The Journey -
Rosy Pootles On

Boaty Bits:

I stayed moored by the Tourist Office in Decize for several days, but all the rain made me anxious about getting trapped on a rising (and hence fast-flowing) river.  So, when there was a gap in the weather, we moved down the Old Loire, on to the Loire, and then stemmed the river for a couple of kilometres up to the lock that leads to the Canal Lateral de Loire.  We moored on the Crown Blue Line moorings above the lock at a cost of €11 per night plus electricity.  It's quite pleasantly situated, not too far from town, with a supermarket, market, fuel and a laundry within easy walking distance.  Their over-winter rates are not too bad.

However, I soon left the basin, worked up through the next lock, and moored on the moorings just above it.  That night there were three narrow boats moored there.

I think that I've already mentioned the French couple, Carl and Anna on their beautiful ex-navy launch 'Miss Lily'.  Anna writes songs and sings them to her own guitar accompaniment.  She had a concert on Friday, and some of us went along to it.  She is VERY good - an alto-ish voice, and very expressive.  She writes boaty songs, and love songs and songs about life.

The following morning (Saturday 31st Aug) after stocking-up with moussec at €0.80 per bottle, I set off southward to the free moorings at Gannay, with water and electricity, though they ask you to restrict your visit to three days.  The next day, Sunday, we went down to 'The Lighthouse' run by Roy and Audrey, who welcome boaters and offer a book-swap, shower etc.  Roy has a narrow boat called 'Rosie'.  She's 25 years old, and he fitted her out in a cottagey style.  Minimal electricity, lots of oil lamps, and a little gem - if you like that sort of thing.  Sadly, not many people do, and he reckons that 'Rosie' is now only worth £8000 in UK, minus the £3000 required to bring her up to BSC standard, minus the £2000 or £3000 to get her there.

On the Monday, I went further south, and then cruised up the arm to Dompierre, and had my first 'discussion' with a fisherman who objected to Rosy disturbing his fishing - the first such abuse I've had in France.  The small town mooring was occupied by two unoccupied boats, and I didn't need any water or electricity, so I didn't fancy paying for a mooring with the Locaboat base - so I moored alongside the unoccupied boats.  There was no discrimination between the paying moorers and free ones - we were all awakened at 6 am by the next door factory bursting into life.  I moved off at 8 am, and stopped barely an hour later when I was back on the Canal Lateral de Loire, and about a kilometre further north - just beyond the Peugeot factory.  It was slooshing down with rain, so I stayed there for the rest of the day.

On Wednesday morning, during the cruise down to Beaulon, I motored by a colony of water rats - five or six of them were swimming in the canal.  Incidentally, there IS free electricity at Beaulon, even though the maps say that there isn't!!

And that's where I am now, and where I've collected the first of the season's sloes, and have initiated an infusion of sloe gin.

La Vache

Last year, I traveled down the Canal de Marne à Soanne in company with Geoff and Rose on the good ship Cathy.  Rosy's puffing engine sowed a seed in the mind of Rose, that inspired her to write a short story called 'La Vache' (The Cow).  Rose has kindly agreed that I can put this story up on the web-site, so it is now here.

Please respect the fact that Rose holds the copyright for this story.

You might like this ...

When we were in Gent, I was pretty disgusted at all the doggie turds on the towing path.  I was walking along one morning, after a night of rain, and was horrified to see a scattering of such turds covering the towing path.  Even MORE horrified to see that they were moving about.  Aaarrrggghhhhhhhhhh!

Of course, they weren't doggy turds, but a particularly revolting species of brown (ginger-brown actually) slug.  I don't naturally dislike slugs.  In my youth, in Scotland, I made friends with a colony of magnificent black slugs with a brilliant orange frill around their foot.  But these brown were - Ughhhh!!

Anyway, I've just seen them here.  On the towing path.  Outside.

And finally ...

Job Interview - the 'Killer Question'

You are driving along in your two-seater sports car on a wild, stormy night, when you pass by a bus stop, and you see three people waiting for the bus:

1.  A very elderly person who looks like they are about to die.

2.  An old friend who once saved your life.

3.  The perfect dream lover who you have been forever dreaming about.

Which one would you choose to offer a lift to, knowing that there could only be one passenger in your car? Think before you continue reading...

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This is a moral / ethical dilemma that (apparently) was once actually used as part of a job application.

You could pick up the elderly person and head for the nearest hospital; or you could take the old friend who once saved your life, as this would be the perfect chance to repay the debt; however, you may never be able to find your perfect dream lover again.

The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer.  He simply answered: "I would give the car keys to my old friend, who would take the elderly person to the hospital.  I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the dream lover."

Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations.  Never forget to "Think Outside of the Box."

Anyway, what most of us would actually do is to run over the elderly person (it'll be a blessed relief from their misery), shag the dream lover against the bus stop, and drive off with the old friend for some beers at a nearby hostelry.  But perhaps it's best not to disclose this to the average prospective employer.

Toodle pip!!

Bill