contentedsouls

5 locks, 25 kms, 5.5 hours (see, we can do a proper day’s cruising).

Our narrowboat, Matilda Rose, is for sale with a year’s mooring in Roanne. If you fancy living the life in France for awhile before cruising the British and Welsh waterways, this could be the boat for you. She comes fully equipped; ready to go (with solar panels, ample battery power, solid fuel burner and central heating) and to live onboard through all seasons. With a full 6ft 4” of headroom throughout she presents no problems for the taller person; for full details click on the link http://www.apolloduck.fr/feature.phtml?id=460724

As we left Decize we picked up a delightful, and very capable, English couple in a hire boat and we travelled through two locks with them before pulling over at Fleury-sur-Loire whilst the lockie had his lunch. This is a nice enough mooring but, with only a boulangerie in the vicinity, we were surprised to see this substantial Capitainerie’s facility with attached marquee! Furthermore, it cost 9 euros a night to stay there with a further 2 euros each for electric and water respectively. I wonder how long it will take for someone to wonder why no-one stays there anymore!

Sadly, we had to wave goodbye to our new travelling companions as a barge was ahead of us waiting for the lock to re-open. I helped them lock down with the barge and was rewarded with a packet of McVities digestives – it’s been a couple of years since I’ve seen those. I helped lock another up before we could go in (busy – 4 boats in all!) and was highly entertained by the menagerie:– Harry the goose (with serious, ‘this is my lock’ attitude), 4 dogs and two goats. As the lock filled, Harry jumped in the water and escorted the upcoming boat out of the lock; ensuring that they left very slowly!

At the following lock we were highly entertained by a large Golden Retriever who decided he was not walking any further despite his owner’s ministrations; like Delaney’s donkey he was pushing it, pulling it, shoving it and shushing it – all to no avail

Talking of donkeys (sorry, dreadful segue), once moored up for the night Muttley and I encountered some more adorable critters on our evening constitutional.

I set off in search of the epicerie and boulangerie in the morning; one shop serves the dual purpose now and I had a delightful chat with the lady; me in French and her in English (we find that this happens quite often) as she had English relatives. On the way back down I found a castle – as you do – and Daisy found a mouse or six. Although when I found the weeping angels I thought I might be in a spot of bother!

In the afternoon the huge hotel boat, Deborah, passed us at a very courteous snail’s pace and didn’t even wake the dogs from their afternoon snooze! We were to catch up with them and moor beyond them the following day.