Monday
22nd June
Gray
to Pontailler-sur-Soane
32.5km
2 locks 3.5hrs
On
Sunday evening we looked at where we would go next, knowing that we have to be
back in Auxonne mid July. We decided
that we would save the rest of the Saône and the Canal Des Vosges for another
year when we can do a circular route to include the Canal entre Champagne et
Bourgogne.
We
thought that Dole would be a lovely town to revisit as we have friends coming
to see us the first weekend in July, and its such a pretty town with lots of
restaurants to choose from.
So
we left Gray at 8.30am and arrived in Pontailler at 12 noon. We thought we’d go for lunch in the nice
looking restaurant with outside seating, but it was closed on Mondays, so we
went to La Taverna instead and we had some very tasty Italian food.
It
was quite windy in the afternoon and evening, and the nearby trees decided to
set loose their seeds and our boat was absolutely covered.
We swept some of it up in the evening, but the next morning it was even worse.
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| These leaves and seeds took days to get rid of |
Wednesday
24th June
Pontailler
to Auxonne
18km
1 lock 2 hours
 |
| Leaving Pontailler....the offending trees were quite a way from the mooring but they still got us! |
We
left Pontailler at 8.30am to arrive in Auxonne at 10.30am. We moored up on the public pontoons,
as there was loads of space. It’s 10
euros a day if you have water and electric, otherwise it is free to moor. You have to go to the tourist office to pay.
 |
| A lovely sight, lots of space available on the public pontoons |
Wednesday
to Sunday
 |
| Friday Market We are addicted to these cooked chickens! |
 |
| They are delicious! |
 |
| Hurray! Bluegum arrives....we hope they aren't disappointed that we are still here!! |
 |
| Expertly moored by Charles and Sally, especially as they currently no bow thruster available to use |
We
decided to stay in Auxonne until Sunday.
Sally and Charles on Bluegum arrived on Friday afternoon and they
managed to moor up on the same pontoon as us, which was great. They kindly invited us for a very tasty BBQ
in the evening and we had a super evening with them. Once they have had their bow thruster repaired at the beginning of July they are planning to go down south, which is a shame,
as it could be a
while before we see them again.
Sunday
28th June
Auxonne
to Choisey
Canal
du Rhône au Rhin
29km
7 locks 5.5 hours
We
set off from Auxonne at 8.30am. We
arrived at the lock that takes us onto the Canal du Rhône au Rhin at 10.15am. Once
we’d come up in the lock, we were given our handheld lock zapper, which
operates the locks, saving the need for a lock keeper, although the lock 74 did
have an eclusier to help with the ropes.
It
was an easy trip to Choisey, and a beautiful sunny day. It’s lovely to be back on a canal again, I
like it better as it’s more picturesque than the river. The river Saône is easier, as there are fewer
locks, and its wide and deep so easier to keep the boat going in a straight
line. On the canal you have to adjust the steering all the time.
When
we arrived at our planned stop at Choisey, it looked full but we managed to
squeeze ourselves onto the end of the pontoon at Choisey; half the boat is
hanging off the end! We hope people will
move off tomorrow so we can tie up properly. We love the mooring here, as its so peaceful,
just birds singing their hearts out, frogs croaking, and at the moment there is
someone in the nearby village playing his oboe and the church clock has just
chimed.
We
will stay here tomorrow and then go into Dole on Tuesday.
 |
| We leave the river Saöne and are back onto a canal again Canal du Rhône au Rhin |
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| It was very hot today, so the front window is down to get some airflow |
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| As we arrived at Choisey, we thought the mooring was full, but there was just enough space |
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| Most of the boat is off the pontoon |
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| A few hire boats went by at some speed and we didn't move around too much We'll get more of the boat onto the pontoon tomorrow |
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