Mailly-la-Ville to Rochers Saussois

8 kms, 3 locks, 2 hours

Checking the news this morning I found that Niki Lauda died yesterday: an all-time Formula 1 legend and one of the heroes of my youth.  He despised political correctness, was out-spoken, funny and a great character.  He will be greatly missed in the F1 paddock.

Before setting off from the pontoon I went to the funny little shop to buy a baguette.  Actually I tried the bakery first, but it seems, along with the butchery, to be completely closed down.  How sad.

The tiny general dealer store at the end of the lane

Today we travelled in the company of a charter boat which was flying a flag that we recognised but could not quite place.  I thought it might be Slovakia, it turned out to be the Czech Republic (which is officially known as Czechia since 2016).

The two men on board were friendly and knew what they were doing.  We travelled through the Czech Rep and Slovakia many years ago on a motorbike tour of Eastern Europe and noticed canals and impressive navigable rivers.  Yes, they assured us, there are beautiful places to cruise there but not as many as in France.

Entering the lock at Mailly-la-Ville with the statue of the maiden watching over it

After the lock the canal cut joins up with the river Yonne again where the river diving over a weir

At the second lock we had to wait about 10 mins for a boat coming in the opposite direction.  

Once past the lock we were on the very narrow canal that goes past Mailly-le-Chateau and decided that the lock keepers probably try to prevent boats having to pass each other on this tight and narrow loop.

The lock keeper on his scooter heading to the next lock to prepare it for us

The chateau at Mailly-le-Chateau dominates the skyline overlooking the valley

The very narrow canal

Are these Charolais cattle? The region just a bit south of us is renowned for them

On the right of the wall is the river with a small boat harbour, on the left we are on the canal

The Rochers Saussois with a row of homes hugging the narrow strip of land between the cliffs and the river

By 11.00 we were tied up at the pontoon (free, no services) below the cliffs of Rochers Saussois.  Ian got out the grinder, dremmel and paint and applied them to the rusty bits on the deck that are growing bigger before our eyes!

I went for a walk, there was not much to see seeing the houses and restaurant are all closed up.  Probably very busy in the summer holiday period.  

Then I kept a beady eye on rock climbing instructor and his young pupils of varying ability “absailing” or just plain dangling on a rope while being lowered down the massive rock.  It is really high and probably quite terrifying.