We are now at the top of the Canal de Briare, the first “summit level” canal in Europe when it was finished in 1642. It joins the valley of the Loing with that of the Loire. The top doesn’t really feel like a “summit” with lovely lakes to provide water for the canal . This is part of four canals from the Seine to the Saone that are really one canal. As they were built at different times, when the rivers they linked were navigable, they still have separate names and personalities for that matter.
We started on the Canal du Loing which parallels the river of the same name. It didn’t make us feel like we had been missing the canals; the best that can be said of it is that it gets you to the Canal de Briare quickly. This canal has the charms that make us love this life – some lovely rural moorings, the delightful town of Montargis and locks with lots of flowers and friendly lock keepers.
Today is Sunday when the French go out for their excursions. The weather was nice so many of them headed for Rogny-les-Sept-Ecluses where they could watch Terry expertly handle the ropes in the first lock of the six lock staircase.
Tomorrow we will drop down to the Loire and the town of Briare which is our only downhill for a long time. After that we have the long flat runs with few locks as we parallel the Loire for 200km.
You may remember that at the beginning of the season we didn’t know if we could come this way as the Canal du Centre was going to close at the beginning of May due to lack of water – well now we need it to stay open now so we can get back to St. Jean de Losne for the winter. They are threatening to close it on September 30th if there is no more rain. At the current rate of travel we should have no problem but we hate being rushed.
Normally we would consider finding a place to winter Armida closer but as some of you know, our daughter Skye is expecting our first grandchild in January. Our plans were to cruise until this eventuality so we are considering putting Armida up for sale and St. Jean de Losne is the place to do that. But we are still debating whether to come back for one more season – so stay tuned.
A great big Happy Birthday wish to Tess on her 30th!
No comments:
Post a Comment