Edited on 25th May 2009. Click on this for a larger version!
We've had a lovely voyage up the Baise river, so far. Just a few hire boats in either direction. Upstream has been slow because of a fast current but locks are absolutely no problem and very beautifully constructed and maintained. Moored last night (7th May) at Vianne with free electricity and water. One of the best moorings we have ever experienced in every respect with plenty of room on its beautiful quay.
We walked this 4-walled bastide town which is clearly a tourist hot spot during the high season. Yet another beautiful mill ruined and neglected apart from the hydro plant; used to be a restaurant at some time in the recent past. The menu chalk board still to be seen but overgrown by scrub trees. Rather like the mill at Aiguillon but in a nicer setting and a splendid suspension bridge made of wood and steel. Had a beer in one of the local bars in the square and bought stuff in one of the two general stores. One "Vival" and one independent. Plenty of lovely craft shops including crockery, leatherwear and glass blowing which is sighted in the defunct railway station. A delightful place altogether. We leave the next morning after breakfast having decided to do the whole extent of the Baise relatively quickly and to make the return journey at our leisure, visiting those places we have partially ignored, on the way back.
I write this as we settle down for a night at Nérac on a free site before the main port. Excellent if you do not need electricity. We have walked around the town which is fairly closed today as it is another bank holiday. We have seen the result of a huge cliff fall which happenned only last week. An enormous boulder (several thousand tons of stone) suddenly decided to depart from its place in the cliff just above the River near to the old bridge. Apparently no-one was hurt. The market should be something good tomorrow.
The engine is showing signs of over heating (goes up to 85°) if rev-ing too much or not moving. We need to clean out and refresh the keel cooling tanks. Hey ho. I've now looked into the engine manual and am relieved to find that the temperature is well within the norms. 85° to 95°C so that's OK!
Now we have left Nérac after the market, which was excellent and where we bought our annual fucia hanging basket which now adorns the poop deck. Colours deep red and deep blue to go with our livery. Lots of photos of Nérac which we loved. Many of these will be included on our Baise album in the left hand column of this blog. (patience please!)
Left Nérac after lunch on a cruise to Moncrabeau where we stay the night having fused the electric supply. Lovely village on a steep climb. Nothing there of use. Had a tin of beer and a perrier with Luce and friendly bar person and several apparently stray dogs. It rains all night and next morning when we take off for Condom and possibly Valence Sur Baise. We arrive at Valence around 6:30pm and take a walk around the very place we visited some months ago by car with our friends, Jo and Tim.
These two pictures are taken at Nérac, the first being taken of our mooring and the second from the boat towards to town itself.
Condom was suffering the end of a pop festival and we decided not to stay there because of all the drunken youths. We will "take it in" on our return, and do it proper justice.
Now we are at Valence-sur-Baise, as mentioned, which is a real treat of a small town set upon a hill up to the left of our mooring which is very cosy- being supplied with water and electricity - apparently at E2 per night after E4 for the first night. As yet, no sign of Monsieur Capitaine. There is a tented restaurant within 100 feet of us which sells mainly steaks - it is also a bar which is handy.
OOps! Just having a drink on my terrace and
then.........
Massive rock fall happened last week.