October 7. Canal du Nivernais. Monceaux-le-Comte to Ecluse 24 Yonne. 

Did I mention Scott made Pasta Carbonera for supper last night?

Pretty chilly in the boat this morning. Like clumbing out of your toasty sleeping bag and out of the tent. Wear a sweater, says Captain Bligh.

Breakfast of champions – bacon flavoured Bugles! Bacon is for breakfast, isn’t it? Why don’t we have Bugles in Canada anymore? I’m going to bring back a case of them.

This village was supposed to have a small grocery (it did not) but Ken and I did manage to break up a potential cat fight. We couldn’t understand why this guy wouldn’t move even when a car narrowly missed him.  But it was a stand off as we were soon to see, which we apparently and rudely interrupted.

The bully.

The intended victim.

Off we go…with no stray cats on board. 😟

Mistle-toe killed trees. Peter wants to know why mistletoe is associated with Christmas cheer when it is actually a serial killer. Good question.

Hung up our Canadian flag but when I went to adjust it, I found a French stowaway.

Another lock-keeper. They manage several at the same time and go between them by van or bicycle.

Ominous cloud!

On this stretch of the canal we are climbing towards a summit. So we drive into a lock, the lock is filled, the boat moves up, and we drive out at a higher level.

You need rope crew to man ropes at the front and back of the boat to hold the boat at the side of the lock and prevent the boat from crashing around in the lock. The water rushes in very very quickly.

I am rope crew. Heavy sigh.

If you look where the ropes are hitting the rock, you can see a groove carved into the rock where the ropes have rubbed it over the centuries

Inside the lock.

Baaaa.

One of the planned highlights of the trip was crossing paths with Ken’s bird dog pilot and his partner. Ken had convinced them to try a canal trip. They started at the south end and we were coming from the north. Given how narrow the canal is and the fact that there are very few boats on the canal this time of year, I suspect we won’t have trouble finding each other.

We ended up mooring at the rival boat company’s Locaboat base for the night, with shore power, water and showers. But no photos. I am slipping.

Scott had a big dinner planned (Ken’s birthday party) and needed a few more supplies, so he and I rode our bikes 5 km to a grocery store and back.

Poinsettias for sale already? And less than 6 bucks Canadian for a good sized healthy plant???

May I just point out that MrMorallySuperior did not stop at this train crossing? He who always points out that I have failed to signal appropriately or come to a complete and full stop? Sheesh.

By the time we returned to the boat, Bonnie and Kurt had arrived. Scott made a pesto chicken pasta, a Calabrese salad (layers of fresh mozzarella and tomatoes) and linguine with pesto and chicken. Best of all were the poached pears with ice cream (yes, we carted the ice cream in our packs from the store). Scott has been feeding us extremely well, including the omelets and lentil salad for lunch.

Oddly enough, I took no photos of the dinner party, our guests, or the feast Scott prepared.

It was definitely a highlight meeting up with Kurt and Bonnie, good company and a chance to get to know them better…and practice our English.