Pont l'Eveque to Choisy-au-Bac

23 kms, 2 locks

Another very clear, bright, sunny, cold morning.  It was 1^o when I got up at 7.00.  Thank goodness we have a good heater on the boat.

Having stopped here a couple of times before I knew there was a very nice artisanal bakery not far from the marina so I trotted off to buy the obligatory baguette and a pastry or two.  I was devastated to find it has closed down.  How sad.

So we left at 9.45 with no fresh bread or pastries – maybe tomorrow.  It was 4^o and there was a cold breeze, fortunately behind us.

A better photo of the damaged barge, waiting to be dealt with at the boatyard we visited yesterday. 

Today was a much shorter trip than we have had in the last few days.  And only 2 locks.  

A rather impressive chateau in the distance 

We were on a different waterway, the Canal Lateral a l’Oise, where there are double locks: a new one of 125m by 12m and a small old peniche size lock alongside (50m by 6m).  At the first lock we were directed into the small one all by ourselves as there was already a barge in the big lock half way down (we are now going downstream again). We tied fore and aft, happily, because it was quite turbulent.   

The locks have recently been rejuvenated with new gates, bollards, etc.

At the second lock we were directed to share the large lock with a “double trouble” (2 peniches tied together one behind the other).  Not a problem, the ride was smooth as silk.

We were handed a "telecommand" by the lovely, young lady lockie.

We soon turned off the Oise onto the Aisne River. 

The Oise on the left, the Aisne on the right

This is new water for us, until now we have been retracing our steps along waterways where we have been before.  It is exciting to be discovering new places.

We have stopped in Choisy-au-Bac, a small town.

Approaching the quay at Choisy, with a barge coming towards us

Taken from the bridge, Njord moored at the quay and a barge passing by.

A lovely chateau, now the municipal offices, set in a magnificent garden stretching down to the river, now a public park.

And it has a very busy boulangerie (bakery).  Guess what we’ll be having for breakfast tomorrow!