1st October. Doris and Urs have closed their restaurant and boutique at lock 34 for the season, Urs has headed to Switzerland for the balance of the week where he has business. Doris is to spend the day opening her shop which specialises in art, craft and things hand made. So I spent the day with her and we cleaned, arranged and mounted product. By the end of the day we were mighty pleased with our efforts and the results!
I stayed at this charming mooring for a whole week. On the following Saturday when Urs had returned from Switzerland we went to the movies in a local village hall. It was a British film but it had been dubbed so I probably missed a lot!
Sun 5th. Set off from Lock 34 to Fleury where there is an excellent restaurant which is closed on Sunday evenings, a pity!
Mon 6th. cruised into Dijon today but was unable to get a berth on any of the moorings with electricity so I will move on in the morning. It has been raining quite solidly for the last 24 hours and shows no sign of letting up. Making up for no rain in the last 5 weeks no doubt!
Tues 7th. The stretch from Dijon to St Jean is usually a two day event but I got the bit between my teeth and having had a long spell with only my own company decided that I wanted to get back to my friends and did the 30klms and 22 locks in one go. The lock keepers were really great about helping me to do this. I arrived at about 6.30 to be met at the last lock by Glennie while Pete waited on the pontoon to take my ropes. And then the dear friends that they are, fed me a great dinner and caught me up on the gossip! I spent the night on the boat as I needed to start to get things ready for wintering and woke to a sunrise below heavy clouds which dispersed leaving a warm and rain free day.
18th October. Life in St Jean is settling into a routine. Franglaise on Mondays, Social evening on Wednesdays, helping Germaine out at book swap on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. The days have been pretty full helping Steve and Helen, along with Glennie and Pete, work on their new boat which they are hoping to take up to Belgium for some serious modification, leaving here on Monday. Although new to them it is actually a year older than Liberté having been built in 1909.
The weather continues to be warm which is a good thing as I still need to winterise my boat. Early mornings have been heavy with mist and moisture but I have had some glorious afternoon light illuminating the church roof and colouring the sky over the river, both viewed from my apartment.
21st, After a night on the town steps Steve and Helen set off on Jonge Jelle , direction Belgium!
capetocarpe 