Okay, my next foray over to France, whenever that might be, is likely to be to stay in Briare and walk the complex local network, possibly getting the bus to Rogny as well (if I haven't got a car). One question, does anyone know why the lateral canal never extended downstream? I get that the river upstream was too unreliable, and that in the end the river crossing was too unreliable (rather like Beziers), was it more reliable downstream or was there not the demand? I note the river downstream is certainly not regarded as navigable today
Edited to add, for those who don't know, Briare is where the Canal de Briare joins the Loire and with the Canal Du Centre and the Loire connected the Seine to the Rhone, the canal Lateral a la Loire was later built to connect the two other canals (and also the canal du Nivernais) without needing to use the river.
Second, is there a general book on French Canal history, preferably in English but I could cope in French? Similar, at least in concept, to Hadfield's British Canals
Third, whilst we here, how navigable is the Loire from the Mayenne to Nantes? Possible trip, maybe next year but more likely 2021 or 2022. Anyone done it? It would allow me to launch on the Mayenne, travel through Frome's twin town Chateau Gontier and then onto the Canal du Nantes a Brest at Nantes
Asking these questions makes me realise what most newbies onto our canals must feel like!