Barging from St Jean de Losne to Dijon
Hi Everyone,
Here we are in beautiful Dijon. Moored at the quay (free), not far from the centre of town. Surrounded by pleasant parks. We had an
Aussie style BBQ this evening and it has been a glorious, warm day (as was yesterday).
Yesterday, we left the quay at St Jean de Losne and fuelled up with propulsion diesel and heating diesel (only used for hot water at the
moment as we do not need the central heating!)
Then it was off down (or actually up) the Bourgogne Canal. The first lock was fine but after almost 3hrs there was still no lock keeper
for the second lock so we sat there and sat and sat and waited. Penny read a book, did puzzles etc while David started fitting the car
radio (with CD/USB/MP3). Most of that got done before the lock keeper finally appeared on a small motor scooter. He was not very
communicative and we did not dare ask where he had been.
Anyway, it was fantastic after that as we had a team of lock keepers who travelled with us until we stopped for the night about halfway
to Dijon. Just whacked in a couple of stakes besides the towpath and had an excellent night's sleep. In the morning, we hopped on our
bikes and rode to a nearby town to get baguettes for breakfast. Unfortunately, we went to thee wrong town. However, fortunately the
Boulanger from the other town appeared in her car delivering bread. So, we asked her and she readily sold us fresh baked bread. Yummy.
plus our coffee grinder is going well and as usual, a very good breakfast.
Then it was off to Dijon and we got here just after lunch (more stakes in the side of the canal). Again we had lock keepers (eclusiers)
travelling along as we did so we made excellent time with all locks open for us. David assisted when there was only a single lock keeper.
The second lock keepers were always students learning the job and they will go "solo" later in the season.
This afternoon we walked to the Musee des beaux Artes. Excellent (and also free). Then "home" to fire up the new Weber BBQ for the first
time. We did this on the large foredeck and it worked just fine. Then we ate dinner in the cockpit, sipping our wine as passers-by wished
us bon appetit or bon soir. It is still daylight as I type this at 9.30pm.
Tomorrow, we are off after visiting the huge market in the morning and will do about another 10 locks before tying up somewhere in the
French countryside for the night.
That's it for now. Yes, someone needs to do this!
Best Regards,
Dave and Penny
