Friday 3rd August Passivant to Corre

Trip 6 Kms. Departure 11.45 locks 3 of 337

It was a late start, avalon had left. I looked again for the camera card but aft a fruitless search of the dinghy and boat finally accepted the inevitable truth. Gone for all money!

We set off. At the second lock whilst on tick over, I noticed the oil pressure dropping to 2.5 on the port engine. this decided me to stop at Corre to sort it out. We could not help but notice the dramatic change in the scenery from the forests of the Vosges to the more gentle undulations of the upper soane reaches.

The last of our locks as we approached Corre was beautifully manicured. We particularly liked the sunflowers.

The final approach to the small halte is through a boat width tunnel. Our problem was that it was blocked by a fallen tree branch. The crew were magnificent in removing it from harms way and we moored on a finger pontoon two along from Avalon.

I plugged the electrics in and visions of verdun came flooding back as three boats immediately ejected complaining crew, " who's messed the electric"

The capitinnaire arrived, it's not me I protested.

This time though, it was. I did not understand why but I would look at that later as I needed to get to the supermarket to get some oil as a priority but they were still shut for lunch as per usual. The capitinnaire kindly refunded me my 2€ for electric. I decided to make a start and empty the old oil from the sump and change the oil filter.

We were interrupted by 80 yr old nick off of Avalon inviting us for gin and tonics tonight. That sounded bloody marvellous and he looked not even close to 80 so gin was obviously very healthy.

We took the steel wheelers the 1km to intermarche and shopped including my oil. Got back and completed the change and cleared my blocked bilge pump at the same time, cleaned the air filters and strainers. Before having some bread and cheese and pâté and fruit.

A quick shower and it was gin time. Nick and Pam were delightful hosts. Both have been living in the south of France for 28years. Both have been boating these waterways for 10. They had been married 12 years and their stories of how they got to France all those years ago and why were inspiring. Nick was 80 going on fifty and genuinely remarkable. Bloody nice evening.

We got back to Doucette and downed loads more drink and were drunk again. I am despairing of the crew!

 

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