Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
European Adventure 2017
We had been warned by fellow boaters that the river was low ahead of us and that a couple of boats had run aground. We needn't have worried though as when we woke the river had risen about 30cm or so probably due to rain further upstream somewhere which probably explains it's colour. We headed off after our usual breakfast of fresh croissants stopping a few kilometres away at the town of Lavardac. This town was once the hub of the barge transport industry as the river narrows from here and most produce had to transferred from large barges to smaller boats. At one stage apparently there would be up to 100 boats at the wharf but today there was just ours! The walk through the town didn't take long but it was very pretty. There was a perfume in the air throughout the town which I couldn't pin point but obviously it was from the many gardens and flowering trees. The swallows were present again in their numbers. A coffee stop there and Lidka disappeared into the local patisserie returning with goodies for later...so yummy and so cheap! The good thing about doing this trip in the early season and also doing the smaller towns is that is is not busy, in fact we often wonder where all the people are. Those we do meet though are very friendly and very helpful. It really does help to have someone to speak the language though. The second lock we came to today proved interesting. The previous boat through warned us that we would need to raise our fenders as it was very narrow. This done we moved into place just as another boat came downstream. The flow of water was quite strong and he was unable to hold out in the river to wait for us so he ended up blocking the exit for us! Took a bit of manoeuvring but we got thru. Well done captain Kidd! The next loch looked very pretty as we came into it and as we raised up to ground level a lovely guest house came into view. The man in the red shirt suddenly saw our All Black flag and started yelling 'All Black' and making a cut throat sign. Then he told us we were 'forbidden' until smiling broadly he made some comments in French none of us could understand and then wished us a good day with a friendly wave. Our instruction book told us that the entrance into the Port of Nerac was spectacular and it certainly was. This town is where Henry the lV made his home and his house is now a museum. It is a beautiful town especially down by the water and you just can't stop snapping shots with the camera at every turn. Our first stop in Nerac was to a chocolate factory to do some 'research' for Sarah. Yummy place and we did buy some. Wandering the town was lovely but it was busier than the other little places. There are many areas to explore so we may do that in the morning and may stay here another night. The locks have now become much narrower as this part of the river was only serviced by smaller boats when the river was used for transport. After the Second World War the canal was not used at all and the land beside the river sold into private ownership. Only relatively recently has it been opened for small hire and privately owned craft only which is why it is so quiet. There has been some issues over the past few days with low water levels and a problem with one of the locks about a day away from where we are. Geoff reckons it won't be a problem as he will contact the Christchurch locksmiths and get it sorted!
- comments
mum Worth going to bed after midnight .didnt want to stop looking - absolutely fabulous.
Zs YUM!!!!!!!!!
Zs hope that you all ate a lot of chocolate - looks delish!