Tuesday 29th May Variscourt to Rethel

Trip. 34 Kms. Departure 11am. Locks 6 of 48

Waited for our bread delivery having witnessed old Dutch and yes indeed depart at the customary 0845 hrs. We salivated over en route hot dogs on what was a pleasant enough section of canal. Ok but just nice really.

Collette set to work on producing a tablecloth. Yes I know risible isn't it.

She was regularly interrupted as the locks we now opened by twisting a hanging mid stream pole. The secret is to not get cocky and go past too fast as if you line up slightly wrong the pole has every chance of smashing your windscreen, or something else horrid.

Arrived Rethel at 4 ish and found a spot between .... Yes.... Old Dutch and mr indeed who was immediately out fussing over helping me with lines and then establishing electric as him and old had already acquired the two available plugs. It was now I discovered that I needed a 2 pin. Bloody unbelievable I thought. 2 pins short of a connection, that would be me then!

Rethel had a good feel as Collette put it. Full facilities and fabulously luxuriously hot strong showers. By 4.30 we were sat on the poop deck at a pristine blue checked tablecloth draped table weighed down by a nicoise salad and a full bottle of ice cold Sauvignon. Marvellous.

By 5.30 Collette was snoring and I took off in search of a 2 pin connector. By 7 I was sorted new splitter and self sufficient again. The veining sort of drifted by and we had a very late supper of chili with toasted baguette. Collette thrashed me on the crib board and I retired a tad grumpy. She is so unbelievably lucky at cards.