Tuesday September 11th Tanlay to Tronchoy

Trip 15kms Departure 10am Locks 9 of 530

After a quick bread run for skipper, we did some cleaning chores and I went to top up the water. Incredibly, I found yet another new water fitting. The boat is getting weighed down with them. Luckily joe next door had one so water was topped and a mental note to get yet another connector was stored.

We slipped at ten and I was disappointed to see the lock gates closed, lock empty and my friendly new boy sat on a bench reading today's novel. I gave the engines a burst and he looked up and leapt to his toils. We were through in ten minutes and he smiled an ironic, " you told me 10 and ten it was". Yea well shame you hadn't prepared for me, I thought as I smiled my Bon chance and la prochaine l'annee.

We soon arrived at the town of Tonnerre and pulled into the halte. A bit unimpressed with a silo opposite and boxes of 50's erected flats made the opposite bank look like a Butlins camp. We needed vittals and so under a heavy sky we mounted and headed for the signposted Leclerc. Closed down, we found ourselves circling the boat and headed off into Tonnerre. The supermarkets are always out of town and of course these were on the opposite side of town to the halte. We rode up steep inclines and stumbled on a lidles. At least this was a result. We got to the checkout as the rain started.

Sodden, we arrived back at Doucette and decided on moving on to a small village called Tronchoy where there was alledgedly a "Bon amarrage"

The weather improved as we made our way. The number of hire boats had today increased dramatically and progress was slow. The village moorings did not exist but the banks with the gardens backing on and with the village in the background did indeed make for a very lovely mooring spot.

We carefully nestled into the bank and staked ourselves secure. We had not had time for lunch so enjoyed our freshly made egg mayo in baguettes with lettuce.

We strolled the bank where I picked a peach from one of the several laden trees. The various gardens tumbling down to the bank gave an insight into rural France. Immaculate vegetable plots, chickens freely roaming and feeding before settling down for the nights laying, old barns with tractors from another age covered in hay and looking awkward sat askew on a flat tire, a litter of days old kittens bouncing back into the sanctity of another rambling old apparently derelict basement.

We carried on through the village and then back to Doucette. We had a full fridge but I had a craving for sardines on toast so settled for a light supper whilst watching England struggle to a 1 all draw with Ukraine in a world cup qualifier.

 

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