Return cruise to Saint-Jean-de-Losne

 Because of the risk of wild cat strikes by the river lock-keepers, instead of heading towards Toul as planned, we retraced our steps on leaving Nancy. This time we took it slowly, taking in the scenery and lingering at some very pleasant stop-overs.

"La Maison qui Bouge"  - bit like us really!

We enjoyed some picturesque wild moorings, waved at a horse-drawn home, and explored some very attractive towns and villages.

We spent a week in the welcoming port of Epinal. The town was really interesting with a great history and culture. We walked into town most days and enjoyed people watching, drinking coffee and visiting the museum of print.

The weather and the scenery were fantastic and we thought the next leg of the Canal des Vosges and the Sâone was the probably the best.

At Fontenoy-le-Château we discovered ancient WMD's! We also stayed an extra day to shop at the market, which was promoted in our guide book.  

Sadly, it turned out to be one man in a van - but he did sell very good meat.

Scey-sur-Saône is a delightful port adjacent to a delightful little town - one of the 'Petite Cités Comtoise de Character' which happened to have a great brocante, a good supermarket and a bevy of kingfishers who gave us an amazing aerobatics display.

Ornate - but lethal!

Kingfisher paradise

Tunnel de St.Albin - Glenny at the helm for her first tunnel

Before we reached the town of Gray we spent a wonderful night in the secluded backwater of Soing, whose thoughtful inhabitants provided a sturdy wooden pontoon with an honesty box for electricity and water. We were treated to another flying display this time by swifts - they skimmed so close to our windows, we thought they would actually fly through the boat.

The little port of Savoyeux provided us with another delightful stopover and in the neighbouring village of Seveux, we discovered one of the prettiest lavoirs this trip.

We then spent a few days in Gray, a good mooring in the town with free electricity and water. Here, the tourist office has been created around the old lavoir. Helen and Steve joined us for the day and after a good lunch, we visited the Baron-Martin Museum which was hosting an exhibition of Impressionist paintings - really enjoyable.

Man at work!

As in so many towns in France, Gray has a large number of empty shops. We were very taken with their way of dealing with what so often is a depressing high street. The windows are filled with life-size printed images of shop interiors - very effective.

Back to Saint-Jean-de-Losne via Auxonne - where we spent a very pleasant few days with Roy and Carol - and the sun was still shining!


Then it was straight into helping Steve and Helen prepare their new (1909!) boat 'Jonge Jelle' for launching and her voyage to Belgium for refitting. 

Bon Voyage