Day 23 Friday 6th July. Sun 30 degrees. Wild camped at pk 41 Juvigny Canal Lateral a la Marne. Rowed 16km Now rowed 309 Kms and Driven 464 miles
Day 24 Saturday 7th July. Sun 30 degrees. Rowed 20.6 Kms 5 locks to wild camp at pk 20.4 Vesigneul Sur Marne. Now rowed 329.6 Kms and driven 487.7 miles.
Day 25 Sunday 8th July. Sun 33 degrees. Rowed 27.3 Kms to Luxemont et Villote pk 5.5 on Canal Entre Champagne et Marne. Now rowed 356.9 Kms Driven 511.9 miles. Cycled 99 miles.
Just a very short update due to so many demands on our time. It looked at one time as if the whole project would have to be abandoned due to the lack of a piece of paper.
To start at the beginning on Friday we had to drive to the first bridge after the Billy tunnel through which I was not allowed (4 Kms needed to make up the distance). All went fine through the first lock but the gates didn't open on the second so had to wait for half an hour for the eclusier to sort it out. He then said we had to wait for a 50 foot Aussie boat to go through the rest of the chain of 5 to save water. Boom boom would have been proud to note the race pace I had to achieve to keep up. I finished clapped out but I made very good time and distance.
Saturday I also made good time which took me through the drab industrial area for several miles and then the attractive old town of Chalons en Champagne watched by crowds of tourists as I progressed through the locks.
Sunday was the big come down. Again I had made good pace in the hope of getting into the Canal Entre Champagne et Bourgogne before finishing for the day. This is the longest canal on my route at 224 Kms and 114 locks operated by a Telecommande provided by the authorities. I made it, entered the first 3.8 meter lock with no escape route and received the traditional French 'non' sans papiers from a lady staring down at me from above. By imagination and resource we had persuaded her to let Oggi through if I was not in her. We portaged her over the next lock which involved climbing up a 2 meter quay and then hauling her up and carrying her over. Finally we arrived very hot and tired at a campsite 5.5 Kms south of Vitry le Francois.
Consequently Monday has progressed through every dimension from ''no, no never'' to a final ''yipee'' late this afternoon. I cycled back to Vitry and came back waving my vital piece of paper. One day I will perhaps have the time to tell the full story but many of the thanks must go to M Guillaume Fatras, sales manager of Nautiraid boats for all his efforts and negotiating powers and M Giroud of VNF for putting everything right to enable us to get back on the water tomorrow.
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