Saturday 2nd June Montgon to Le Chesne

Trip 3 Kms. Departure. 9 am. Locks 5 of 80

Awoke to a bright golden haze on the meadow. A stunning morning which we just sat and soaked up over tea and porridge for Collette and yoghurt and honey for the fitness fanatic.

We were thinking of home today. A big day. Stacey was sitting the biggest exam of her life. She had been studying relentlessly for months and we knew how nervous she would be right now. It was a paper which lasted 6 hours so it would be a long day of worrying for her and hoping things were going well. Carla and dan were home at tone and roses for another wedding and it was jubilee weekend. We were not homesick by any means but it was a day when we missed being there.

We had promised the eclusier to be moving at 9 so as not to mess up the 26 lock sequence so we were soon underway and in no time entering a strange little halte in a basin at Le Chesne. Water and electric which was a brucie and free. Super!

Le Chesne Had a nice little store, a tabac, 3 bars, poste a computer shop 2 hairdressers and outstandingly 2 boulangeries within 100 yards. We were fair staggered!

Weather was much hotter than had been forecast so we luncheoned on the poop deck. My favourite pate so far, boar, cheeses and salad. We got a little silly now and as it was the start of the jubilee weekend, we cracked a bottle of fizz and had a very long lazy lunch in the sunshine.

I was cracking on with blog catch up and Collette went for a siesta. I then fell asleep in the sun and got burnt. A British narrow boat docked opposite, the Mary rose hailed from Wiltshire. They had sold up in the uk bought it new 5 years ago and had it shipped out to Belgium may 7th this year and were planning 4/5 years in France as live aboard. They had bought the cat and the dog. Wiltshire invited me over to watch England v Belgium but I was not that interested and declined but he kept me up to date with all that happened and was clearly a big footy fan.

We heard from stacey and it had gone ok but she was exhausted so that was fine and now we sort of drifted through the rest of the evening drinking beer and thinking of home. It was the night of the ball at the cruising club and the crew will have put so much effort into it, we just hoped it was good weather and a great night, meanwhile we knew tone rose, Dave Trish Steve and Lynn were tucked up in robin and carols summer house eating and drinking their fill. Nice one, we had some very spicy fajitas washed down with a bottle of Bordeaux. It was a 2005 and 5€ bought because it was reduced from €8 which should be bloody good stuff and I had felt I just ought too. Collette was unimpressed and told me I was a tosser and to stick to the merlot.

Fair enough, it wasn't great so forward strategy now confirmed.

At 10 o,clock I thought the bloody Germans had kicked off again. There was a loud hum, click and suddenly Doucette was bathed in a dazzling light having been picked out by a searchlight. I leapt up expecting to hear air raid sirens any second but found the church to be the target. We were simply supporting cast.

I was still catching up my blog at 11pm and was feeling fuzzy so hit the sac I suspect a lot earlier than a few drunken Amis back home!