Villengusein & Langres

Seascapes Travel Log
Michael Grew
Sat 11 Jun 2011 16:35
Villengusein  08.06.2011. 47:44:15N  05:19:55E.
An early start of the big day. At 08:40hrs we arrived at the first of the flight of eight monster locks. Each one raising the water level by over five metres. To our very pleasant surprise the water level in each one was so gentle that we did not need to tie up and as we arrived at the next lock the gates opened immediately. The net result was that by 10:00hrs we had cleared all eight locks and were making our way to the tunnel. (Maureen very quiet at this point) We need not have worried the tunnel was lit all the way through, was wide and high, and must have cost a fortune to build. We entered at 10:00hrs and exited at 11:00hrs. One very funny thing happened as we approached the exit (although it wasn’t at the time!) We suddenly became aware that there was, what looked like a light grey (almost ghostly) image of a large barge approaching us head on. It was unlit and its size meant that we would not be able to pass. (Oh dear!) The image got bigger and bigger and failed to respond to me shining a very bright light at it and flashing my navigation lights. My heart began to race and I tried to think of how I could reverse the boat at speed through 4 kilometres of tunnel. But suddenly it became clear that it was not a barge approaching us but the tunnel exit (Phew!) I thought how stupid we had been until we later spoke to George and Ann about it and they had had exactly the same experience. I have got a bit ahead of myself. Before we got to the tunnel we saw a huge dog fox stalking something  across a field we passed, a kingfisher fishing in the canal, a water vole swimming across the front of the boat and a dead baby deer floating in the water. All in all a very eventful journey. At 12:15hrs we tied up by George and Ann’s yacht, “Ygraine” at Langres quay. They were very pleased to see us and made us lunch. The weather then turned nasty. It had been overcast and chilly all morning but stayed dry, but then we had a heavy downpour. It cleared up after an hour or so, so all four of walked up the very long hill to the medieval walled town. By the time we got there we were very puffed out, particularly George who smokes. The town was very interesting with a lot of quaint buildings that had walls that looked as if they would fall outwards any minute. I was wearing my lemon coloured waterproof jacket which seemed to be the favourite colour for small thunder flies, as I was constantly having to brush hundreds of the little blighters off me. On the way back we stopped off at the supermarket for supplies, then staggered down the hill to the boats. We did invite the others in for a drink but they said they were too tired. We had one anyway (you must keep the blood/alcohol levels up!). After dinner we read and played cards until the eyelids got too heavy to hold up, then went to bed.
Langres   09.06.2011  47:52:7N  05:20:41E
Awoke to typical British summertime weather, cold with even grey clouds and occasional spatters of rain. Maureen took our bedding over to Ann who had kindly offered to put them through her washing machine. (George says he is surprised that we haven’t got a washing machine on board. Flash Git!) Spent the day generally lazing around. I spent sometime on “Ygraine” (the boat) trying to download the tide tables for the Channel on to my computer from George’s.  I managed it after an hours struggle. They then came over to us for lunch. After lunch I entered up this log and Maureen went for a wander round and spoke to a VNF woman and told her that we were planning to move off tomorrow morning. Ann then came back with our bedding all ironed. (she is a real diamond) . They both came over on to our boat for a soirée and a few drinks, interrupted a couple of times by newcomers arriving on the quay. George and I were helping one English boat and I asked the skipper where he had come from (meaning his last stop) and he replied “Spain” without thinking I replied “My, you have had a long day”. I thought George was going to have a heart attack, he was laughing so much. The boat crew failed to see the funny side of it. (but they hadn’t drunk as much as George had).  We had our evening meal with Ann and George on their boat. During the meal, Ann decided that I needed a shower, so she threw a full glass of wine into my lap. (Accidently). Fortunately my sailing trousers dry quite quickly. George announced his intention to leave the mooring at 07:00hrs tomorrow (God knows why they don’t have need to rush). We said our farewells and turned in for the night.