Ranchot to Besançon

Dinner for two - tomorrow it's time to leave Ranchot for Besançon

Having taken an extra day in Ranchot we were ready to be on the water early as we headed for Besançon. We woke up at seven and by eight had made the mandatory trip to the boulangerie for croisannts and the day’s fresh bread, made coffee (and had a first cup, topped off the water, checked the engine and had most of our necessary gear on deck for the day’s travel.

As we approach each ecluse we use our remote at about 200 metres to activate the lock

Once the lock is ready and the doors are open we enter then lift the blue lever when we are ready to the lock to close and fill with water.

The trip to Besançon is a bit long for one day so our goal was to be on the water early enough to get one of the two spots above the ecluse at Thoraise. This would not only give us a prime moorage spot but allow us to see the wildlife along the river that is all in hiding by our usual ten o’clock start.

Our moorage spot at Thoraise - looking into the tunnel. On the far side you can see the waterfall coming down over the opening. The water stops just before you are about to get wet (or at least it's supposed to.

It’s been a dry hot season in this part of France and water levels are quite low, in fact so low that we had to cut our speed significantly in order to not leave a wake that was braking in the shallows while on the canal portions of the day (a breaking wake does more erosional damage to the canal).

Arriving at Thoraise the mooring pontoon was empty, we tied up leaving room for a second boat and had lunch. By the time we had finished the wind was blowing fairly strong and when the second boat arrived for the night it took all hands to get them safely secured.

Formations in the limestone caves of Grott de Oreselle

That afternoon Joan and I rode our bikes to the limestone grotto in Orselle to take the tour of Grott de Oreselle. While the explanation was all in French, the formations were beyond words. A nice ride uphill (but down wind) brought us back to “Juniper” in time for dinner and wine.

The citadel overlooking our entry to Besançon via the river Doubs

The city of Besançon from the river as we work our way around to our marina for the night.

The day to Besançon was again hot, and a bit later start. Like the day before we were back and forth between the River Doubs and the canal Rhone au Rhîne. The arrival to Besançon is amazing. As you approach the city you have the citadel  overlooking your every move. The old city is in the middle of a river curve making it almost an island. Our moorage was right in the middle of the old town, next to the last manually operated ecluse and we believe to be the last with wooden gates, at least on this canal.