Last nights mooring can definitely be put in the 'Rock and Roll' class - 3 commercial barges went past and we were still feeling the effects of their wakes 10 minutes later!
It rained more than buckets in the night - the bank A walked Roxy along last night is underwater - and the river is running fast. There is a chill wind today, and we pushed off early - well, before 9 (!) so it wasn't long before the inside driving position was assumed.
This is it! The day we get into the Rhone, and full steam ahead we're only 3 days motor from the Med. That's not how we're doing it, but its possible!
We saw more river traffic today than any days previously (not including those last night keeping things interesting) and we arrived at a lock just as a pusher came out with 2 barges in front (looks a pig to steer!) with a little pleasure boat following - it looked so teeny, but probably wasn't too much smaller than us.
At places where the river narrows we were flying along, more than 9.5kts in places, and at lock exit we could see the current was all over the place so the only way to master it was to put our foot down! That was the last in the Saone.
We moved back outside for the arrival in Lyon, and had our eyes peeled in case the nights rainfall has officially been classed as a flood; in flood conditions navigation through Lyon is alternate, according to the book controlled by traffic lights in 3 places. When we arrived at the first spot there was no visible light, on or off, but a panel stating under alternating conditions from the top of which hours you have 30 minutes to make the trip. We had no indication that we were to stop so we just kept going through the town - which is currently a bit of a building site whilst widespread improvements are made to the properties on the river banks as well as - err, why is the quay we plan to stop on a building site and partially underwater in these non-flooded conditions?! Right, mooring rethink!
Actually, where we were to stop is right by the VNF office so there would be no excuse not to get a new ticket for the final part of the journey, so moving on swiftly we decided to head up the Rhone a little and there was a great pontoon along the reclaimed section of bank, in a park! No electricity and further away from town that the spots in the Saone (when they were moorings and not building sites!) but we settled in.
Not long after mooring up a German registered boat pulled up behind us; fortunately J didn't try to dredge up any of her poor German as the owners are Italian, having just collected the boat from Holland and heading to Rome. His eyes lit up when we said we were going the same way as the skipper will be alone from tomorrow and fancies travelling in convoy, but we are waiting on friends to visit here in Lyon and he's in a rush. He did say the Med is blowing a force 8 in Marseille right now, so not something we want to rush into!!
Looking forward to a visit from Virginie - Js ESF mate from Courchevel 1850 (and her sprogs) tomorrow and fingers crossed that the Stares family will make it up here so they can deck hand for us for a day or so!! That's the adults - R&F will take it in turns on the helm!!
No comments:
Post a Comment