Monday 17th September Briancon to Laroche St Cydroine

I was up at 7 trying to sort the electric. Fortunately a liveaboard had a key to the capitinnaire and was able to get a key for the electric junction box. A breaker switched on and we were sorted.

After a long hot, and as the crew intimated, long overdue shower, we sat down to prunes and vanilla yoghurt, followed by fried eggs ham and pain and some pain and orange marmalade. Oh yes mr mannering!

A walk around the town took us to the old Eglise which is mid refurbishment. Dust everywhere so a short visit.

Onto the Louis 15th grand lavoir ( washroom). Brilliant construction, fantastic round curvy roof

and stone stepped entrance down to a crystal clear pool.

Pigeons had squatting rights which they had utilised to maximum effect. Bit stinky really but what a remarkable building.

Found ourselves lost and in the grounds of a chateau converted into some form of school of dance and music. Gardens were nice

We quick stepped our way out and back to Doucette Which looked like a laundry barge with yesterday's washing still out drying in the hot sun. We had time to vacuum the boat and top up water before slipping away at 1.30.

A pretty mundane straight 7 Kms to finish our voyage of the canal de Burgoyne. Closing on Migennes, another complete tosser with a fishing rod who tried to ignore the fact that i was on the waterway. New tactic now as i recognize the signs very early. I watched as a large hire boat got in trouble trying to manoeuvre round some lines, I just pushed the throttles forward and with a roar the tosspot quickly pulls in his line and goes into a frenzy of embittered resentment over our presence on his canal.

I have no problems with the remaining couple of worm downers as I slip to one side of the canal and get cheerful waves and nods of appreciation for slowing and drifting to the side. Being pleasant is so easy and so much nicer. At least it was stinking hot as we entered the final basin at laroche migennes. A freight train carrying hundreds of peugeots to god knows where confirmed that this was not an ideal stop over despite the Le boat depot based here.

I had a late spot of an attac supermarket so cancelled the last lock and dropped alongside. Two quick sorties and 100 litres topped up both engines to almost full. Not bad as last top up was at st.jean de losne some four weeks ago.

Through the last lock of the borgouyne and we were back on a river. The yonne looked huge after the narrowness of the canal and it was lovely to open up the throttles and give Doucette a bit of a go. 15kms per hour on the river. We slipped the few hundred meters down to a ramshackle old boatyard, packed with boats rafter 5 out. I spied a likely looking geezer with long white beard. He motioned for us to raft alongside a newish looking steeler. " I am looking for Simon Evans"

"Look no further!"

This was to be Doucettes home for the winter. I checked out the yard, looked perfect and somewhere I could be comfortable. Arrangements made to lift out with a couple of days notice and to leave the boat here for a week when we return to blighty for the 60th bash next week, he invited us to stay the night but I think realised we were looking for somewhere a little more attractive. Guided us on our way towards a halte at laroche st Cydroine.

The river was just beautiful. The sun was setting. It was all just majestic. Got to the halte to find an impossible gap left between an Aussie yacht and an American steeler. They leapt off their boats and helped us in. We had about a cm each end but made it ok. Chatted for half an hour with the neighbours. Very nice people. The Aussies had come from Brighton in may and this was there 7th year. The Americans were in there 20th year and announced it was to be there last. The problem was the travel from the states and back, they reported.

Sat on the poop had a few beers and caught up on blog whilst the crew soaked her feet and attended herself as women do. Creams lotions cleansers liberally applied, feet, hands painted, what a bloody to do.

We had a visitor at about 7. The American lady had come to offer Collette some 30 books. Within half an hour we had an impromptu quay get together with all six of us in full flow. I finally announced that we needed to eat at just after 9. It was pitch black, pretty nippy and Reece, the 16stone American ex engineer who worked on the heart monitors that were used on the Apollo 11 moon landing mission was mid flow on educating us on the stars. It had been very pleasant and they were all very nice people but my stomache was desperate. Gary, the Aussie offered to get me my baguettes in the morning as they were making an early start for Auxerre and his winter berth.

Collette knocked up our bubble and squeak which we had with the cold pork and pickle. Felt like boxing day!

Another late dinner just before bed. We really must get our timing issues sorted.

 

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