Moulin Banet to Fleury/Fleury to Velars/Velars to Dijon

Saturday 30^th May

Mouilin Banet to Fleury sur d’Ouche

8.5km 8 locks 3 hrs

We had an easy trip to Fleury, the weather was a bit iffy, but cleared for the afternoon.  We had a great meal in the nearby restaurant called O P’tit Repere du Gout.  It was closed last year for their annual holidays so we were pleased to find it open and had availability.  The food and service was fab.  The mooring at Fleury isn’t great, not that deep and only fence posts to tie up to.

A lock keeper came by on his moped and asked us when we wanted to leave Fleury.  When we suggested 9am the following day, he said NON!  He said he was very busy with hotel boats and only 2 lock keepers, we possibly could go in the afternoon, so we said that was fine, we'd just wait for him to tell us tomorrow.

Sunday 31^st May

Fleury sur d’Ouche to Velars sur d’ouche

4km 4 locks 1.5hrs

We had a slow start to the morning, as we knew we weren’t moving off at 9am.  So at 10.30am we were sitting relaxing reading books when a lock keeper came by on his moped to say he was preparing the lock for us which was fantastic, it meant we were able to go the short distance to Velars before lunch.  We came through lock 45 just before 12 noon and we could see from the lock that the mooring had no other boats there, which was great.  Just as we came slowly out of the lock, the bow of a cruiser appeared around the corner from the opposite direction, and was clearly heading for the same spot as us.  I didn’t know our boat could accelerate that fast!  We arrived first but we did leave them a space to moor up but they told us that they were only stopping for lunch so they asked if they could moor alongside us.

leaving the mooring at Fleury

We managed to do a quick shop at the supermarket before it closed at 12.30, and then Kev did a fuel run to the fuel station.  It’s probably the closest and cheapest fuel station we’ve come across in France so far.

Our mooring at Velars - only two rings

Monday 1^st June

Velars to Dijon

10 km 9 locks 3.5hrs

We set off about 8.45 to be at our first lock at 9am.  This lock we were on our own, but we then shared the following 8 locks into Dijon with a friendly French couple in a cruiser. Between lock 47 and 48 it was quite shallow.

We arrived in Dijon around 12.30.   There was lots of space on the quay on the right bank but no electric or water.

Dijon port du Plaisance

More hotel boats arrived after this photo was taken

We are having a great time in Dijon, it’s a lovely city.  The weather has turned very hot and balmy.  We got to know another couple called Sharon and Alan on another Piper barge called Drumsara, who invited us for drinks Monday evening and we met a French couple Guy and Marie, who are buying a new Piper 57’.  We had a fun time.  On the next evening we invited Alan and Sharon back to ours and on Friday evening we invited Guy and Marie for drinks. 

New 'Piper barge' Friends

One day we rode our bikes to the nearby lake

A french Nessie?

On Thursday we took the train to Beaune, the capital of Burgundy wine.  Its only 25minutes away and we really enjoyed looking around the old fortified town and its famous 570 years old hospital.  There were lots of very nice restaurants and wine bars, classy boutiques for clothes and homeware, fromageries, etc etc.  Beaune is well worth a visit.

The old hospital in Beaune a very good place to visit, well worth the entrance fee

On Friday afternoon, Amarylis a beautiful hotel barge arrived.  Kev was off having his haircut.  I was very nicely asked if I minded moving the boat along to allow the hotel barge to moor up.  I said of course that would be ok, but I was on my own, so three of the crew including the captain moved Rangali along the quay   A little while later, when Kev was back, the captain, Richard came back with a bottle of burgundy wine.  Kev said he didn’t need to do that, but we thought that was very nice of him.  Luckily in our new position we still have a TV signal so that Kev can watch the F1 on Sunday.

We plan to leave Dijon on Tuesday, if we can catch one of the lock keepers flying past on his moped.  Lots of hotel boats arrived over the past few days so we will have to see when we can be fitted in.  At one point there were 7 hotel barges here.  We imagine this afternoon and Monday will be busy with hotel boats leaving.