Spent Sunday laying low after our long day of travel followed by an evening of time with new friends. By afternoon we decided it was time to get a walk in to take a look at this beautiful historic town. With everything closed for Sunday we had the streets to ourselves to admire the old buildings.
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| Jousters try to knock their opponent overboard. Since this was a practice we were able to watch many matches. Both male and female participants of a wide variety of ages and builds were participating |
On our way back to the boat we happened to look down river and see what appeared to be joutes nautique boats. We've heard of the sport of nautical jousting being popular in France, and even seen boats tied up that appeared to be joutes nautique boats, and have tried to find a jousting match, only to find we were a month off on the date. Tonight was our lucky night. The Clamecy jousting club was practicing. We were able to watch over twenty practice jousts before deciding it was time to call it a night.
Monday we were up and moving early to get provisions that will have to last us for much of the next week. From Clamecy we spend less and less time on the Yonne River and more on the Canal du Nivernais. This is the point at which we begin to seriously climb to the top of the canal which will be marked by three tunnels we will pass through. Provisioned and drinking water topped off we began saying our goodbyes to the crews we'd spent the past few days with. A boat in front of us was also getting ready to head upstream so we talked with them and decided we'd be lock partners for the day.
We found that we worked very well as a team sharing locks with Charles and Ali aboard "Old Harry." When we arrived at the point they were planning to spend the night, we decided to also stop. They invited us over that evening and we decided we'd be lock buddies to at least Baye, which is at the top of the Nivernais.
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| Our second night with our écluse buddies Charl and Ali from "Old Harry" We're in the port of Citry les Mines |
Had a nice day's run the next day. Thirteen locks and seven lift bridges that we had to raise and lower. On top of the work it was hot and very humid. Fortunately we were able to take our mandatory lunch break in an old écluse that had plenty of shade. By the end of the day at Chitry les Mines we were all exhausted.
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| Our lunch view |
On our way to Sardy-les-Épiry we were allowed to take our lunch break in the écluse, as there was no place to tie up along the canal. Tomorrow we start the staircase.
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