Chevroches, Canal du Nivernais

Sunday 24 June 2012

Isle sur le Doubs

Osselle, River Doubs

We've been here before - several times- and beautiful as the River Doubs undoubtedly is I'd have been more than happy to give it a miss this year. Apparently the rest of the boating community is of a similar opinion - we've seen only 2 other boats in the past 4 days. Quite why no-one is on the river is a mystery. I asked a lock keeper today and he had no idea either. It's been quiet since the beginning of the year apparently.We are still heading for Strasbourg. The Rhine beckons, my objections having been waved aside by a hand clasping a new, state of the art, life jacket.
We've been travelling up to 6 hours every day now for 16 days which I realise will elicit absolutely no sympathy whatsoever from those of you daily commuting to work. The only thing we're battling is the current but it is making progress slow and occasionally exciting. We had a pretty embarrassing attempt at mooring in a fast flowing current at Besancon narrowly avoiding sideswiping a barge whose proud owner stood on deck in open mouthed horror and we were close enough to count his fillings.
Our visit to Besancon coincided with the annual music festival which was a great night out. Every street corner and square had a band or DJ and all types of music were represented. The whole event was free and I think every inhabitant of the city was out strolling the streets. I don't have any photos as I'd  left my new camera on deck during the evening thunderstorm...
There's always something you missed on a previous visit of course and a fairly big thing was the caves at Osselle. They are huge, have amazing rock formations and that is where the 3 bears live - truly.
The weather has been quite tropical; hot and humid durng the day and then late afternoon rain or thunderstorms. Moorings have generally been deserted, our only company swans and very vocal frogs.
Internet is proving difficult.
Deluz - break out the barbie

In

Out



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