20/09/2012
Today : 4 locks
Today was hard work ! We got stuck
behind a Dutch barge pushing another barge in the lock cycle, and since our
length combined well with his to fill one wall of a lock, we were literally
behind him all day. His lock trick was to put a single rope aft, and then leave
the barge in gear with rudder hard over to push himself against the wall. Never
mind the little boat behind him, clinging to the lock wall by a single rope and
riding his wash like a bucking bronco!! Still, once he came back and caught a
rope for us and admired our steed, so no harm no foul!
 | |
| Asleep at the wheel?! |
Tiredness meant we pulled over earlier than
planned, at Fontainebleau. When J called to book a mooring, we were advised to
moor on the visitors quay, but no-one was around to take payment tonight, and
probably not tomorrow either. Not to worry though, plug in to the shore power
anyway and enjoy a free-bee on a fonctionnaire (government employee who won’t
do overtime to collect 11€ mooring fees!).
We strolled into ‘town’ to find a single
bar/restaurant on the corner where two main roads intersected; an Egyptian
owner/chef/barman and a single patron welcomed us – accompanied by a strange
life-size cow – a terrifying experience for Roxy. Later she got over her fear
and posed for a photo!
The owner also offered to sell us a
baguette in the morning to avoid the 4km return walk to the nearest
boulangerie, although he wasn’t there the next morning when J stopped by to
collect, and the bar was overflowing with workers having their morning coffee –
all present wondering on what planet one bought bread in a bar. Saved by the
owner who brought one out from the kitchen – where he was cheffing!
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