Verdun to Dun-sur-Meuse

42 kms, 9 locks

The weather forecast was not great for today, warm but lots of rain, especially in the afternoon.  We waved goodbye to the Reitermayer family on Leo at 8.00 and headed north.  It was almost an hour to the first lock which we had booked for 9.00 and, as we waited for the lock keeper to arrive, I realised there was a military cemetery alongside the canal.

It got warmer and warmer as the day progressed (24C when we arrived at 15.00), as you can see by my t-shirts in some of the pics, but we could see the big black storm clouds gathering. 

Undulating fields

This little creature is a deer that swam across the canal in front of our boat then took off across the carefully cultivated fields!

The lock at Consenvoye has sloping sides and a floating pontoon on one side

Ducklings

And a coot sitting on a nest in the middle of nowhere

At one of the locks this great big dog knew all about boats and came out to say hello 

Approaching Dun-sur-Meuse

We stopped at the Porte de Plaisance at Dun-sur-Meuse, which is a pay marina but includes electricity, water, showers and wifi.  

As soon as we arrived I went to the Office de Tourisme to pay and get the the wifi password. The young lady gladly wrote out the password for me and said someone would come by in the evening to collect the money (€9 including water and electricity)

Meanwhile the storm clouds had turned into thunder and lightning and not long after I got back the heavens opened and down cam the rain.  The storm past by in about 15 minutes, out came the sun and off I went with my camera to investigate the town.

When I got back another boat arrived, a sailing yacht with 4 strapping Danish Vikings aboard.

But the storm clouds returned and right now Ian is tending the sausages on the bbq as the the thunder and lightening crash around us.  Fortunately there is no wind so he is dry and it is not cold.