Monday 29th August - Valence to Andancette

An early start was planned as we weren't sure whether we could moor for the night in Andancette or would have to cruise a further 28 km and another lock to Les Roches de Condrieu, so we left port at 7.40 a.m.  Unusually on approaching our first lock of the day, the eclusier, when called up on VHF replied to Skip in English (obviously some work needs to be done on Skips' French accent!).  Initially he said that the wait would be 40 minutes but within 20 minutes the lock was ready for us.  He started to close the gate when he spotted a Swiss cruiser coming so he raised the gate again, costing us ten or fifteen minutes.  About 5 km from our next lock saw us cruising through Hermitage country, with vineyards climbing the hills each side of us.  The lady eclusier surprised us by also speaking pretty good English and she told us that she was ready for us so we put on a bit more speed to hurry the operation up.  When we got near the lock, however, only a red light greeted us so we had to wait. There was a British narrow boat locking down, who was admonished by the lock keeper for untying before he had the green light and who seemed to emerge from the lock very slowly.  Apart from Aphrodite and Cornelis k. there was a Swiss cruiser with us.  He started off by overtaking us then slowing down, putting himself between us and Henk.  He then slowed right down forcing us to overtake him........what was that all about?  Then when we were waiting for the lock, since he moored on the pontoon to wait, he was first in and first out, making us think that he was going for the one and only space in Andancette.  However, as he passed under the bridge at Andance, he carried straight on and we saw that the pontoon was free for us, so we tied up on the mooring and Henk rafted up alongside us.  As it was just about one o'clock when we had arrived, it was a good time to have some lunch, then Skip went ashore to explore.  Andancette is a hamlet on one side of the Rhone whilst the town of Andance is on the opposite bank.  There are three large crosses set on top of the hill behind the town, supposedly to represent three young ladies who, desperate for not seeing their fiances return from the crusades, threw themselves into the Rhone - quite a feat I must say!!  As it was Monday, the likelihood of a restaurant being open in town was low so Crew cooked dinner.  Wine, chat and bed.

43 km 2 locks 5 1/2 hours