Good News!

Water in the Canal du Centre! We shoved off from Parey Le Monial, steaming towards the end of the canal, with stops in the port of Genelard,  the town of Montceau-les-Mines, and the village of St. Julien-sur- Dheune.  We've had rain, off and on, for weeks, and last Friday, it was announced that the Canal will remain open, at least until August 20th.  Great news for us, we can slow down, and are now enjoying this beautiful region in Burgundy.  We had planned to stay in the port of St. Leger-sur-Dheune, one of our favorite little ports, but as we pulled in, the docks were full, so we passed through the port, past the a spot where hotel barges berth, and on down the canal to a beautiful sight, off the grid (no electricity or other services), where we are moored under beautiful trees, with a view of the church steeple peeking through the branches.  Here we were able to meet up with our friends Eric and Sudi on their barge, Oldtimer. Eric and Sudi know this area well, and took us on a beautiful bike ride up the canal path, to an old railway bed, now a bike path, up to the village of Nolay, with its 14th century market (Les Halles) constructed with huge posts and beams, topped with a stone roof.  It is still used today as the town's open air market. We stopped for lunch in Nolay at the charming tea room, Le The dans la Vigne, which opens out onto Les Halles.

Sudi and Sylvie

Madame Sylvie, the charming proprietess, even brought us blankets to use until the sun warmed our table.

 

The guys ordered the chicken stew - delivered in a big casserole

Fresh strawberries and a slice of Gateau Chocolate

 Back on our bikes, we headed down to the village of Sampigny les Maranges, to the pottery studio and home of Sylvie and Francois Fresnais.  We had seen their work last year at a big pottery show in the Abbey in Charlieu, and Sudi has collected several of their pieces.  So here's the "six degrees of separation" - Sylvie and Francois travel to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and exhibit their work at the big summer Folk Art Festival in July.  We had seen them, and their work before, not just in Charlieu, but in Santa Fe!  As a wanna-be-artist, I feel in love with their artist compound, complete with a water mill, as well as their work.  I'm attaching a link to their website, and a few pictures below. Small world . . . and we hope our Sante Fe friends will stop in to see them in July!