Juniperadventures

  Duex Chevoux Citreon from early 1960s. Restored sports car Restored sports car, owner and friend. Gerald Demuth Coteaux de Tannay Bring in the Chardonnay  WWI/WWII memorial and the Church  View from the top of the hill Street of winery and proprietor.  Old implements for corking the wine.

 Tannay is the Le Boat Hire boat base.  When we arrived it was full of boats, and by the next day the marina was empty except for us and a long term boat.  It is a good marina but further from the town.  We rode the bikes up the longish hill on a good bike path thankfully as the traffic whizzed by.  Cows and scenic views along the way.  Came into the town to see a man and his two restored cars, as well as a 2cycle, Duex chevoux Citreon.  Fun to talk to he and another man walking by.   Rode around to see what was there; a cafe with people having coffee, a square, a WWI/WWII memorial and found the bakery.  Then to the tourist office to ask about wineries.  She mentioned one just two blocks away so we went there.   Timing was perfect as the vintners were just pulling up in a small truck hauling vats of newly pressed grape juice to make Chardonnay.  We watched the process with interest and met the winery cat, named chat (cat).  They called the woman who does the tastings and we had very sm

  War memorial to the Africans who fought in several wars. Many counties represented. Medieval home built of wood still in use. Medieval streets, wood house and turret  Cathedral Cathedral doorway and gargoyles on tower

 Clamecy is the main city of the region.  It has a medieval core, a large cathedral, a wonderful Saturday morning market, a delightful little cafe for a 5pm refreshment, several boulangeries and most everything one wants.   We are tied up at the haut nautique and it is a short walk to everything.  Sometimes  uphill and winding route through the medieval streets. We have enjoyed walking and seeing the views from different angles.   This is the center of the reason the Nivernais canal was built.  When Paris ran out of wood for fires, heat, cooking, then the Morvan forest nearby was a resource for the city on the Seine.  The canal was built to float  millions of logs down to the Seine over the years.  The debate was as to how big to make the canal, and the riverboat people won out in making the canal big enough for barges.  They would make a log boom type of raft and in the Spring let go of water behind dams built and float the logs all the way to Paris.  Clamecy celebrates this past reso

  Saint Potentien Town gate and view to countryside Dinner on the deck The canal boaters Roman tile floor in the Church

 Chatel Censoir has a nice moorage and a view of the collegiate Church of St Potention from the boat.  You see the Church and several large homes along the top of the hill as you are approaching the town.  Quite impressive. The Church is an uphill walk to which we found many ways to get back down.  The building is an 11th century Roman choir with a 13th century.  It all flows together, and you can see tile floor and a tile altar piece from the Roman era with a crypt and faint remnants of a mural.  Overall, it has a lovely feeling sitting in the chairs and wandering in it.  A serenity, been a Church for a thousand years! Lovely town to walk around in, and excellent views to the countryside from the top of the hill. Great bakery tops it off.  Met some nice people in the marina and had a lovely meal on the deck.  A wonderful spot to visit again. A chateau in the distance viewed from the canal. Collegiate Church of Saint Potentien from the marina. A still morning on the canal.

 Stayed here, next to the Saussios Rocks.  We have been seeing this type of rock for quite a while now.  Here they are right next to the canal and often used for rock climbing.  We enjoyed looking up at them.  We did see a few climbers in the morning, rappelling down the cliffs. Bicycled into village and checked out the park on the other side of the river.  Kids playing on the playground equipment, fishing in the river, a beautiful expanse on the canal.  Made a reservation for dinner.  Thought we would hike into the rocks by a gradual trail but the rain changed our plans.  Next time.  Had to walk to the restaurant, full rain gear and umbrellas.  When the thunderstorms come it is a downpour.  Good meal and not too much rain on the way back. Spending afternoons reading books, maybe a nap, such a calm pace after our busy weeks before we came.  A good pace and lots to see at each stop. Bill driving Juniper Saussios Rocks   Fancy canal boat going by. Saussios Rocks are limestone.

 There are several Mailly villages here; Mailly le Ville on one side of the canal and Mailly l'Eglise on the other side (and Mailly Le Chateau down the canal a bit).  Mailly Le Ville is pleasant and is right next to the village.  Fun to ride bikes into and look around.   We enjoyed a couple of days here and actually went to the Fete et Sery from here. Sunflowers ready for harvest In the lock. Lock house with drawings of people on the walls. It is so quiet and relaxing.  It has a big park with a cafe/restaurant that we enjoyed for lunch.  It also has a lovely swim beach. There is a special restaurant there that was closed for vacation.  We will try to get a resevation on our way back. 

  Church tower Mailly La Ville Steep walk to Le Chateau Mailly Le Chateau Stained glass window Dinner on the deck In the square as you enter village

After Pregilbert we stayed in Mailly La Ville.  Where you tie up to pontoons (liitle docks) and you are right in the town along the water.  Good bicycling and easy access to the train station.  Not a lot of train service on this canal and most stations are far from the tie up spots.  We will be back here is a couple of weeks to pick up friends.   Headed to Mailly Le Chateau and managed to get a good spot to tie up.  Able to get power here.  First across a beautiful bridge, and then a long hike straight up to the village. Gorgeous views from atop.  Good bakery!  Church was beautiful.  The chateau has been turned into a type of hotel.  Fun to walk around and see the views.  Bill was a good bakery run guy each morning for us and for our neighbors for bread.  Been traveling some here with some really solid, steel type canal boats that take large groups of teens on adventures.  The teens we saw trouping off the the fish hatchery were having a lot of fun. Great way to have a camp on the cana