Plombiere to Dijon.                                           Canal de Bourgogne.

v. hot indeed.

Slid down into Dijon - very much in Dijon suburbs, so countryside not to be seen.

Pounds still very empty.

Into Dijon P de P. with some relief, then bycicles offloaded, and girls head for rly dtn to book and buy TGV ticket to Paris.

Then off they go for tour - still on bikes - of Dijon!

Attacked in evening by some small insect, that in 1 minute flat, but top of foot 9 times, and left it well swollen. There are more things in Dijon basin than laid up hotel boats, herons, swans and geese.

June 30 Tuesday

Dijon to Breteniere,                                                             Canal de Bourgogne.

Still hot, but there is rain around somewhere.

Sister R up to Station at 1000 - we went in taxi as well - too hot to bicycle.

Got taxi back to boat as well - shows how hot!

Steadily cooled off during day.

To S.M. to get supplies for 2 nights - we will stock up properly in StJ de L - then set off down canal at 1315.

Seemed to get VIP treatment. All locks set ready for us, usually with 1 gate ready and good speed (for us) made. The remarkable thing about this is that on the Bourgogne, traditionally, all locks are emptied and lower gates left opened after use - in other words exactly against us. Also, normally, there is never an communication between locks, so no lockk is started to be made ready until boat is actually present and waiting.

Quite overcome by state of canal - all pounds full to overflowing, far higher than we ever experinced here before, and general outlook.

Moored up in pound just past Breteniere - Motor Way has left us, we were passed the end of the Dijon airport runway, and although the National Road is only 2-0 to 30 yards away, we felt it time to stop.

Had passed peniche loading at mill 2 locks up, so had to rely on him coming down before we started, although he was loading grain, and it was raining.

Found clean grass sharp bank, pleanty water to float in, and nice firm banks, so 4 pin moor, and we hoped.

Comfortable, cool, quiet night, except a couple of Mirages about bed time.

Breteniere to St Jean de Losne.                                                              Canal de Bourgogne.

Cool rainy day - what a relif to experience lower temperatures all round, rain in form of quick, very heavy showers.

This section of the canal - dead straight from Dijon to StJ de L, is reckoned dull and dreary. After rain - and it must have had rain last week as well, it is green and pleasant, the countryside is looking well - albeit desperately flat (Saone Riverine Valley) - and virtually all pounds are full.

All made for a pleasant trip after a comfortable night with boat hard up against the bank, but afloat, and level.

In addition, L.K.s always on hand, and efficient - unlike our last trip over this section 2 years ago, when every 3rd lock had 3 LKs, but none between.

Wrang CBL, and assured "plenty of room", so into old berth a tea time.

July 3 Thursday

In St Jean de Losne.

String of cool heavy showers across all day, otherwise cool and wndy.

Maintenance and gossip, and wind down in cooler weather.

Batteries checked, laundaerette, 2 S.M. shops, Brico, the works.

CBL with only 5 boats in, but a lot of private boats still on H2O.

St Jean de Losne to St-Symphorien.                                             Canal Rhone a Rhine

Fine weather - sunny and cool breeze.

CBL filling up fast - change over day, so reckoned it was time to go. As we slid out, hire boat hovering to take our place - so good thing we went.

Fuelled up at the bunker ship - 90 litres - and loud yell from road - Gordon and Gwen from Redquest. They were in St Symphorien, so arranged to meet there.

Arrived about tea time, sfter complicated briefing on new computerised lock zappers. What a carr on! Digital read-outs and all on an electronic gadget that upens lock gates.

Found Frank - Belle Etoile in the "basin, so stopped and gossiped over mugs of tea. Last saw him when he was helping Geoff with our abortive hull blacking episode at Montchanin last year.

Through 1 lock, then found Redquest. Tried to find somewhere on bank to tie up, but curving sides and rock re-inforcement, asnd eventually breasted up to Redquest.

Lots of gossip and chatter, drinks and tea in each other’s boats, etc. Good fun.

Much too late to go on, so stayed over.

St Symphorien to Dole.                                             Canal Rhone a Rhine

Fine, cool, breezy.

We are back to proper boating mode. Weather is ideal, canal is ideal, boat is full of water (drinking), diesel, beer, food, and batteries fulkly charged.

No target to-day, but Dole would be nice.

Fancy lock opening gadgets master of over engineering. Big box like gadget with didigatal read-out.

When within range of lock radar says so, then tells you each step in turn, and what is happening. Difficult to go wrong, so long as it all works. Except for one- and that came riught - they did, and had a totally enjoyable trip up.

Area largely industrial - enormous chemical plant covering many acres, but somehow the French manage to ensure these places are not like Manchester with gloomy areas of abandoned containers, and leaking steam pipes, It is reasonably clean, and, of course, the sun is shining.

Passed jetty we moored at before at the lavatort factory, but this time they seemed to be making something else, althoiugh still shrink wrapped onb pallets.

Into Dole about tea time, and moored up to wall opposite P. de P. Finger pontoons far too short for us, and they charge after the first day.

First time we have really settled down to mooring up on curving black wall, using ladders and springs. Chose spot where steps came down through wall, and put ladder on bottom step.

Plenty rings, so able to pull boat in, and hold rigid fore-and-aft with the springs. Ladder and boat never budges, nor ground on wall.

Straight off to Brico - looking for cheap offer of long (50 m) extension cable for electricity. 50 metres for €24.50 complete with plug and socket.

Now can draw from points 90 metres from boat socket - hope voltage drop doesn’t rear ugly head.