Beaumont-sur-Oise to Saint-Leu-d'Esserent

After I went to that fabulous boulangerie this morning to buy a baguette and 2 pastries, I googled it and discovered that it won "Best Bakery in France", a TV programme similar to Masterchef but specifically for professional bakeries.  Well, no wonder there was always a queue out the door, and I’m so pleased we got to sample their pastries.

On the left an Eclair Paris Brest, on the right a Crusti Pommes - delicious and totally decadent

17 kms, 1 lock, 2.5 hours

We set off at 8.30.  It was grey, overcast and the weather forecast was for rain showers in the morning and thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Ummmm, a waterwheel but what does it do?

There is supposed to be dock at this hotel, but not one that we would want to stay at overnight. 

We had no idea where we would stop,  just relied on finding a handy pontoon somewhere.  We thought there might be one at Saint-Leu-d’Esserent because PC Navigo showed a bollard icon and the Fluviacart guide showed a black stripe (meaning a quay or dock) but no bollard, and we couldn’t see anything on google earth.  When we got here we found a quay with well-spaced bollards just as started to rain so we tied up quickly and ducked inside.

Approaching Saint Leu this huge Abbey dominates the skyline

Looking one way, a lovely tranquil mooring...

...but looking the other way - an industrial plant unloading sand and stone from barges

When the rain eased Ian went for walk and came back to tell me the huge Abbey was not so far, so off I went. It was well worth the walk.

There are lots of large logs afloat on this river

Walking past the massive walls on the way up to the Abbey

There are bad cracks in the buttresses supporting the massive walls and I was intrigued by these measures to track their movement

They never did get round to building the second tower

The "Mairie" (Town Hall) in an old chateau

The entrance to the Priory that was alongside the Abbey.  During the French Revolution it was sold, most of the Priory was demolished but the gardens still remain - now private property so I could not get in to see them. 

By the time I got back the sun was out, it was hot, and there is no sign of the thunderstorms.