October 12. Cercy la Tour to Decize.

Our last day of cruising ☹️. Tomorrow we say good-bye to Calypso 29 and head to Paris to say goodbye to Peter, who has decided to go home. But today we enjoy a peaceful cruise with hardly any locks.

Mower-mulcher.

Look at the “goats” says Ken. I only saw sheep.

The back and forth nattering continues unabated. I hid inside the boat.

Look at the “ducks and geese” said Ken. I  was inside when he passed the birds so he pulled the boat over to the side so I could jump off and run back for some photos of the “geese”.

Very odd looking geese.

I didn’t make it to the lock before the boat started it’s descent into the depths but we were mooring right after so I ran ahead to be rope crew from shore to avoid getting yelled at by Captain Bligh. A aaaaargh, matey!

Just a beautiful statue beside the canal.

Brilliant fall colours. But for some reason I think it is still summer.

So many names from WW1 and only 4 from WW2.

Disappeared in Buchenwald concentration camp.

Executed by Nazis 1944.  France surrendered in 1940, so only one casualty. You have to assume that the 3 who were executed were resistance fighters as this area was occupied by the Germans.

But on a happier note, today when I walked through the town, I passed townsfolk carrying big pots of food and then realized there was a “walk-a-thon” happening, with a meal at the end. I was tempted to pull out our credentials to show we had walked about 300 km, not just 6 or 12, so we could cadge a meal. They probably would have welcomed us but I was too chicken to ask.

We passed so many walkers as we were leaving, they all waved and said hello. My arm was getting tired but you had to wave to all the little ones who were excited to see a boat.

Coming into Decize, the end of the canal.

Thank you for visiting the Canal du Nivernais. Then we sail onto the river Loire.

I went for an explore with one last bike ride. Called Peter out from across the port.

We met an American couple who gave Ken a 9 out of 10 for his parking, then changed it to 8 out of 10 for “indecisiveness ” when he changed his mooring spot.

Peter’s supper from the automatic pizza distributor. Hey, don’t turn your nose up at it. Automatic pizza dispensers saved us a few times on the Via Francigena, when sometimes they spit out the only available food for the day.  As Ken says, it’s not the best pizza but it’s not the worst either.

We spent the evening yakking with some Australian ladies who were also finishing their week afloat as an American couple who joined the “own a boat” program with Leboat.

One of the ladies had done the Camino Frances and had the same Camino shell necklace as me. She asked why I bought one with colours and I just said Ken picked it out for me. I wasn’t sure where she was going with that. She also stated we should carry our own packs so I think perhaps she has a strong stance or personal belief on what a pilgrimage should be. I prefer not to get into those conversations.

We also packed up Rawley, who is going home with Peter. We are just going to carry our packs so we’ll see how that goes. I am already practicing my whinging about how heavy my pack is.