These are the adventures of Andy and Sally Rawnsley on their narrowboat "The Puzzler". We have been living on the boat for over nine years now and are still loving it. Our Ulster born Shih Tzu, Shannon, has grown up, and has taken over the boat! After three wonderful years in Ireland, we transported The Puzzler to The Netherlands, and spent a year there. In 2015 we went southwards, to reach the north of France by June. After glorious weather throughout the summer, we arrived in Roanne in late October, and enjoyed our winter in this friendly port. We cruised extensively in France in 2016, 2017 and 2018, returning to Roanne each winter.


Sunday 7 May 2017

29th April - 6th May 2017. On to Fragnes, then up the Saône to Saint-Jean-de-Losne, before moving on to Auxonne, meeting our friends at every port.

We caught up with other boats at Fragnes, joining (from the left) Caroline, Andy, Peter, Rachel, Bill, Jane and Jake there. Another late evening, with some people dancing the night away!


Shannon will accept Trigger if she is safe on Andy's knee.
We moved off early on Tuesday with Quaintrelle, to stop at the shopping mooring for Leclerc, on the outskirts of Chalons-sur-Saône. Where the metal edging of the mooring here leans out towards the canal, it has been infilled with concrete, so at least there is no gap!

The rain started just as we went out on to the Saône, but Shannon didn't want to be inside. The rain is too heavy for some of our plants.


Once the rain cleared, the river looked more inviting.


We moored at Gergy, then on to a rural spot at Chazelle, which we found last year.


Walking round this small village, I thought this wall needed a helping hand!

On Thursday we moved on to Saint-Jean-de-Losne. Beyond the trip boat, the next five boats all overwintered in Roanne!


The Puzzler can be seen outside Catherine Clark, where Jake and Rachel have all three dogs near at hand.
We are leaving Aileen and Mike here too, with Quaintrelle, though we will no doubt see them again, later this year.



Dare I go any nearer? Most boats have dogs.


Friday was a lovely day, with all the trees looking really green.


Mooring outside Lumacona at Auxonne, there was a superb sunset.

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