Catching up. Journey through remoter stretches of River Ouche.

Chilling out at Pont de Pany

We have arrived at our destination Pont d'Ouche, a place we are familiar with.  Lovely setting and Bistrot here is open every day except Tuesdays.  But to go back a few days.

Pont de Pany marks the beginning of a 20 km stretch of the Ouche which is the most remote and beautiful. Limestone cliffs and wooded hills.  A 'D' road follows the river in and out of small villages.

The weather started warming up.  No gloves were needed for our 9am start the next morning and no frost on the boat - another first!  This is me sitting for the very first time in the lovely chairs, kindly left by the previous owners, on our back deck.

A lock keepers cottage in original condition with old apple tree

The lock keepers cottages are as varied as the people who live in them - some are derelict, this one seems uninhabited, yet smartly painted and in its original state.  Some are pristine, others have odd bits of this and that, metal furniture and junk, some of which would fetch quite a bit in an antique fair!

Walk in the woods that surround us

Path up the hill

I wish I had taken some more photos of our cycle rides.  We did a good one from St Victoire sur Ounche back to Gissey sur Ouche.  Up to St Jean de Boeuf.

Cross at the top of a very long hill

Pansies in some funny shaped planters up on the plateau at St Jean de Boeuf.

This goat was the proud head of his large flock of cute mothers and babies,
but none were as impressive as he.

Goat

Our lovely mooring at St Victoire sur Ouche we headed for the lock in the background the next morning.

We have been going through about 6 locks every morning, then arriving at our chosen destination, usually about 5 km upstream, at about 11.15am.  We then have a look round in case there is a boulangerie.  There usually is'nt.  (There is one at La Forge near Bussiere sur Ouche).  Travellers must stock up in the Colruyt in Velars sur Ouche and the boulangerie in Fleurie sur Ouche.  Apart from the boulangerie in La Forge there are no food shops until you get to Pont d'Ouche.  (and there aren't any there either but you can order provisions from supermarket in town 8km away).

Lock just before brand new mooring at Bussier sur Ouche.  Definitely one of the best stops.

So, when we stop at lunchtime, we have some lunch and go cycling for a few hours.  We usually walk the uphill bits, and there have been some tremendously long hills, and then have the fun of going down these endless wooded lanes with absolutely no traffic on them. I have worn out my brake pads as I will fall off if I go too fast.  Julian whizzes down and I keep thinking I will find him in a heap at the bottom.

There is a very grand hotel in an old monastery at Bussiere sur Ouche.  If you walk up into Bussiere it is on your left.  You can get a peek at it occasionally as you walk up.  Then go out of the village and in an anticlockwise direction following the walls.  From this vantage point you can see quite a bit of the buildings and gardens.  Lunch is from 28 euros.  I was quite tempted, but there was nothing much for veggies on the menu and I couldn't be bothered to get dressed up - in fact I haven't really got any smartish clothes with me.

Chateau at Chaudenay de Chateau where we stayed several years ago in a gite.
This time we cycled up there from the boat moored in Pont d'Ouche

Another long haul up to Chaudenay le Chateau