Tuesday 2nd April 2019 Soulanges to Brusson. 16.9kms 6 locks

Sign board Marne-au-Rhin

Rain first thing, then sunny but chilly with a cold wind. Set off at 10.30am after the rain stopped, Mike decided we may as well get going.  11.15am up the first lock no 3 Couvrot, which was empty (all the rest were full so we had to wait while each one emptied). VNF men were chopping up a large log with a chainsaw on the lockside. Short distances to the next two, fifteen minutes to lock 2 Lermite then lock 1 Vitry at midday. Through the town and on to the canal de la Marne-au-Rhin. 3kms to the first lock no 70 St Etienne (still all automatic) it was midday. 2kms to lock 69 Adecourt 1.30pm as we set off on the 3kms pound to Brusson lock 68, pushing through a great wedge of weed that had gathered at the top gates.  We moored next to the piling between the villages of Brusson and Ponthlon around 3pm. Mike had just put the dish up when there was a huge flash of lightening and a tremendously loud bang – in the field opposite the boat. The thunderstorm and heavy rain continued well into the evening. 

Monday 1st April 2019 Condé-sur-Marne to Soulanges. 39.4kms 8 locks

Old lock house at  St Germaine

Sunny and warm with a light wind blowing. Set off at 8am the sun was just rising above the trees by the VNF buildings. Fed two swans four slices of stale bread as we left. No signs of life in the port as we turned left on the Canal Latéral à la Marne. A 12km straight section, passing the villages of Aigny, Vraux, Juvigny and Recy – the first bend is at St Martin-sur-le-Pré. Up automatic lock 11 Vraux, no problems. Then the second lock of the day – 10 Juvigny wouldn’t work. Mike phoned the VNF they said they would send someone. A young lady arrived after half an hour’s wait – she apologised – she’d been sorting out another lock. Soon on our way to lock 9. Weed was the cause, jamming up the system.  Passed loaded péniche N.D.L from Arlieux that had just come down lock 9 Chalons. An empty péniche (Verdun) came down lock 9 as a large DB called Liberté turned out of the arm and set off towards Condé. Getting busy all of a sudden! Another long straight, of 10kms this time – all the way to St Germain- la-Ville. Passed empty peniche Andorra on the aqueduct in Chalons Up lock 8 Sarry, passed péniche Aroura in a bridge hole at KP23 before lock 7 St Germain, 6.5kms to lock 6 Chausee, a short pound to lock 5 Ablancourt then lock 4 Soulanges.  4pm as we tied up at the mooring in Soulanges.