Wednesday 4th November 2009

7.4°C Sunny spells, a few sharp showers. Mike was up just after eight in case the EDF came early. On with the chores. I started cleaning out the kitchen cupboards. We intended to go shopping in Decize but the EDF turned up at lunchtime and connected the box to the wires at the top of the pole. Mike’s lunch (cassoulet) got mushy while he was sorting out connections and cables, etc. I took a couple of photos of the set up. We all agreed none of it would pass the regulations in the UK. There were no ties around the cable from the top of the pole to the box which was right down at its base (due to the short length of cable to the junction box supplied by the electrician). The electrician the day before had fastened Chris’s box to a tree.

Well, that’s Temujin settled for the Winter. So, as there will be no more boating until next April, I thought we would blog the beginning of this year’s cruise (and maybe a few of the early years too) so if you want to read how we got here read on.............


http://nbtemujin2009.blogspot.com/


or, if you want to go further back in time?


http://nbtemujin2008.blogspot.com/

Tuesday 3rd November 2009

5.9°C Grey, chilly and wet, rain most of the day heavy at times. Kept the coal fire going. I got on with the chores and did some cupboard clear outs. The EDF van came. The EDF man told them they had to get a box as he didn’t have them, the customer has to buy his own. Mike and M went to Nevers to get one. Back for lunchtime. C’s electrician turned up with the junction box he’d asked for and connected it up to the EDF box that Mike had bought from Nevers. No signs of the EDF turning again up as evening approached. Mike pulled the string on the gennie hoping we would have shore power next day. 

Monday 2nd November 2009 Champvert for the Winter.

7.4°C Rain overnight, grey clouds with sunny spells, occasional downpours. The men went to see the Mayor. All sorted, we were OK welcome to stay for the winter. After lunch Mike and I went to find somewhere selling electricity boxes. Eventually found one in Nevers for 340€ inc tax! Ouch! We went home via the scenic route on the west side of the river, via Fleury (and surprise - the dead Dawncraft cruiser was still there). Mike went to tell the news to the neighbours. They’d seen F (from Chatillon, now moored at St Ledger) who was disgruntled with the card system of paying for electricity there, which came to about 1€ per KWh. M said he didn’t tell him we were at Champvert and attempting to get the EDF to connect C to the electricity as he couldn’t come and join us as the locks were now closed. The boats at Gannay had been told to move and most of them were now at Decize opposite the LeBoat base. Apparently they weren’t happy as they were moored along the towpath with no facilities. 

Sunday 1st November 2009 Cercy-la-Tour to Champvert

10.5°C Grey, misty start after rain in the night. Rain held off until we’d been moored up for a few hours. I did a few chores while Mike refilled the water tank and went to the boulangerie for a loaf. We left at 9.25 a.m. M and D said se ya later as we winded with the flow and went past The Big Boat. The two cruisers had booked the locks for the afternoon. We passed a few fishermen and cyclists on the way down to lock 32, Roche, but no boat traffic – not surprising as after today the canal will be closed. Arrived at the lock at 10.45 a.m. just a few minutes later than the time Mike had arranged. The lady keeper had her husband working as her assistant; he was just winding a bottom end paddle down as we came within sight of the lock. She asked if we were going to La Copine and was surprised when we said no, Champvert - on the quay. The 3 kms pound below Roche was down a bit, so that was why they were running water when we got there. Down the last lock, 33 Champvert. Said au’voir and bon apetit to the keeper and her husband as we left. Mike tried to wind by the quay, but the canal was about a foot too narrow; he tried again just around the bend but again it still wouldn’t go, this time by only a few inches. Gave up and carried on down to La Copine, where it turned easily in the entrance to the old port. Waved to the guy with the boat on the hard in the port. It was just midday as we set off back up to the quay at Champvert. Tied next to the piled edge with ropes round new concrete bollards set well back from the water. Mike set the gennie up and the TV dish while I was making lunch. He watched the last F1 of the season and I expanded my new online family tree on Ancestry. The Big Boat and Lightbreeze arrived around 2.40 p.m. and moored behind us. Mike was recording the racing for M to watch later. When the race finished he gave M a lift back to Cercy to collect his car. There were loads of people walking past - and we thought there would be none as the towpath is on the far bank and the cycle path goes through the village. They all went home when it started raining heavily..  

Saturday 31st October 2009 Cercy-la-Tour. C. du Nivernais

6.8°C Misty grey morning, warm sunshine in the afternoon. It was the last F1 of the year, from a brand new circuit in Abu Dhabi. Mike watched the qualis. 

Friday 30th October 2009 Cercy-la-Tour. C. du Nivernais

2.3° C Misty start then warm sunshine. We were going to have a day out sightseeing in the car, but Mike said he really ought to be there when the electrican brought C the electricity box as he knows nothing about electric (he didn’t turn up). The lady lock keeper from Cercy came and told M that we couldn’t leave on Monday we had to leave on Sunday as there was a new stoppage notice which said the canal was closing a week early due to water shortages. (Load of bunk, there was no water shortage on the Nivernais.) The last F1 GP was on Sunday so Mike checked how far it was to Champvert and the time of the GP. After lunch he went to the lock, spoke to the lock keeper’s husband and told him we’d like to leave Sunday morning at 9.30 a.m. - just us, the others were still moving after lunch. He said he would tell her.

Wednesday 28th October 2009 Cercy-la-Tour. C. du Nivernais

0.7°C Chilly night, glad we’d got the winter duvet on the bed. Sunny and warm. C was still annoyed with the EDF for not ringing him back. Just have to wait, we’re in the system. On with the jobs. Later C had a call from the EDF. There would be someone at Champvert on Tuesday to install the electricity. Looks like we’ll finally be moving on Monday!

Tuesday 27th October 2009 Cercy-la-Tour. C. du Nivernais

0.9°C Sunny and very mild after a foggy cold night. Mike went with M and C to the Mairie in Champvert. The secretary said that the EDF would be coming to sort out electricity at Port de la Copine; they told her we didn’t want to go there we wanted to stay in the village, she said the mooring there belonged to the VNF. Well, we’d already got their permission to stay there so we’ll organise our own electricity. When they got back C rang the EDF. The woman from the EDF who was supposed to ring C back with details and costs, didn’t; so he tried to ring her back and ended up going round in circles, getting annoyed and frustrated and using up all the credit on his ‘phone. 

Monday 26th October 2009 Cercy-la-Tour. C. du Nivernais

3.7°C Sunny with a few clouds, late evening fog. Had a visit from some old friends from the UK who belong to the same boat club as us and also have a house in France near Roanne. They had decided to come on spec to find us. It was really nice to see them and have a good catch up session!

Sunday 25th October 2009 Cercy-la-Tour. C. du Nivernais

9.2°C Beautiful sunny morning until just after we got up then black clouds rolled in. A few sunny spells in the afternoon. 

Saturday 24th October 2009 Cercy-la-Tour. C. du Nivernais

7.5°C Grey and damp. Drizzling when we got up, continued all day, much milder. 

Friday 23rd October 2009 Cercy-la-Tour. C. du Nivernais

9.5°C Grey morning, sunny spells in the afternoon. It rained heavily in the night but the window didn’t leak! Success! The lock keeper had called to tell M that C had set off but had broken down, he didn’t know where he was. Lightbreeze arrived OK later on one engine.

Thursday 22nd October 2009 Cercy-la-Tour. C. du Nivernais

4.1°C Colder again overnight. Sunny warm morning, clouding over mid-afternoon. Mike took the secondary glazing off the starboard side bedroom window and we investigated where the rain water had found access the day before. Came to the conclusion that the wind had forced it through the corners of the hoppers. Mike put some new draught excluder around the hopper and some clear sealer in the corners.

Wednesday 21st October 2009 Cercy-la-Tour. C. du Nivernais

12.8°C Much milder night. Grey clouds and rain. The Mayor wasn’t in again. The young secretary was sorry but the EDF hadn’t been in touch either. It started to rain on the way home. It poured with rain all afternoon so we played PCs. Rain eased off. The pillows and the bed below the window were soaking wet - the window had leaked. An unexpected job for next day!

Tuesday 20th October 2009 Cercy-la-Tour. C. du Nivernais

3.1°C Cloudy with a few sunny spells, chilly breeze. After lunch we went to Champvert to see the Mayor again. Her secretary was there but she was only there mornings. She said to call in to see her at nine the next morning. Mike went out with the camera to take photos of the weir and an old stone mooring quay on the little river Canne which joins the Aron a few metres in front of our moorings.

Monday 19th October 2009 Cercy-la-Tour. C. du Nivernais

-4.7°C Another very cold night, even with the central heating on low and one panel heater on the temperature in the cabin dipped down to 13.9°C, but we were warm enough under the duvet! Sunny, chilly day spent doing minor repairs to the boat and car, getting them ready for winter. 

Sunday 18th October 2009 Cercy-la-Tour. C. du Nivernais

-1.1°C River fog until mid-morning then clear blue skies and sunshine all day. A LeBoat  that had moored on the pontoon overnight left at 10.45 a.m. as the fog was starting to lift. Mike went to get some bread; the car wouldn’t start so he walked (half hour round trip plus a long wait as there was a shop full of customers buying cakes as it was Sunday). 

Saturday 17th October 2009 Cercy-la-Tour. C. du Nivernais

SORRY! WE'VE BEEN BUSY! 7.11.2009 - catching up now!!!

4.0° C Warmer overnight. Sunny but cold all day. Mike had a chat with the neighbours about what we were going to do; decided Roanne was too far and that going to Champvert and relying on our generators for power would be OK until we could arrange shore electricity.