Monday 4th June - Vanneaux to Decize

We arranged with the lock keeper yesterday to start at 9 o’clock but a hire boat snuck in just before us so it was 9.30 before we locked through.  We managed to complete four locks before midday, avoiding a lunch stoppage and went through our final lock which was automatic, into the spacious marina in Decize.
This was our third visit to the port of Decize, the first about nine years ago when it was pretty scruffy but when we visited just five years ago with our son and his wife and baby, about twenty lodges had been built, along with a handy bar and restaurant!
The temperature was nudging 30c with hardly any wind so we got settled and had a leisurely lunch.  Skip then paid two visits to the nearby Intermarche, the first for comestibles and the second for a replacement gas bottle.  He also went to the Capitainerie to pay our dues and at the same time, booked a table for us for dinner.
After a siesta and freshen up we walked over to the restaurant, where we noticed Malcolm, the ex-pilot was also dining.  Unfortunately, the service was rather rapid and we didn’t have time to finish our apero before the starter arrived!  Likewise the main course followed quickly after the starters were finished so the flow of the meal was all wrong and I have to say that the quality was not there either.....disappointing!  Malcolm came over to chat to us for a while after his meal and then we wended our way back to Aphrodite for a bit of TV and bed.

16 km. 5 locks. 3 hours