Cruising with the Carters: Chauny to Pont L'Eveque

18.5 km, 2 locks, 2 hrs 45 mins

This is where we moored last night

A water point next to our boat, no idea if it works or not

First thing this morning we went in search of a supermarket; there was a Carrefour 1.3 kms away. The route looked as if it was a major highway, and seeing there are no bicycle lanes here, we went by foot. In fact, it would have been an easy ride by bike. We stocked up on jam, butter, milk, rum (again a 1 litre bottle for just over €10), coke and fizzy water.

Next on the “to do” list was a trip to the Orange store (our Orange Mobicarte that was working such a treat a few days ago seems to have been blocked) and to the SFR store to try and resolve the FON internet issue (SFR is the FON member in France, as NOS is the FON member in Portugal).

A flower stall along the way

At the Orange store we were treated like well-respected clients: the young girl at the counter tried to help us but when I did not understand something she said she called a colleague who spoke excellent English and took as long as necessary to understand our problem and solve it (which he did). At the SFR store the young girl (bimbo) behind the counter was not interested, said No we would be not be able to connect to SFR, and when we tried to explain that SFR should connect us to FON, she said that FON is for French accounts to connect when they are in foreign countries but foreigners cannot use it to connect in France! What a load of horse manure! We asked if she would call a SFR support line for us – No. She was not in the least bit interested in us or our problem. It was getting close to lunch time and I guess she had an appointment at a nail bar or something. Total airhead!

On the way back to the boat we bought a baguette at a boulangerie – it was still warm, and half gone by the time we got home.

We left Chauny at 1.30 – next stop Pont L’Eveque.

It was really rather windy today, with intermittent cloud and sun. Cool under the clouds, warm in the sun.

The first barge we have seen in ages

A pretty property right on the water's edge

Note the ominous looking clouds looming in the distance.

The squall hit us just as we were coming up to a lock. Ian considered pulling into the side till it passed, but just then there the rain stopped and the wind eased so we carried on into the lock, but it wasn’t over yet. Blimey, where did it come from – must have been 30 knots at least with driving rain. So with full rain gear we passed through the lock, and no sooner were we out the other side than the rain blew away and it all calmed down!

The turn into the Port de Plaisance at Pont l’Eveque is really tight coming from the East. Ian had to reverse and manoeuvre to make the turn. It looked really full but I thought I had seen some space at the very far end. It is really tight and Ian ended up reversing through a narrow gap between boats moored on either side and fortunately I was right and there was a place big enough for Njord.

This is a really pretty marina, but also very much a working marina with a dry dock for barges.