting off to help the lock-keeper close and open the gates. However we still didn't get to the last lock before the Chatillion lock-keeper went to lunch. The previous lock-keeper had said we should moor inside the lock, which we did. We could see our mooring from there, and Howard and Steve went to have a look. During this trip Steve caught us going through some bridges on his camera. Unbelievably, these ones are not considered low bridges. Note the first bridge we are way overto one side, that is because there is a "sticky-out bit", in this case the tow path, which means you cannot go int the middle. After lunch we went the final few metres to get to our mooring. Steve and I cycled into lunch to visit the tourist information and have a quick cycle around the town, while Howard stayed aboard and finished the painting. We had a quiet afternoon. In the evening the rain came again. The next morning Howard had a fish. He was very happy he caught a couple of nice Carrissi which are Crucian Carp. Then we headed into town for a look around. The highlight is the chateau, which isn't open to the public until July. We looked around the town, and also took a cycle up the hill and into the fields, before returning to the boat. We went out for a nice lunch at the restaurant in the harbour. Unfortunately it rained most of the afternoon so we stayed home and listened to the Ashes cricket.
1 Comment
Steve Hugo
21/6/2023 09:29:53 am
Nice fish Howard.
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