Sunday 1st November 2009 Cercy-la-Tour to Champvert

10.5°C Grey, misty start after rain in the night. Rain held off until we’d been moored up for a few hours. I did a few chores while Mike refilled the water tank and went to the boulangerie for a loaf. We left at 9.25 a.m. M and D said se ya later as we winded with the flow and went past The Big Boat. The two cruisers had booked the locks for the afternoon. We passed a few fishermen and cyclists on the way down to lock 32, Roche, but no boat traffic – not surprising as after today the canal will be closed. Arrived at the lock at 10.45 a.m. just a few minutes later than the time Mike had arranged. The lady keeper had her husband working as her assistant; he was just winding a bottom end paddle down as we came within sight of the lock. She asked if we were going to La Copine and was surprised when we said no, Champvert - on the quay. The 3 kms pound below Roche was down a bit, so that was why they were running water when we got there. Down the last lock, 33 Champvert. Said au’voir and bon apetit to the keeper and her husband as we left. Mike tried to wind by the quay, but the canal was about a foot too narrow; he tried again just around the bend but again it still wouldn’t go, this time by only a few inches. Gave up and carried on down to La Copine, where it turned easily in the entrance to the old port. Waved to the guy with the boat on the hard in the port. It was just midday as we set off back up to the quay at Champvert. Tied next to the piled edge with ropes round new concrete bollards set well back from the water. Mike set the gennie up and the TV dish while I was making lunch. He watched the last F1 of the season and I expanded my new online family tree on Ancestry. The Big Boat and Lightbreeze arrived around 2.40 p.m. and moored behind us. Mike was recording the racing for M to watch later. When the race finished he gave M a lift back to Cercy to collect his car. There were loads of people walking past - and we thought there would be none as the towpath is on the far bank and the cycle path goes through the village. They all went home when it started raining heavily..