Yippee. We’re free. Just. Saturday morning came and Mr VNF shook his head. Not this morning. Lunchtime or this afternoon perhaps. So we hung around. I walked into Fraisans for some bread. Incidentally I don’t think much of the boulangerie’s baguettes here. Not great. Anyway, at about 11.45 we were suddenly told, you must go now! Hurry! They would open the portes des garde for us and the yacht, keep them open for 2 passenger barges coming down from the other end, then they would be shut until at least Monday, and if the rain that’s forecast comes, it might be next Friday.
So hurry we did, throwing the boat into shape, taking out the stakes and off we went. The yacht went first and we followed. VNF waited til we arrived at the next Porte de garde, opened it briefly for us and the passenger barges who passed us then they were closed again and it was just us and the yacht all the way to Dole.
We got talking to the French yacht crew. What a lovely couple. He offered us gazoil as we are running low of fuel and in one lock he brought over a jerrycan and poured 20litres into our tank. We paid him of course but what a nice gesture considering getting fuel is always such an issue here. They are heading for Gibraltar! How’s that for a big trip.
4 hours and 11 locks later, we finally made it to Dole. And a thunder and lightening storm on our arrival! From here it’s only a few hours to Saint Jean de Losne and the Capitaine here said there are no problems.
We hope.