12 kms 2
locks
Time to move
on and the locks are open again after being closed for 3 days. The stretch of locks was closed to allow work
on the barrages. After the storm a few
weeks ago a lot of logs and branches had fallen into the canal and we noticed
as we came upstream that the barrages were choked with them. We gather that in order to clear the barrages
they close the canal and drop the water level.
Two
commercial barges, which arrived late yesterday, had tied up just upstream of
the lock and went through as soon as the lock opened at 8.00. We set off at 8.20. We had just a short run today with 2
locks. When I called the first lock the
lock keeper immediately replied with “I am already preparing for you” – he’d
seen us coming.
At the second lock we were
held up for quite some time waiting for boats coming upstream which had also
been held up by the 3 days of lock closures: there was a “double trouble” barge
(2 barges tied together with the one behind pushing the one ahead, only one
driver) plus 3 pleasure boats. We
arrived just as they started entering the lock and it took forever and a day
for them to sort themselves out. Again
the locks have sloping sides and all three pleasure boats tied alongside the
big barge.
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| The Vanne Aqueduct that takes water all the way to Paris |
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| Approaching Pont-sur-Yonne from upstream |
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| The remains of a very old bridge - perhaps the "pont" of Pont-sur-Yonne |
We arrived
at Pont-sur-Yonne before 11.00. It is a
rather charming little town, with a small but well stocked supermarket (I even
found some Worcester sauce, not easy to find in France) and 3 bakeries, which
seems excessive for such a small town.
There is a big
petanque “terrain” next to the canal and there were at least 4 groups of people
playing. After our enjoyable game a
couple of days ago we have bought a set of boules so guess what we’ll be doing
tomorrow.
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| A book exchange - we have seen these in many villages, excellent idea. |
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| Looking across the town square |
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| The old church is undergoing repairs |
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| Another view of the old bridge |
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