We buy some fresh local fruit at the market and a dozen frozen escargot ready to cook in their shells from the freezer section.
Back at the boat and we head upstream to find a place wide enough to turn around. We’ve seen a fair amount of boat traffic already and need to get to Chalon sur Saone to get a spot in the marina before it gets too late. We decide to skip visiting Chagny as we have eleven locks to tackle this day.
First lock and there are no lights and nothing open. We walk around but can’t figure out what to do. The boat behind us speaks French and the driver talks into the call box. He seems frustrated and the voices stop so we’re not sure the status. A short bit later and the minivan for the locks shows up with two guys. One goes inside the control house and instantly the lock lights come on. Dee is chatting with the other guy and learns that although the locks are automatic, they have to be “turned on” (actually, just the first one and then the rest work).
Into the lock we go and we’re underway. We did okay on the first lock and then lock number two. Two boats come out headed towards us and then I head in after waiting for the red light to turn green (it didn’t). Our travelling companion waits and eventually joins us in the lock. His Swiss boat mate explains to us (in English) to wait for the lights to change. Okay, whatever. Through the second lock and on to number three.
In the third lock we are holding the lines from the bollards when the water starts to drop. Suddenly we realize one side of the boat is hooked on the edge of the lock and we are tipping sideways. We try to push it off but no good as we tip more and more. Our buddies behind us tell us to “full throttle reverse” and the boat slips off. Only casualty was a container of sun tea that spilled (no broken container). Whew!!!
From lock four to eleven things went much smoother and we had our rhythm. And the boat traffic settled down. In the last lock we have a lock keeper. It is a 10.75 meter drop and then into the Saone we go. A couple of kilometers downstream, around the tip of Ile St. Laurent and we’re at the marina. We even get a slip with water and electricity. Fancy us. It is about 4 p.m.
We peruse a list of local restaurants and then the marina harbor mistress gives us her feedback on location and preference. Several are on Rue Strasbourg (close, on the island) so we start our walk. Browsing menus we choose “Bistro Bourgogne” as it looked quite French.
Lynn starts off ordering the local drink “Nostre Delicite”. Cassis, ratifia and “Noilly Prat”. We also share a bottle of Provence Rose and decide to do the price frix option but we all order different options so we can share (a do it yourself buffet, if you will). Lynn had asparagus soup (cold) and poisson marche; Dee had saumon terrine and boeuff pouvre; Tamra had eggs meuerette (eggs in Chardonnay) and canard while Dave had jambon terrine and frog legs. All was very good. Then Tamra had a cheese plate of local cheeses (Comte, goat/chevre something slightly orangeish from heaven and fig preserves) that she shared with all of us. Now for the grand finale, dessert. Lynn had a banana chocolate mousse that was made to look like a circus with poki sticks and red licorice; Dee had a macaron with seasonal fruit (the best in my opinion); Tamra had choux Chantilly (so Lynn could try it) and I had a tartelette citron merengue. We ended with café au lait and went back to the boat and bed after 10 p.m. after an excellent day.