21/05/2010 48:59:80 N 01:43:34E
Up early in order that we could cycle to garage to get yet more diesel
(Michael got lost- Maureen not happy) back to the boat by 10:00hrs with
the fresh supplies and cast off. The smack, Erin followed us then for
most of the day, through ecluse (lock) Notre Dame de la Garenne.
However after that they dropped back and by the time we reached
Mericourt lock, we were on our own and had finally sorted out a good
lock routine. At 18:00hrs we crept under a very, very low bridge (we
cleared it by about 12 inches, phew!) and tied up in the Marina de
Lemay. This had the look of a graveyard for boats. It was all terribly
run down and we were absolutely amazed that the electric hook-ups
worked! A couple of chaps that would appear to be permanent residents
said that the Capitinari (the marina manager) hadn’t been seen for
several days (more like years, judging by the state of the place) Still
the computer and two mobile phones got charged up, so that was good. If
he doesn’t show tomorrow he won’t get paid (shame).
22/05/2010 48:53:30N 02:09:75E
08:30hrs Left the mooring in the boat graveyard in bright sunshine,
crept under the bridge and rejoined a deserted Seine. No one came to
see us for money or wave us goodbye so we slunk away without paying. We
made good progress against mainly an easterly wind ( a head wind) what
happened to the prevailing westerly we keep hearing about? At 11:30hrs
we pulled into the Nouvelle Marina Port Saint- Louis. Which was
described in the guide book as an up and coming marina boasting fuel,
electric hook-ups and a restaurant. Yeah right! Yes they had fuel but
to get to the pump we had to push the boat through muddy shallows
(1.2m) and yes they were very helpful, but the toilets were ill
equipped and filthy and the restaurant went out of business years ago.
The state of the whole area is more like a third world country not a
leading light in the EU!!! Having filled up with enough fuel to go
twice round the world we motored on until 17:00hrs when we reached some
moorings by a motorway bridge at Chanton were we stopped for the night.
Weather very hot all day. Distance covered 56 kilometres. 47 kilometres
to get to Paris.
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