Week 11

Saturday 6 October 2007

Up early as it was going to be a long day (60km). Entered first lock at 8.30am – it was enormous - really, really deep but luckily with floating bollards to make life easier for a small boat! Out the other side and onto the enormous expanse of the River Saone. Under the suspension bridge and we are on our way – hot but a little hazy. It was really quiet on the river, only passed a couple of other boats all day. Arrived in Macon late afternoon and tied on the town quay pontoon next to an English catamaran crewed by women. Walked into town and found an Australian bar (?!) with WiFi access so checked the forecast for the River Rhone – not looking good – high winds forecast for the next few days which could mean we cannot move – our boat has too small an engine and would not be able to stop if the Rhone is flowing fast towards the sea and there are high winds behind us!! Found out that England had beaten Australia in the rugby and decided we would have to find somewhere to watch the semi-final next weekend. Later managed to tune into the France v New Zealand game on the radio and they won … perhaps not such a good idea to be in a bar next weekend … and the only English people when France are playing England!! There was a bar near the quayside where the French were watching the rugby and every time they scored we could hear them cheer. At the end of the match we could hear screaming, shouting, singing and cars horns … this went on for about half an hour – you would have thought that had actually won the World Cup!!

Sunday 7 October 2007

Up early again to find there was a car boot sale taking place right next to the pontoon. Had a wander round – they sell far better stuff than you get at an English car boot sale! Bought a brand new mini meths stove complete with 2 pans for the bargain price of 3 euros! Darryl managed to buy an immaculate pair of Diesel cords for 5 euros! Set off about 9.30 – it was lovely and sunny but really chilly with a mist in the distance. When the mist eventually lifted after lunch it was really, really hot. The river was like a mill pond with great reflections of the buildings from the river bank. Another enormous lock today – really, really long for the commercial barges but not too deep. Arrived in Trevoux late afternoon and there was a craft fayre on the river bank. Had a wander round – everything was really expensive. One stall was all bizarre things someone had made from old stuff … like oil cans, gas canisters, watering cans etc ….. the watering can was 200 euros!!! Walked up the very steep hill to the fort at the top which gave great panoramic views over the town, countryside and river.

Monday 8 October 2007

Woke to thick fog, could not even see the boat moored 2 feet away from us. Could not go anywhere like this so did some jobs around the boat and waited for the fog to lift. Eventually set off about 11.00am by which time the sun was shining. Arrived in Lyon about 3.00pm. As we were entering Lyon it did not look good, lots of graffiti everywhere. The canal book said there was tying up places along the quayside but do not leave the boat unattended which was a little unnerving. Tied up next to a Swiss boat and had a chat with them. They said they had been to Lyon a couple of times before and would keep an eye on the boat for us if we wanted to go into the town – however, they advised us not to leave the boat unattended at night! Quick check of the weather for the Rhone indicated it would be ok for us to join the vast river tomorrow. Had a wander round the old town with cobbled streets and lots of unusual little shops – very pretty. Lots of lovely buildings in the town and up o the hills. Over the bridge there were little squares with statues and fountains in them (reminded me of Rome). Wandered round a few shops and Darryl bought an Oxbow snowboard jacket for the bargain price of 60 euros. Walked over to the other side of town to have a look at the Rhone, it was moving quite fast but did not look too bad.

Tuesday 9 October 2007

Up early so we could set off as soon as it was light as we were going to cover 72km today. It was a lovely morning with a wonderful sunrise over the Rhone as we joined it just outside of Lyon. Beautiful scenery along the way, hillsides covered in vineyards. The classic moment of the day was when Darryl said, in an excited voice, “look at that” … to which Christine responded “oh yes a pretty vineyard” to which Darryl said “no, a MacDonald’s sign!!!” Had a nightmare day with locks. One lock we arrived at just as a boat was coming out but the lock keeper would not let us go in so we waited, and waited. About half an hour later an enormous double barge arrived and went into the lock and there was not enough room for us too, so we waited, and waited. Then another boat came out ….. and we waited and waited. Eventually the lock keeper let us in, by which time we had been waiting for an hour and a half!! This put us behind schedule to get to the next town of Tournon so we stopped at a little village called Andancette which had a little mooring. We wandered into town about 6.45 but everything was closed!

Wednesday 10 October 2007

After a night of rain we woke to a little mist but at least it was dry, if very cold. Passed by Tournon, which looked really pretty … if only that lock keeper had let us in yesterday! Lots of lovely scenery, more vineyards and an almost fjord like look to the valley. By mid morning the mist had lifted into a very hot, sunny day. The locks were kind to us today and we arrived in Valence about 3.00 pm. The marina wanted 20 euros for a night so we tied up on the quayside next to some barges. Wandered into the city centre which was really nice, quite modern but with the odd old fashioned alleyway. When we got back to the boat later, something very large and very fast must have gone past the boat as the bolts holding the front cleat had snapped. Luckily there was enough thread left and Darryl managed to mend it.

Thursday 11 October 2007

Up early for another long day (47 km). First lock we had to wait for half an hour to go in and when we entered the gate closed, and then opened again and we had not moved! Eventually we got through and arrived in Viviers late afternoon. Tied up on a very strange pontoon where the gang plank was level with the top of the boat!! There were supplies for water and electricity, a shower and a launderette but everything was turned off and closed up for the winter! Wandered into an olde worlde town which was really nice. We walked all the way to the top of the hill, through lovely back alleyways with old style houses and a lovely cathedral at the top. From the top there were great views back along the Rhone. Found an internet café and booked Mrs Bean a bargain flight to Geneva to stay with us in January … quite the little jet setter now!

Friday 12 October 2007

Woke early but the winds were really high so decided to stay put for the day. Went into town and chatted with the very nice lady in the tourist office who said she felt sorry for us as France was going to beat England in the semi-final of the rugby … we laughed and said she was probably right!! Cycled to the next town of Montelimar (about 8 km). Nice town famous for its nougat. We tried some, it was really nice, made with honey. On the way back to Viviers later saw a sign for a samba/salsa band playing later in one of the bars so decided to go along. The band were really good … the locals were very strange but we had a nice time!

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