Port Napoleon to Lyon

Our journey starts in Port Napoleon where Ruffles Spray had been waiting for the flow rate of the Rhone to decrease. Finally on the 4th May the rate was what I thought acceptable and we slipped the mooring ropes and headed out into the boyed channel for the 8 mile trip to Port St Louise de Rhone and the lock which led into the Rhone.

We, that is Dad (Dennis) and me (Mike), arrived at the lock at around midday and we had to wait until 2pm for our lock in. The gates opened and I motored Spray slowly into the lock after a large commercial boat and another pleasure craft. It was starboard side too, not the best side for Spray. I promptly hit the wall causing slight damage to the bulwarks. Ann was not going to be amused. Eight miles and another 840 to go and already some damage to the new paint work.

After 20 minutes the lock gates opened and out we motored into the Rhone. The current was not to bad we were doing about 5.5knots over the ground at 1400 rpm, which meant about 1.8knots of current against us. We arrived at Arles at 6pm but there was no room at the Inn.