Wednesday 12th August
Fragnes to Rully
8.5km 8 locks 2½ hours
We set off at 9am and we were very lucky that a cruiser left at the same time, just ahead of us, and they kindly waited for us and we went through the 8 locks together. As they were in front in the locks they had to pull the blue cord to activate the locks, 3 of which were the deep 5m locks which have floating bollards. All the locks filled gently which was a relief as last year we found the locks filled quite viciously going up the other way on the Canal du Centre.
We were aiming for a mooring at Rully, where we knew there was only space for one barge, and we were really pleased to see it was vacant so we moored there at 11.30am.
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| We luckily went into the locks with this cruiser so they had to deal with pulling the blue cord to activate the lock I bet they cursed when they saw us turn up behind them at the first lock! |
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| These big 5m locks filled nice and gently |
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| Our mooring at Rully We sat outside late one night to spot shooting stars, we did see quite a few corkers |
Thursday 13th August
We cycled 2km into Rully to try and find somewhere that was willing to deliver wine and cremant to our boat. Last year we found a cave quite near to the canal but they wouldn’t deliver so we could only buy what we could carry on our bikes.
In the centre of Rully we found one smart wine producer, which had a sign that said it was open and we went in. Before we started a tasting we asked if they would deliver to our boat, the lady said yes, but after our tasting and after we'd decided to buy 24 bottles of wine and cremant, she then said they didn’t deliver….she must have misunderstood our previous question….so we explained we’d come by bike and that our boat was only about 5 mins drive away by car and we weren’t leaving until tomorrow morning but she still said NON! So off we went again in search of someone who would deliver. Luckily we found one open and willing to deliver and we ended up buying 30 bottles a mixture of white Rully’s and white and rosé Cremant du Bourgogne.
We then went for a fabulous lunch in the village square, certainly somewhere we would be returning to.
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| Briday were happy to sell and then deliver our wine to our boat |
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| We had a fabulous lunch in the town square |
Friday 14th August
Rully to Santenay
8 km 3 locks 2 hours
We could see our first lock of the day from our mooring at Rully, so at 9am we waited for the light to come on and for it to be green. Nothing happened, so at 9.10am we rang the control centre number and we were told an eclusier would arrive shortly to fix it. He arrived in his van, he did something at the lock and the light went green and at 9.30am we went through our first lock of the day. The second lock was a deep 5m lock, with floating bollards. We had walked to have a look at it the previous evening, so we knew the blue cord came down where the ladder was at the front of the lock. After putting our middle and bow rope on the nearest floating bollard to the ladder, I pulled the blue cord, nothing happened, I pulled it again, and again, nothing. Its quite daunting being in the deep lock, so with no intention of climbing up the ladder out of the deep lock, we rang the control centre again, and the same eclusier arrived in his van. He then opened the lock house and set the lock in motion for us.
The third lock was another deep 5m lock, this we think we operated ourselves, although the eclusier was around talking to some hire boats waiting to come down the lock. The deep locks filled very gently and on the last deep lock we just had a middle line on the floating bollard and I was able to reach the blue cord to pull it to set the lock into action.
We were aiming for Santenay, and had our fingers crossed there would be space at the mooring for us, and there was…..hurray!! We planned to stay here for the weekend.
We cycled into Santenay, and we bought some more wine, white Santenay and Aligote, and more cremant, and they happily delivered to our boat.
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| entering a 5m deep lock |
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| I pulled the blue cord and nothing happened The blue cord is hidden, you find it behind the 5m ladder |
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| Beautiful stretch of canal past Chagny on the way to Santenay vineyards are in view up on the hillside |
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| We couldn't understand why a small newsagent/tabac in Santenay had a poker set in a smart carry case for sale in the window looking very dusty and with a sun bleached display box..... |
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| .....then we realised that the town may have an interest in Poker as they have their very own Casino We saw signs to Santernay Casino and thought it was the local Casino chain of supermarket! |
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| Santernay has a beautiful mooring |
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| Picnic tables at our mooring with fab views of vineyards Cooking line caught sword fish on our Cobb BBQ |
Saturday 15th August
16km bike ride Santenay to Nolay
We found a cycle route that uses an old railway line going from Santenay through vineyards to Nolay. An uphill ride all the way to Nolay, which was not too hard as it was a gentle uphill gradient, and the bonus was that it was really easy coming back.
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| Fab views of vineyards on our cycle ride along an old disused railway line |
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| Views along the cycle route Santenay to Nolay |
Saturday evening we went for a fabulous meal at Le Terroir, a restaurant in Santenay. Luckily we’d booked, as in the evening outside there was a sign to say it was fully booked that evening. We now will not be able to visit Santenay without having a meal there. The service was brilliant and the food was delicious.
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| Walking to the restaurant in Santenay vineyards in the background |
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| Great meal in a very nice restaurant in Santenay |
Sunday 16th August
9km bike ride to Chagny
On Sunday morning we cycled to Chagny, back along the canal. They have a huge Sunday market, its well worth a visit. We bought our obligatory spit roast chicken, plus some fresh veg and a freshly cooked lobster. We know it was freshly cooked as it was swimming around seconds before it was put into the oven!
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| A fantastic fishmongers in Chagny |
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| Weighing our live lobster |
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| Our live lobster going into the oven you can't get fresher than that! It did taste delicious |
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