Category Archives: Cruising in France

Mini-Trip to Lyon (September 2012)

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Sandra

Sunday 9th September 2012 I hate getting up and leaving home in the dark when we’re on our way to France, but an alarm call at 4.15am for a 5.15am departure was the order of the day today. We were … Continue reading →

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Posted in Cruising in France | Tagged astronomical clock, Azium Centre, Belleville, Cathedrale de St Jean, Confluence, Fourviere, Grand Lyon, Lyon, Macon, Montmerle sur Saone, Neuville sur Saone, Orange Pay As You Go, Pont de Vaux, roman amphitheatre, SFR, Trevoux, Vieux Lyon | 2 Comments

Canal du Centre, Digoin – Pont de Vaux (July 2012)

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Sandra

Wednesday 4th July It had taken us 9 days so far to make our way back to port from Briare and we were pretty much on schedule. Having passed through Digoin going up to midday, we received a big boost … Continue reading →

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Posted in Cruising in France | Tagged Blanzy, Canal du Centre, Chagny, Chalong sur Saone, Chalonne sur Saone, Chateau Digoine, Ecuisse locks, floating bollards, Fragnes, Genelard, Gigny, locks on Canal du Centre, Montceau les Mines, Occupation zone France, Paray-le-Monial, Pont de Vaux, Reyssouze, Santennay, St Julienne sur Dheune, St Leger sur Dheune, Tournus, Vichy Line | 4 Comments

Briare – Digoin (Canal Lateral a la Loire) July 2012

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Sandra

Tuesday 26 June On a grey, drizzly morning we set off from Briare to start the return leg of our summer cruising. We hadn’t got as far as we wanted to, having planned to continue onto the Canal du Briare … Continue reading →

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Posted in Cruising in France | Tagged Apremont sur Allier, Beaulon, Beffes, Belleville, Briare, Canal Lateral a la Loire, Coulanges, Cours des Barres, Decize, Decize port, Digoin, Diou, Gannay sur Loire, Garnet sur Engevre, Guetin locks, Herry, Lera, Marseilles les Aubigny, Menetreol, mosquitoes on Loire, Nevers, Nevers port, Pierrefitte, Plagny, rope handling | Leave a comment

Desormais – Facts and Photos

Posted on July 1, 2012 by Sandra

Several people who read our cruising reports have expressed an interest in the layout of the boat, so I have added this page in response. The photographs were mostly taken on the day we went to view Desormais, shortly after … Continue reading →

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Posted in Cruising in France | Tagged ., boat layouts, cruising in France, Desormais, dutch barge, Sagar barges | 10 Comments

Canal Lateral a la Loire: Digoin to Briare (June 2012)

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Sandra

Friday 8th June Moored at Digoin, where it rained occasionally during the night with the odd distant growl of thunder, and we woke to grey skies interspersed with patches of blue and the odd pale ray of sunshine. We’d been … Continue reading →

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Posted in Cruising in France | Tagged Canal Lateral a la Loire, Cours les Barres, Decize, Decizes, Diou, Fleury sur Loire, french mobile internet, Gannay sur Loire, Guetin, locks on Canal Lateral a la Loire, Menetreol, Nevers, new port Decize, Pierrefitte, Tree of Sully | 18 Comments

Canal du Centre, Chalon s/Saone – Digoin, (May 2012)

Posted on June 10, 2012 by Sandra

Sunday 20th May We caught the 9.30 ferry from Dover, leaving England in cold grey weather and arriving to similar in Calais. The temperature there was 10 degrees, but as we drove south the skies brightened, the temperatures rose gradually … Continue reading →

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Posted in Cruising in France | Tagged Blanzy, Canal du Centre, Chagny, Digoin, Fragnes, Genelard, Montceau les Mines, Paray-le-Monial, Saone, St Julienne sur Dheune, St Leger sur Dheune | 7 Comments

Grounded on the Saone (April 2012)

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Sandra

Grounded on the Saone Sunday 1st April, 2012 We were approaching PK103, in sight of the Uchizy bridge, heading north from Pont de Vaux to Tournus for a quick overnighter to check everything on the boat was working fine. Neville … Continue reading →

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Posted in Cruising in France | Tagged digues, Pont de Vaux, river rescue, running aground, Saone, Tournus, underwater obstructions | 6 Comments

Visit to Pont de Vaux, March 2012

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Sandra

24th March We arrived towards 6.00pm, having set off from Cambridgeshire at 5.15am to catch the 9.00 am ferry. This time we used DFDS, though the boat, Norman Spirit, appeared to be a boat from LD lines, who we’ve used … Continue reading →

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Posted in Cruising in France | Tagged boating in France, cross channel ferries, Pont de Vaux, supermarkets shops in Pont de Vaux, Vire wines | Leave a comment

Lyon to Pont de Vaux via the Saone, (Autumn 2011, Part 4)

Posted on October 8, 2011 by Sandra

We’ve really enjoyed staying in Lyon. When we lived in Spain we used to drive through the city eight or ten times a year on our way there and back, and hadn’t formed a very favourable impression as we hurtled … Continue reading →

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Posted in Cruising in France | Tagged Basilica Fourviere, Belville, Canal de Pont de Vaux, Ecluse de Couzens, Ecluse de Drace, Grand Lyon Marina, Lyon, Macon, Moorings on the Saone, Pont de Vaux, Pont de Vaux Marina, Saone, Trevoux | 2 Comments

Crossing L’Etang du Thau and navigating the Rhone to Lyon, Autumn 2011 Pt 3

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Sandra

Leaving Grau d’Agde about 9.45 am, we were in good time for the 11.30 ascent up the Agde round lock, and I bought bread, strawberries, beetroot and potatoes from the stall just by the lock whilst we waited. Once in … Continue reading →