Petite Sâone

Angle Iron Tower (replica Eiffel) at Soing. Who knows why?

Written whilst waiting for the port restaurant to open at Fouchécourt on the Petite Sâone.

We’ve now been ‘en passage’ as real boaters say, for just over a week. Things have gone well – mostly. The weather (and forecast) could be better, we could have sorted out some cost effective internet and I should have remembered to retrieve the spare boat key from the marina at St Jean de Losne before we left but -the river is lovely, the villages postcard pretty and hopefully our first meal out tonight will be good.

I am writing this offline. Monsieur Orange, who kindly (and inadvertently) provided us with such a good ‘bon plan’ last year of unlimited internet at 9 euros a month has decided it’s just not on this year. So, after multiple visits to the Orange shop (and, subsequent to our first enquiry, the assistants ducking for cover when they see us coming - why? Perhaps my mangled French hurt their ears as much as it hurt my brain.) we have purchased a pre paid dongle. I can’t offer a verdict as yet – there’s no signal here for instance – but I suspect uploading a blog may prove expensive. Our Kindles continue to be fantastic value – we can access our email and, with patience, can do much of what the Orange mobile internet can do, and all for free.

Getting a new key cut proved almost as difficult as the internet connection. Much weighing and measuring and shaking of heads ensued. Dutch keys are much bigger than French ones apparently (yes size does matter). Just do the best you can, we said. And they did. So we now have a key that doesn't quite fit but will open the door eventually as long as you're prepared to crouch there fumbling  like an incompetent safe breaker.

Today we shared a lock and a few pleasantries with an American couple in a hire boat. In the space of 10 minutes in the lock we established that we had lived a few houses from each other 30 years ago in Australia  and our children had gone to the same school. Then they sped on their way faster than us probably never to meet again. Small worlds and coincidences.

The meal was great. Restaurant is run by one guy, all by himself, who does everything completely efficiently and entertainingly.

St Albin Tunnel

We've passed through two tunnels this week. The Saint Albin and the Savoyeux. Bothe had plenty of room, were well lit and contolled by traffic lights and so no chance of meeting anyone. There is no towpath - the chains you can see in the photo were there so that bargees could pull themselves through in pre-motor days.