Chatel Censoir to Clamecy

19 kms, 8 locks, 1 lift bridge. 4.75 hours

Another bright beautiful morning, but it got too hot later in the day.

With so many hire boats in the marina which were cruising in the same direction that we were, we thought it best to get to the first lock as early as possible.  So we left the marina at 8.30 and trundled ever so slowly to the lock to find the gates were already open so entered and tied up.  Minutes ticked by and we were expecting to find a flotilla of cruisers coming to join us in the lock, but for 20 minutes nothing happened till the lock keeper sped up on his little scooter, apologised profusely for being late and said two boats were coming in this direction but he would let us through first.  What a bonus that turned out to be.   Later in Clamecy we met up with the Canadians on the hire boat which lay astern of us last night.  They told us that when they were processed through the locks there were three boats and the one at the front of the lock got thrown around dramatically.  So, we had a lucky escape from being the boat at the font of the lock.  We traversed all the locks alone, every lock was ready and waiting as we approached and we only had a 30 minute wait at the very last lock because we arrived during the lunch break.

Early morning, 15C, not a breath of wind. Gorgeous.

The fifteenth century Chateau de Faulin, still privately owned

Our lockie rushing off to prepare the next lock

A lift bridge which must be operated by the boat crew (me).  There are docks before and after the bridge to disembark/re-embark and all you have to do is press a button to operate the bridge.

A wash house

A fortified farm house

After tying up in the little harbour at Clamecy, I took the camera for a walk.  This is another lovely ancient town that oozes history.  Around every corner there is yet another photo op!

This one is for sale