Dav and Pen

A rather fiery sunset this day 2017 Auxonne R. Saone

Today 2009 leaving Bar Le Duc. Sign for the Voie Sacre the supply route to Verdun and road waiting for water. (as it should)

Another load of sand for Paris. St Mammes upper Seine today 201b3

Today 2017 on upper Saone. Think the crew want to stop here

Today in 2018. It was common to have long periods of hot days in Burgundy. On this day we had electricity on the moorings so Barney found the coolest place.

2013 Lock on R.Yonne near Sens. The weir is being rebuilt and automated.

Replica Loire boat on the river near Dezice 2016

Working up the treble locks on the Nivernais canal today 2017

Rambling Rose although fiction is based on the lives of 2 boatladies called Rose both of whom I had the honor of knowing. It depicts their lives well and is a good read. The other books in the list are about ladies working boats during WW2 as their contribution towards the war effort as some boatmen had joined the forces.

Today in 2010 on the Briare canal a flower lock office

Tough but I can’t understand you would pay all that money for something not “seaworthy “ and then expect to run a business. How bad is it.

On today Bastille day in 2015 the firework display at Gray on the R. Saone

There are a lot of trials of various types of wind assistance devices being tried out on commercial ships. There are rotors and computer controlled wind sails shaped like the ones on surf boards and a Japanese company is planning on using huge kites. So far they have made savings of around 8% on co2 emissions. The rotor type seem to be most popular and they are particularly popular with Scandinavian ships mainly bulk carriers but at least one ferry has some fitted. This plus hybrid systems and use of ammonia and Lng is the near future for commercial shipping.

Apologies just re read the list and the Droitwich is on it. Enjoyed the work parties there and learnt to drive a Smalley digger as well.

The formation of WRG and events like the Ashton big dig kept the pressure un BW to at least stop closures and then slowly and at first very grudgingly join in the restoration effort. Think the Droitwich deserves to be on the list.

Today in 2009 George and Helen ( now retired ) coming down the chain of lock at Conde Sur Marne with load of petro coke for a cement plant on the Rhone.

Single handed was much harder before lock ladders were installed especially in wide locks easy to get off when going down but bit scary to jump onto the roof when empty. At places like Somerton deep used to pull the boat out with a rope after starting it with a bit of a flush. In a flight like Hatton it was easiest to use a paddle on the opposite side which held the boat against the wall and walk up to the next lock shut gates open one paddle walk back open gate get on boat go out (didn’t shut gates in those days) push bottom gate of next lock open. Down hill used mast line to open gate and drive out. Biggest problem were the lift bridges on the southern Oxford as all were worked from the offside and some were to heavy to push up from the towpath side and use the Banbury stick. Only made the mistake once of getting off without a line as had great difficulty getting back on. Single handed is not hard once you work out a method that suits you and stick to it .

In 2015 a rather fine butterfly visited the flower tub on this day.

A nice sunset on the Upper Saone river tonight 2016

Today 2012 the leaders of the stage of the Tour de France cross the canal t Conde sur Marne.

Could be a reaction between different makes or types of paint.

You can buy this grade of oil at any motor factors, they often have the make Comma which is good.

This was 3 fellows base years ago.

Waterway or nature reserve think the former judging by the press release.

Today in 2016 on the Burgundy canal Barney is guarding us from these Swans