Monday 29th May - Ougney-les- Champs to Baume- les- Dames

First of all apologies for the wrong destination on yesterdays' blog!  Not being sure whether or not we could cruise today we didn't rush too much to be ready. Around 9.30 Skip called the VNF to enquire as to the state of lock 40......he was told to call back at 11 which he duly did and got a message not telling us anything.  So he went to find the VNF man at our lock who told him that the lock was repaired and being tested.  We decided to go and slipped our lines at 11.20.  Two easy locks (in stifling heat with no breeze!) and then we reached the part of the river where Henk, our Dutch friend hit some rocks last year and had to be towed to Baume-les-Dames.  Unfortunately his gearbox had broken down, resulting in him overwintering there, instead of cruising on to Holland which was his plan!  Needless to say we navigated this part of the river with great care.  Through our last lock and a 2 km cruise along the canal that led to Baumes-les- Dames where we tied off alongside easily.  It's a lovely place to moor but the facilities are a bit of a walk - certainly in this heat!  There is a restaurant nearby called The Capitainerie but Henk has told us that it's not good.....in any case, it is not open on Mondays of course!! We had a bit of lunch then Crew put a wash on and retired to the cool of the cabin for a read (and a sleep!). We re- assembled on the back deck......still warm but more bearable!  Skip had been shopping whilst Crew was slumbering - he was worried about the depletion of his beer stock after our 'kayak party' yesterday!!  As the restaurant is closed, Skip bought a ready meal and a pizza, trying to make things easy for the chef!  Decided on the rognons with mushrooms in a Madeira sauce, served with pasta - Crew made what she calls an interesting salad as a starter to compensate for the lack of vegetables.......it's all in the balance you know!!  As the inside of the boat was warm we didn't descend till almost 11 o'clock, watched a DVD then bed.

9 km 3 locks 1 1/2 hours