We woke to find the forecast had been right. Heavy threatening cloud. Good news was that there was chance of rain all day but each and every hour was only a 5 per cent chance. we breakfasted on yoghurt and crumble and the last of the compagne sausages.
It was a day of locks. We were going down the canal de jonction. This 10km stretch had been closed for many years due to lack of water and landslips. It provides a link to the canal des Vosges and saves a 50km circuit as only other route option hence We were delighted to find out that it had been re opened this year after much restoration work. We were into the first 5 staircase by 9.10. By 9.15 it was lashing down.
Blind and deaf? Got to be unlikely! I opened my arms and asked Questce que c'est?
He shrugged and shook his unsmiling head in a non gesture.
I suggested that it cost nothing to share cordial greetings.
He waved an arm at me to go away.
I laughed out loud as I clearly was just passing by and shouted at him that life is good and that he should try getting one!
He was about forty and clearly had some serious issues. A bizarre incident which haunted me for the next couple of locks. He had not known I was English as approached bow on so he could not see flag, hence it was not a nationalistic thing, perhaps he just hated boaters. Now that is a theory coz there are some mighty uptight fisherman in France. They really do think the rivers are their own personal domain. In fact some are complete tossers. But then so are some boaters. So let's live and let live and I will continue to wave a cheery greeting to all.
At 7 pm the town mayor came down to collect the 6 euros per night tariff.
We dined on a gorgeous cobbed chicken and tartiflette. Marvellous.
No comments:
Post a Comment