Bourbonnais: en route to Briare (2)

Hello there! Today, we moved on from Chatillon-Cotigny where we were made very welcome by other boating folk: a British couple on a lovely refurbed barge 'Carol' - they live in France and holiday in the French canals on their barge.  We also met Tony and Elaine, a lovely South African couple on "Dreamflower" as well as Australian couple Alan and his wife on their demasted yacht "Quattro".  We were enjoying our chats and exchanging tips but Skipper was itching to move on so we cast off mid-morning.

What would be in store for us today, we wondered?  No sooner had we cast off then we arrived at the first lock of the day - and it was manned with an eclusiere bearing boat hooks for our lines - hurrah! - and that set the pattern for today's locks.  This group was smaller - only 12' deep and the whole experience was very pleasant. 

Typical lock on Canal de Briare

Over the last couple of days we reckon we've ascended approx. 225 feet and the scenery is changing (don't think we're suffering with altitude sickness just yet though).  We've seen a water vole going about his business and several majestic Red Kites circling above us and open fields - lovely!

Typical vista along the Canal de Briare

We moored at lunchtime on the canalside opposite a group of artists painting the original 'Sept Ecluses' (now disused) and what a lovely picture that would make.  Here's a snapshot:

Artists painting the now disused Sept Ecluses - you can see the old lock walls in the background

After a very pleasant day's cruising we moored at Rogny-les-Sept-Ecluses PdP - a long quayside mooring with power and water. 

Locks: 6 (total 87)
Miles: 6 (total 308)

The next leg of our journey to Briare involves our first staircase lock - a series of 12 locks very close together: 6 up and 6 down.  We've been told that they're quite straightforward and I think I have to go ashore with a line and walk the boat up with Mick at the helm - a case of 'suck it and see' we think.  So whether we'll do all 12 locks or split them 50:50 we don't know yet. 

So, until the next post - out!