Pre-Trip Prep

August 21 2016
     Prep for the trip is almost done! We have purchased our specialized lock handling gear (rubberized gardening gloves) and packed appropriate clothing for a 2 week self-guided cruise.  We have done this before on the Canal du Midi in 2012 and look forward this time to exploring the Burgundy Region and sampling some fabulous wines!
     Our on-board Chef and Translator (Simone) has already joined her family in France for a visit and Celebration of a special family birthday.  The remaining crew will depart on 28 August (Gerry, Bruce & Ray) and 01 Sept (Carolyn & Barry).  We will meet Simone in Nevers, Fr after spending a couple of days exploring Paris - Ray's first trip to Paris.  We will journey to Nevers by hired van then pick up the vessel in Decize a few km away on Sat 3 Sept.  We will meet Simone on Monday in Nevers.  Yes, that's 2 days without our world renowned Chef Extraordinaire - Simone!  (McDonalds anyone?).  Of course we all can cook - she just adds that special French touch!
     We will do a little touring in Nevers and report back in a later post.

The boat model is 'le Magnifique' and chartered from Le Boat. Take a tour and see how we will be living for the next 2 weeks on-board  :-)
http://www.leboat.ca/en/boats/magnifique


The co-captains are: Bruce and Ray.  Barry is the money man and the remaining crew: Gerry and Carolyn will look after the deck-swabbing and dish duty.  All will have a turn at handling the ropes in the ecluses (locks) and acting as sous-chefs.

Our plan is to cruise the Nivernais Canal from Decize to Etang de Baye then the Yonne River to  Migennes.  The first day we will 'back-track' on the Loire River to Nevers to pick up Simone.
 We will go through approx 150 locks total.  Including the return trip from Decize to Nevers then on to Migennes.  We will go from Decize at 624 ft above sea level (ASL) up 267 feet to Etang de Baye  (891 ft ASL) then down almost 600 ft to Migenne (292 ft. ASL).