Monday, April 12

Left Pinon at 9am and motored through 5 quick locks that brought us up to the summit to the Braye Tunnel. This tunnel was not lit as well as the other two, but very interesting.

After the tunnel and the summit we had 4 quiet locks (going down is much easier in the locks) and head left on the Canal Lateral de l’Aisne . We stopped in Maizy for lunch, walked the 2 blocks to the main street and found one pub open. We think we got there when he was going to close for the afternoon, but instead he fed us a wonderful, filling, hot meal. He was very kind and interested in our journey. We paid up and continued on for our day’s journey.

We discovered that our bilge was not working and so when we arrived in Berry-au-bac (our nights stop) we took it apart, cleaned and checked all the wiring. Ken will order one and bring it back with him on his next journey to USA.

After a bite to eat we took a long walk along the canal path. When you are in a boat, exercise is a difficult task so we took advantage of the early evening’s sun and nice temperatures.

When we reach Reims we will have traveled 452 Kilometers, and 71 locks 2-handed. Didn’t know if we could do it alone, but we have become quiet skilled for sure.

Burgundy Country

In Chaumont the rivers run into the Atlantic ocean; once through the Balesme Tunnel (five kilometers long), the rivers run to the Mediterranean Sea. Wendell and Shelley joined Ken and Kristine in this winter-like ending to the French canals, the last fifty locks into the Saone river. Then Burgundy wine tastings, Gevry Chambertin, Aloxe Corton, and Vosee Romanee in the north; Chassagne Montrachet and Meursault in the south of the Cote d’Or. So much wine, so little time!

Now that I have mastered the video portion of Blog..

This was from the early part of the trip leaving Bruinesse NL.

First video clip from Oosterschelde waters to Terneuzen, Belgium.

[MISSING VIDEO]