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June 2014 - Page 2
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Docked at Cours-les-Barre on the Canal Latéral à la Loire. Our AMAROK appears to glow at dusk.
Cours-les-Barres to Beaulon
.
More to come...
Cours-les-Barre offered free dockage, including water and electricity,
in a beautiful setting. The boulangerie was only a 5-min walk.
After a peaceful night in Cours-les-Barre, we
turned around and began heading back east on the
Canal Latéral à la Loire.
21 June - Summer Solstice!
11:00 AM - Dep Cours-les-Barres
12:30 PM - Arr: Le Guétin (B-4 locks)
Rode bikes 5 km to Apremont-sur-Allier
Today: 5.9 mi - 1 lock + 10 km bike ride
The unusual, but discontinued, Ecluse des Lorrains which
used to connect the river Allier to the Canal Latéral à la
Loire. This lock allowed access to the river both above and
below the dam on the Allier as the sign below shows.
The very cute little town of Apremont-sur Allier which has made a
conscious effort to look old. It does help to bring in the tourists!
A gorgeous house in the Parc Floral in Apremont-sur Allier.
The Chinese Bridge in the Parc Floral in Apremont-sur-Allier.
Riding back from Apremont we passed through
"The Frog". The French do like their frogs!
The little church in Apremont-s-Allier had an open-door policy which allowed birds to come and go at will. If you look closely (click on the photo) you'll see one nesting happily in the arms of this statue of Joseph!
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Passing back across le Pont Canal du Guétin over the Allier. Photo by Nancy
22 June - 9:30 AM - Dep Le Guétin
Back up through the Guétin Locks
11:15 AM - Psg branch canal to Nevers
3:15 PM - Arr: Fleury-sur-Loire
Today: 19 mi - 5 locks
23 June - 11 AM - Dep Fleury-sur-Loire
1:00 PM - waiting for lock
1:30 PM - Arr Decize, le Port
Today: 8 mi - 3 locks
Big supermarket an easy walk from here.
Walked into town for dinner.
27 June - 9:45 AM - Dep Beaulon - Halte Nautique
11:15 AM - turn into branch to Dompierre-sur-Bresbre
11:45 AM - Arr: Dompierre-sur-Bresbre
Lunch at Café de la Paix - excellent buffet, incl wine
2:30 PM - re-join Canal Latéral à la Loire
4:30 PM - Arr: Pierrefitte-sur-Loire
Lake & beach here, Mary & kids went swimming
Today: 14.7 mi - 4.4 eng hrs - 5 locks
Log continues on Page 3
Swans guarding their single cygnet.
Our first rainy day, memories of last year!
Nancy at the helm - with flowers she picked along the bank.
24 June - 1:00 PM - Dep Port de Decize
thru lock down into Loire
1:30 PM - enter Canal du Nivernais
2:00 PM - Arr: St-Léger-des-Vignes
just above lock, near train stn.
Today: 2.1 mi - 2 locks
Met daughter-in-law and grandkids at RR station.
(They flew in from Boston, spent the day sightseeing
in Paris, then they took the train to Decize.)
Neddie, Hal & Mary arriving at the Gare de Decize -
which is actually located in St-Léger-des-Vignes.
Nancy, Mary & Neddie on the bow in Decize on the open River Loire.
Mary, Neddie & Hal riding along the (rather grassy) towpath.
25 June - 10 AM - Dep St-Léger-des-Vignes
thru lock, back across the Loire and up
(2 locks) into the Canal Latéral à la Loire.
Mary & kids rode bikes along the towpath
4:00 PM - Arr: Gannay-sur-Loire
Today: 12.4 mi - 4.5 eng hrs - 7 locks
Neddie, Hal & Mary ready to try Nancy's Rosemary Chicken.
26 June - 10:15 AM - Dep Gannay-sur-Loire
12:15 PM - lunch stop at Garnat-sur-Engièvre
1:30 PM - Arr: Beaulon (free H2O & elec)
Nancy made a delicious Magret de Canard aboard.
Today: 9.3 mi - 2.7 eng hrs - 3 locks
The locks along this stretch of the Canal Latéral à la Loire are all manual.
Hal cranking.
Even Nancy cranking!
Neddie cranking.
Mary cranking.
Everyone was able to participate, as you
can see below.