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Boating in Brittany


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3 minutes ago, philjw said:

I always find that too. I think it is because the signs show kilometres but my brain thinks miles.

Absolutely agree.

Worried about their 10 p.m.-ish arrival time - they'll miss dinner, never a good idea in France.

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1 hour ago, Stilllearning said:

We have used the motorways from Le Havre and Caen in the past, on Sundays, and it feels like you are on your own personal motorway.

My heart sinks when I come off the Eurotunnel at this side.

 

When we came off last month within an hour and a half we had hit five sections of roadworks and average speed cameras with a 50 mph limit on the m20,25 and 11.

 

People who come on holiday here must wonder what the heck they have come to.

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We quite regularly do the run from Calais to the Guipry area, since we are twinned with a town near there, and have found that the easiest way is the A16, A29, A13, A84 to Rennes, and then follow the Nantes signs.
Love driving in France and keep meaning to get a Tag. Will need when we take this over next year!

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Friends were cruising in that area in July and had a wonderful time but did get caught out with a failed lock or bridge in Redon which caused them to take a slght diversion.
If you do go to Redon we can recommend the Patates et Campagnie restaurant on the Quai Jean Bart, which is where the public moorings are and the O'Shannon pub by the lock where the canal crosses the river, a short walk away.

Edited by Graham Davis
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are you planning to visit Lorient on the River Blavet?   My brother has just moved into his new house just off the north bank of the river near Hennebont.  Apparently there is one lockie covering 19 locks and he has to travel alongside you on the nearest road.  This summer on average there was less than one boat movement each day!

 

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We have called it a day at Renne about 30 miles short of Messac. A short hop tomorrow. 

 

The little yellow mini has done us proud today covering 570 miles with no complaints and averaging almost almost 70mpg along the way.

 

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3 minutes ago, Stilllearning said:

Looks like the weather is OK for the moment. Have a great week. We tend to rate French towns and villages on the quality of their boulangeries, it would be interesting to hear your opinions of the daily bread trips.

It's not a bad yardstick. The quality of the croissants (surprisingly variable, even in the culinary heartland of S.W. France which we frequent) can set you up for the day or send you on your way with a frown and an Alka-Seltzer.  It's an added bonus if the boulangerrie looks as if it has barely changed since the 1920s.

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1 minute ago, Athy said:

It's not a bad yardstick. The quality of the croissants (surprisingly variable, even in the culinary heartland of S.W. France which we frequent) can set you up for the day or send you on your way with a frown and an Alka-Seltzer.  It's an added bonus if the boulangerrie looks as if it has barely changed since the 1920s.

And somewhere south west of us pains au chocolat become chocolatines.

There are two bakeries within walking distance of the house, the furthest does fabulous breads, the nearer does wonderful viennoiseries.. Decisions decisions.

Have fun, Naughty Cal.

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2 minutes ago, Stilllearning said:

And somewhere south west of us pains au chocolat become chocolatines.

.

Rather like rolls, cobs, baps etc. in England.

Certainly, when I lived in Rodez they were chocolatines.

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It looks like you may have a wet weekend, the rain radar on metéo60 looks horrible for Brittany.

17 hours ago, Graham Davis said:

We quite regularly do the run from Calais to the Guipry area, since we are twinned with a town near there, and have found that the easiest way is the A16, A29, A13, A84 to Rennes, and then follow the Nantes signs.
Love driving in France and keep meaning to get a Tag. Will need when we take this over next year!

jbWnpm2.jpg

Friends were cruising in that area in July and had a wonderful time but did get caught out with a failed lock or bridge in Redon which caused them to take a slght diversion.
If you do go to Redon we can recommend the Patates et Campagnie restaurant on the Quai Jean Bart, which is where the public moorings are and the O'Shannon pub by the lock where the canal crosses the river, a short walk away.

If that is a mineral blue Sprite, I had a g reg one many years ago, and still miss it sometimes.

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Despite the awful weather forecast we have had a surprisingly good day. It has rained the last hour but we are moored up now so not a problem. Just stopped again and looks to be brightening up now.

 

Boat is a bit beaten up as we expected for this time of year but perfectly adequate for the two of us for the week. 

 

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1 hour ago, Naughty Cal said:

Despite the awful weather forecast we have had a surprisingly good day. It has rained the last hour but we are moored up now so not a problem. Just stopped again and looks to be brightening up now.

 

Boat is a bit beaten up as we expected for this time of year but perfectly adequate for the two of us for the week. 

 

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The scenery looks good, and I’m guessing there won’t be any trains on the viaduct.

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5 hours ago, Stilllearning said:

And somewhere south west of us pains au chocolat become chocolatines.

There are two bakeries within walking distance of the house, the furthest does fabulous breads, the nearer does wonderful viennoiseries.. Decisions decisions.

Have fun, Naughty Cal.

Can you get a good pint of Taylors Landlord in the local pub?

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21 minutes ago, Naughty Cal said:

No.

 

Biggest problem so far. No proper pubs and everything shuts before 9pm!

 

 

Upside being you don't see pi$$ed up underage drinkers kicking hell out of each other or laying in the gutter like you see in so many UK towns.

 

Anyway as a lager drinker you should find yourself in seventh heaven in France - great choice in the supermarkets.

Edited by MJG
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It possibly depends on how rural your mooring spot is, as often there are bars and restaurants around, but one needs to know where they are, or find a local who can tell you.

But I agree that rural France can be very, very quiet.

If we see people in the square after 10pm we wonder what is going on.

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1 minute ago, Naughty Cal said:

Downside being those of us who can hold a drink and want one can't get one.

As you are finding out or probably already realised rural/semi rural France works on a whole different 'scheme' for eating and drinking.

 

Lunch time tends to be the big thing' and then evenings much less so. Lunch can often take a couple of hours, sometimes longer.

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Yes. Locks are shut for 1.5 hours each lunchtime. Although we found that is negotiable. They waited for us for 30 minutes to get us on our way this lunchtime. 

 

Everyone is so friendly and we are managing with the language. 

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