Monday Aug 25 - Tues Aug 26

 Monday, August 25, 2025 – Plombiers-les-Dijon

"Juniper" at Plombiers-les-Dijon

9:15am at ecluse 42. One eclusier from Fleurey to Plombiers through ecluse 49. We arrive in time and with afternoon heat to hand wash laundry and hang it to dry. Rain is forecast for the next week so now is our chance to get things dry! While relaxing and reading “Tess” arrives. We met Diana and Mark in Pouilley, an English couple that lives is southern France for many years. They invite us over for happy hour at 6:30. Wonderful visit lasting until 9:30, much longer than expected. Mark just kept pouring wine… A lovely tray of appetizers and wine. They both worked on Super Yachts, Mark as captain and Diana as steward, I believe. They had interesting tid bits to share including 

Tuesday, August 26, 2025 – Longecourt-en-Plaine

Passing a hotel barge.

Surprise – left Plombiers at 9:15am. OK, not a surprise. ;-) We share locks with "Tess" all the way down to Longecourt, arriving at 5:30pm. Long day!! We had one lock keeper who was on his phone a lot. While not grumpy or short, he didn’t seem happy either. About three quarters of the the way down we find out he’s usually at the desk answering calls and working on logistics. Today he’s doing both jobs. Have no idea what happened to all the lock keepers, but it made for a slow slog. Water is shallow and we manage OK passing a peniche. A couple locks after lunch a second eclusier arrives. Joan can stop being a gate closer/opener! After a few more ecluses, two more lock keepers arrive. One we recognize from our trip up. We have four, then three, then two lock keepers over the last ecluses.

Wet tine at Longecourt

Two boats are already tied on the wall at Longecourt. They both draw more water that either Tess or Juniper and luckily managed to find the deep. "Tess" was not so lucky and ended up side tying to "Clamante", whom they had met before. By now the rain that’s been predicted has arrived. Along with the Thunder and lightning. It’s wet, but warm, so a little muggy. The eclusiers have been trying to figure out schedules for everyone. The two boats already in Longecourt have 1pm locking tomorrow. "Tess" wants 9am, but is told there are two Hotel Barges going the same direction, one just below ecluse 69 where we are. The other we’re not sure where it is; but those two will be leaving at 9am so "Tess" will have another slow go traveling behind them. They don’t move fast and are even slower into/out of the ecluses. They take the 9am anyway as they have to get to St Jean de Losne to pick up a friend that’s joining them.

We all just hunker down inside for the evening.