 |
| Old shed by lock house at lock 21 Fosse Rode |
Sunny but chilly first thing, getting hotter later. Floan left at lock opening time 7.00 a.m. and we never heard a thing. Thanks George! We slumbered on until 8.30 a.m. Three empties came uphill and we heard all of them. Had a set of texts from Helen, they’d seen red squirrels (we didn’t – didn’t get up early enough) and a lost fender for us to collect on our way down, plus she’d left us another British newspaper down at the bottom lock. Set off at 10.15 a.m. reversing to the hanging pole, passing the still slumbering cruiser, activated the lock and set off down the flight. Lock 17 Vaudemanges (2.48m) was very quiet, no one around. 500m to lock 18 Champ Bon Garçon (2.68m). Likewise no one around, very still and peaceful. Another 500m to lock 19 Long Raies (2.69m) Signs of life, a VNF crew of two grasscutters had just finished cutting the grass alongside the lock and were busily packing the mower into the back of their van to carry on to the next bit of grass that needed their attentions.
 |
| Recess in lock wall for ropes 22 Isse |
650m through cool wooded countryside winding down the hill on to lock 20 St Martin ( 2.72m) At this lock there was a young lady VNF worker busily cleaning the lock cabin. 650m to lock 21 Fosse Rodé (2.74m) One of only two lived in lock houses left on the flight, there were two VNF vans parked below the lock. Mike lifted the blue bar while I made tea and toast. 700m to the next, lock 22 Isse (2.60m) by the village of the same name. Mike worked the lock again while I finished making tea. We ate our toast on the 1.350kms pound to lock 23 Coupé (2.73m). Mike took a few photos of the empty lock cottage while I fished out an almost new sausage fender that Helen had spotted. 1.750kms to the last lock, through the village of Condé spreading ever further along the bank of the canal with the addition of more new houses.
 |
| Old lock house at 23 Coupe |
Mike took the boat into the left hand side of lock 24 Condé (2.62m) to step off and take photos of the old towpath towing engine while I took the rubbish to deposit it in the bin and collect the newspaper Helen had left hanging in a plastic bag from the bracket holding the control rods. I lifted the rod after he’d shoved the boat over so I could get back on board and the lock emptied. It was 12.15 p.m. as we passed the pontoons below the lock. A small cruiser had just tied up on our mooring. Mike asked the guy how long he was staying, he replied until Monday. OK. We’ll have to ring Gérard after lunch. Meanwhile we tied across the end of the new pontoon, which was nearly as long as the boat. Hmm.
 |
| Electric towing engine which used to tow unpowered boats along the Marne a l'Aisne canal |
Rather prefer this to the old pontoon, it fits the boat better. Connected the electricity (reduced now to 6 Amps, so no washing or ironing without resorting to running our engine and Markon generator) and I made some lunch. Phoned Gérard just after 1.30 p.m. He was on holiday at the seaside – up North by the Channel! He said tell them to move! Then he said Gégé would be round later and he’d sort them out. OK we’d see him and Viviane on Saturday. Helped Mike unload the moped off the roof using two tyres to lower it on to, as there was no room for a plank. The cruiser went past that had been moored at Vaudemanges when we left. Mike returned with the car (only a short run back up to Wez – he made sure the dog kept its distance today). We returned the moped to its place on the roof. I tried the Internet, EDGE but 3G was available if we put the antenna on the roof. An empty péniche arrived, moored along the bank by the turn pole and started painting.
No comments:
Post a Comment