01.10.15 – 04.10.15
One of the advantages of keeping a boat at LRB is the ability to enjoy nearly 30 Nm of navigable river. Beautiful, peaceful surroundings, no tides or current to talk of, and plenty of places to anchor or moor up either for a lunch stop or overnight. The only impedance to navigation is the swing road bridge at Cran. (Full opening details in the little Vilaine guide.)
01.10.16 – Left the pontoon at Port Fonctionnel aiming to get to the Pont de Cran before it closed. Too late for the window so stopped at the bankside pontoon ‘Halte de Rohello’ at Beganne for late lunch and decided to stay overnight. There are restrictions on stopping times, but out of season there doesn’t seem to be a problem. Apart from a small cruiser well covered for the winter we were the only boat. A notice from the Commune gave places to visit and a Boulangerie within walking distance.
Halte de Rohello
02.10.15 – Left with the dawn to make the Pont de Cran opening at 0845 (Winter opening times apply after 30.09). Picked up the midstream waiting buoy (put lots of bow fenders out as its metal) and waited, and waited. Had we read the guide better we would have found that it only opens weekdays at the stated times following a telephone request 24hrs before! Next opening was scheduled for 1345. Fortunately several boats appeared and someone had pre booked! Berthed Redon marina after negotiating the entrance with 2.05 depth (we draw 1.95). Apparently the water level can fluctuate and its not unknown to hit soft mud and have to plough through. Redon marina is right in the town and can be noisy. 12€ for 10.5m berth, electricity and 250l of water. Our Passeport Escales was not valid as we hadn’t declared our trip before leaving! Thjis is the furthest point of navigation with a mast up. At the end of the basin you lock into the canal system with limited draft. If suitable, however, you can navigate all the way to St Malo in the north.
Sunrise on a peaceful river
Pont de Cran
Pont de Cran downstream waiting pontoon. Taken from mid stream waiting buoy
03.10.15 – Redon to Rieux. Only an hour motor, but worth leaving early in season to ensure a berth and enjoy exploring the area. Two long pontoons available. We berthed on the upstream one in 3m but was next to the car park and busy, so moved down to the downstream one which is much quieter. Water and electricity available (long hose / cable required) and berthing all chargeable, but office locked up for the winter and nobody came.
Shoreside pontoon at Rieux
Quiet evening at Rieux
04.10.15 – Left Rieux in fog and Pont de Cran opens on winter weekends (without request) at 0900, 1100 and 1300. (Plus 1 afternoon?)
Morning fog
Total distance covered in the cruise 29Nm. Approximate distances: LRB to Foleux 4.75, Foleux to Beganne 1.5, Foleux to Cran 7.0, Cran to Rieux 3.0, Rieux to Redon 3.0.