We left our tight mooring, with the aid of our neighbours who kindly moved back to allow us a bit more space, just before 10a.m. We are now on the Canal de la Marne a la Saone - the Canal between Champagne and Burgundy - a Canal really built for commercial barges. The first lock was a dirty beast and 3.3 metres deep......the wrong day to choose to wear a white t-shirt!! Also these locks are more violent as the water cascades into the lock as opposed to filling from underneath, making for a rocky ride! However, they did improve as we went along. We arrived in Orconte at 12.30 p.m. And secured ourselves on mooring pins. Skip then went further along to find a small quay with bollards and electricity - we decided not to move as electricity was not necessary and we were comfortable under the trees. Crew then walked along to look, passing the boat in front of us to hear strange noises as she passed. On further inspection, she discovered two live chickens in a cage on the back deck - no sign of an owner! Unsettling!!
After the usual lunch and siesta, Skip went into the village. Our books said there was a boulangerie, butcher, restaurants and bar.......only the boulangerie survives!! However, Skip did manage to take a picture of a Champagne bar - sadly, turned into a house, no longer operational!
So again, no restaurant - galley duties for Crew! A lady came to collect money, we thought just from the two boats ahead of us on the proper mooring near the power bourne but no.........she came and demanded €8 from us too! Crew was incandescent.....no power and not even a bollard!!! It would be understandable if it was in a town with lots of facilities but here, in the middle of nowhere - words fail me!!
A supper of Spaghetti bolognaise ( although with tagliatelle as is proper!) on the back deck as it is still quite warm for a change, followed by a DVD and bed.
12.5 km 6 locks 2 1/2 hours
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