Briennone, France

Early morning view of the church and Gite from across the canal.

Detail of the typical Burgundian tile roof.

Charming looking Gite next to the church.

The interior of the church was unusual

Another detail of the church interior.

We don't normally see such ornate church interiors.

Don't they look sweet.

We had beautiful walks along the canal.

Moss and weeds growing in the canal.

We saw this colorful character fishing along the canal.

During the week I cook every meal.  I haven't learned the art of "take out" or "prepared" foods.  When the weekend comes I'm ready for a night out with my honey.  Sometimes the meals are romantic and extra special.  Other times I'm just happy not to be cooking and cleaning up afterwards.  This particular evening turned out to be a wonderful surprise as well as a treat.  We drove further than expected to find Le Petit Prince Restaurant in a tiny village.  Every course was amazing as well as a work of art.  Afterwards, the owner proudly showed us his old and new wine cellars under the restaurant.

Flavorful little bites to tease the palette 

My main course with lobster

Tom's dish was equally beautiful

Desserts were imaginative, visually attractive and delicious as well.

My sweetheart with a homemade lollipop 

The cellar path was lined with wine corks.  

 After such a romantic and special meal it's all downhill.  Still, I didn't have to market, cook or clean up afterwards.

This is what happens from too much spaghetti.

Many of you who know me are aware that I love shooting and used to compete.  On one of our walks we found a shooting range.  I wish I could have joined them for a round or two.

I didn't know shooting ranges existed in France.

New style wine bottle holders.  A better use for all those stiletto's sitting in in the back of women's closets.

Cruising from Montceau-les-Mines to Roanne, France

Standing on the deck of Rabelo looking downriver, as we cruise the Canal du Centre that crosses over the Loire River.

Early morning walks are magical.  The air is crisp, the feeling peaceful, and it seems that the world is just waking up with you.  Tying up in Dignoine was a treat.  We went to sleep listening to the cows mooing in the fields just next to the canal.  As we passed from daylight into evening we watched as the clouds lit up in vibrant pinks reflecting on the canal.  There were lights shining on the chateau in the distance making it glow in the advancing dark.  When we embarked on our early morning walk the mist was rising off the grey-green pastures.  We were up early because the roosters were making such a din before the sun came up. 

We had hoped to take some of our friends to visit the Digoine Chateau, but discovered limited visiting hours on weekends only.  If you are ever in the area, check the hours and if you have the opportunity take their tour.

Digoine Chateau

View from our mooring looking up at the Digoine Chateau.

Early evening pink clouds reflecting in the canal.

Peaceful morning on the Canal du Centre.

Mists rising over the fields with the Charolais cows calmly eating their breakfast. 

Charolaise cows contentedly grazing.

We didn't have the heart to tell these beauties that we might meet up again one day for dinner. 

Digoine Chateau...another angle.

 The Pont Canal (bridge) was built between 1834-1838 allowing barges to cross over the Loire River. It is 243 meters long.

Rabelo crossing over the Loire River.

Captain Nathalie with me on Rabelo as we cross over the Loire River looking upstream.

                                      

Barging can provide excitement in many forms.  We pushed hard cruising from Montceau Les Mines to Roanne.  That meant putting in 3 very long days and cruising for a total of 5 days.  We covered a distance of 67.5 miles in that time.  We managed to go aground a few times.  How can that happen you might wonder?  After all, we've spent enough time cruising that we would know what we are doing.  But there are extenuating circumstances...sometimes.  1)  The water can be too shallow in areas.  2)  The driver may get distracted (or not be paying close attention), or 3) In the process of moving over to avoid touching another barge, we get caught in the shallows.  No matter how it happens getting stuck isn't a good thing.  Sometimes the VNF (the organization responsible for keeping the canals in working condition) miss maintaining a few areas.  Here the vegetation needed taming.  Some of you may remember the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland.  We encountered our own jungle.

Rabelo struggling through the jungle encroaching on our waterway.

It's a jungle out there.

 There are all types of locks throughout Europe.  France has a variety of styles of locks that come in different lengths, widths, and depths.  They are also in various states of repair.

Entering this lock was like trying to maneuver up a raging river.

This lock was extremely deep with a tremendous amount of water leaking through the lock doors.  Our deck was awash with water.

With locks this deep we can't reach the bollard to tie up.  The lock keeper drops a rope with a hook which we put our line through.  They can then pull our line up and hopefully safely tie us up.

It's a tight fit in these locks.

Nathalie tried her hand at cooking a Reblechon Tart with handmade crust.  It was delicious!

Montceau les Mimes and St. Leger sur D'heune, France

The occasional dinner on Rabelo we call "grazing."  Or, how we suffer on Rabelo.

While always enjoying the food and wine of France, we also never tire of the scenery.  Up and down we go traveling the watery roads made up of rivers and canals.  There are certain passages we repeat annually.  They never look the same.  As the seasons progress, the terrain and sky change.  In early spring we see bare earth.  Gradually plants poke their heads up through the stony ground.  The maturing crops are gently caressed by delicate breezes.  We see alfalfa, barley, sunflowers, grapevines and more.  At times the sunflowers extend as far as the eye can see.  They lift their faces upwards, tracking the sun from early morning until late afternoon.  Then they bow their heads as if in prayer, waiting for the sun to return.  The farmers come out with their equipment to cut and mow down the stalks, leaving bales of hay dotting the fields in a picturesque manner.  Once the process is complete the story will start all over agin the following season.  The sky, which can go from leaden grey clouds heavy with water, to brilliant fluffy puffs, will eventually transform to a dazzling blue.  Tom and I marvel at the magnificence of the clouds here.  It’s as if someone is using the sky as a giant canvas with paints and brush, each day contemplating what views to present us with next.   I don’t anticipate ever growing bored with the bounty France presents us.

Rabelo going under a low bridge then carefully gliding her way into a lock with only inches on either side.

These locks are tight!

Tom didn't have to duck under this bridge.  Our pilot house is down.

Plenty of room in front of Rabelo in this lock...so we thought.

But then discovered we had very little space in back.  Tom had better turn the rudder to the side.

Rabelo glistening in the sunlight is majestically exiting a lock.

We went through some deep locks.

 It is wonderful waking up to find the open market by our front door.

In Montceau les Mines the open market was right by our front steps.

You could purchase chickens already cooked.

If you prefer, you can purchase your chickens extra fresh.  

There was an endless array of cheeses from many venders.  Some carried only varieties of goat cheese.

I'm on the lookout for a nice rose, but worry about how they store their stock.  Perhaps in their unrefrigerated van?  They didn't look to have many customers that morning.

The meats looked wonderful

Beautiful plump figs and ripe tomatoes.

The vegetables were arranged like a painting.  Are you hungry yet?

Do these rabbits make you lose your appetite.

Cruising the Canal du Centre

Famous white cows of France contentedly digesting their morning meal.

 Wild blackberry season finally arrived in France.  On our morning walk we gorged ourselves on the wild blackberries we found along the road.  Of course the most beautiful, ripest, fattest ones are just out of reach from the boat as we pass.  What a waste.

I can't imagine why this miniature dutch windmill was on the road where we were walking.

Not all our walks are along a canal.

Wildflowers fill neglected fields.

If we time it just right Alban can take our motorcycle off the boat without using the crane, while we are in a lock.  Then he can go retrieve our car.