Rouen to Greves du Lac

We left Rouen timed with a view to a continued helping hand from the current, making ready to attack our first big lock (Honfleur doesn't really count!) and getting out of the tidal waters.

These locks on the Seine are HUGE - some moving a couple of 80m barges at a time, plus little old us tacked on the end...

We've discovered the only way to keep Roxy up on the fly bridge and not 'helping' with the ropes is to put her life jacket on - causing much hilarity to watchers, but it works. With A at the helm, J is manning ropes - too many as it turns out, as the bollards are so far apart we're reduced to one rope only on the cleat in the middle. It doesn't make it a super stable passage, but with the engines running A can adjust the boats trim nicely. Glad we've got so many fenders too!

Out of the influence of the tide, and we motored on up the river to a flooded quarry - Les Grèves du Lac. J parked for the first time since the exams - nice side to pontoon with a wind assist, cheating really!

The owners were friendly, although full of horror stories when we said we are en route to the Med - unexpected draining of canals leaving boats in the dry, no way we'll make it this time of year, what are we thinking... Yikes!

Off early in the morning (can we afford not to be, gotta get a wriggle on...) with a longer than usual day ahead in order to be able to meet friends Vicky and Sam Kirby in Paris...