We had told the VNF (French canal authority) that we would leave our St Dizier mooring at 0930. Amazingly – we kept to our promise. We are now heading south and everyone we meet tells us how beautiful the trip will be. But nobody had warned us about the numerous lifting bridges en route. There is nothing wrong with a lifting bridge, but there is something wrong when it is built at an odd angle and so small that a barge can only just squeeze through the gap.
A VNF official met us at our first lock and trailed us until we moored. Progress through the locks is slow so there is plenty of time to chat in French. I have now worked out that my French conversational pieces amount to two and a half locks. Today we did four. Luckily the family whistle brings small boys running across the deck and their antics provide good entertainment!
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