BACK TO CALENDAR 2002

 

This Weeks "We're Here" Map

 

(The Map is a "thumbnail", same as the pictures - click on it for full size when connected to www.)

 

 

June 3                                                                                     Monday

 

la Vieux Pechoir River Yonne

 

Another quiet day for S., recovering from bug. However, converted area into gypsy encampment with washing hung everywhere to dry. Looked much more like us, than the neat mooring it was before.

 

Spent profitable but grubby morning changing engine oil, and oil and fuel filters. Latter is a wretched job - filter ungetatable without largely dismantling extraneous bits, then because it’s only done once or twice a year, fiendishly sticky to get off.

 

Very pleased to get it all done - we are now really ready to go - all systems (except charger - OK

 

 

June 4                                                                                                             Tues

la Vieux Pechoir to Cézy River Yonne

 

Cleared up water, electric lines, and all our bits, and pulled out for Joigny about 10.00.

 

Met Benjamin in lock before Joigny - but only shouted conversation across water. They went into Locaboats mooring, we to bridge wall for long enough to buy bread, post mail, etc.

 

Left too late for lunch, so had it in the lock. After lunch turned left, and headed up the river (as opposed to the Joigny Cut) to Cezy.

 

Found picnic site and mooring marked in book. Sadly, this is one of those cases where a village has built a super little picnic sit and mooring combined, some years ago, and then abandoned it. Actual mooring - short - good well made concrete jetty. The site itself used to be neat grass, benches, tables, and covered area for barbecues.

 

Now grass long and lank, covered area full of broken bottles, and general ugly and vandalized.

 

However, totally deserted, and far enough away from Joigny to be out of reach of scooter mounted kids, so moored up for night (after hire boat in occupation got the message and left).

 

 

June 5                                                                             Wednesday

Cézy to Villeneuf River Yonne

 

Nice run, down through forest on both sides - felt we were going like the clappers, down stream. BUT

 

In a season of poor weather most of the time, to-day came out tops. Strong bitter cold wind - fortunately from behind - accompanied by driving rain, ensured one of the most unpleasant periods of boating we have ever endured.

 

We lit the cabin stove at lunch time, with relief - this in June.

 

To Villeneuf’s pleasant low town wall mooring. Low here means just road side, as high as Albert’s stern - step off, step on.

 

Lots of room - later joined by hotel boat Elisabeth who we gossiped with in Auxerre 3 years ago. Looked very smart, spick and span.

 

They showed us where the electricity was, but one had to ring the marie to get it switched on, and apart from the tel no on the notice being wrong, it was closed anyway!

 

Looked around town - very old, smart and historic.

 

 

June 6                                                                                 Thursday

Villeneuf to Sens River Yonne

 

Bit more of a wander around - we have to kill time, anyway, as charger will not arrive in Sens till next Tuesday - took photos, bough supplies, etc.

 

Arrived in Sens late lunch time, and again tied up to town wall mooring - height this time almost the same as Albert’s roof.

 

Only other boat Dutch Vedette, who never left their boat, so we didn’t meet them.

 

Joined on mooring, at about 1800, by péniche pusher combination - all 70 metres, 700 tons of him, carrying sand and gravel.

 

To start with he stopped the combination in the middle of the river. Then combining the engine and rudder of the pusher péniche to swing his stern across, and the engine and rudder of the pushed peniche to stop his front end swinging other way, he crab walked the whole thing to within 2" of our side, then just stopped, put his wife ashore to do the shopping, put out a stern line and spring, switched his engines off, and just sat.

 

We had been getting more nervous - indeed frightened - and were thankful that the current "fashion" of narrow boat building is to grossly over design shell and plate thickness.

 

Skipper then came to us and long gossip ensued. Very cross at reduced lock hours - this year 0800 to 1800 with 1 hour closed for lunch, previous years 0600 to 2000 at least, with 30 mins for lunch. Also very cross with poor conditions of barrages on Yonne and Seine resulting in reduced water levels, and hence reduced loads. Suspect (I quote) VNF going slow on repairs, to reduce traffic, then able to say as there is no traffic, won’t bother to repair. Anyway, shorter hours, mean fewer journeys, shallow pounds mean light and less profitable trips.

Sens River Yonne.

 

Péniche friend left in time for next lock down in early morning, after polite and fond farewells.

 

Still waiting - amusing ourselves with wandering around town - beautiful old town and cathedral

 

Gossiping with several boats that have suddenly joined us, particularly Chris and Pat in Doxy. They had come up with Swiss boat who knew it all, insisted on getting at least 1.5 lbs of flesh from L.K. so that they were hugely unpopular, and apart from being chased from hither to yon, were fed all sorts of false information about lock opening hours and stoppages, and permitted moorings.

 

Also joined by Belgian Hotel Boats (2 off) with whom the Swiss promptly fought, as well.

 

They were, in fact, very nice, and several of the guests had a tour through a slightly grubby Albert.

 

 

June 8                                                                                 Saturday

Sens                     River Yonne

 

Waiting!    Taking photos of grass!.

 

 

June  9                                                     Sunday     

Sens                    River Yonne

 

Waiting!