Day 105 Lyon to Ampuis (le Port)
Thursday 15th August Time to move South again, so we left the marina, left the Saone and came across by far the biggest lock so far (Pierre Benite), at 180m long, 12m wide, but with a drop of nearly 12m. …
Day 106 Ampuis to Andancette
Friday 16 August Another easy run downstream with the 2kph current through one lock to the town of Andance. Actually Andance is on the other river bank, we've tied up on the left bank at Andancette, at a single pontoon…
Day 107 Andancette to Tournon-sur-Rhône
Saturday 17th August Yet another straightforward run down to Tournon-sur-Rhône through another cavernous lock Gervans) , although this time we had to wait nearly an hour for a hotel barge (peniche) upstream from us to enter the lock first, which…
Day 108 Tournon-sur-Rhône to Valence
Sunday 18th August It was touch and go as to whether we were going to travel today, with the forecast suggesting 20kt southerlies gusting to 45knots. First thing however, it did feel relatively calm, so after a quick run round…
Day 109 Valence to Viviers
Monday 19th August Today had the potential for being quite a long day as good mooring spots are currently thin on the ground. The first possibility was taken by a hotel ship, the second small marina was too shallow at…
Day 110 Viviers
Tuesday 20th August We decided on a rest day in the beautiful very old town of Viviers. However, when we poked our heads out, what had happened to the temperature! it was less than 20° needing trousers and a coat…
Day 111 Viviers to Avignon
Wednesday 21st August After a rest day yesterday, with the Mistral behind us, and the fact that good moorings are limited, we decided to make an early break for Avignon, some 75km and 3 locks to the south. So a…
Day 112 A day in Avignon
Thursday 22nd August A day's sightseeing around Avignon including Le Petit Train not, however, before we were asked to move, twice! The first time by the Captainaire because where we'd tied up was fairly shallow, and because all the hydroelectric…
Day 113 Avignon to Arles
Friday 23rd August About a 40 km run today, which is about 3hrs with the current to the old Roman town of Arles. Being a very popular tourist town, you would have expected lots of moorings, but no, the only…
Day 114 Arles to Port St Louis
Saturday 24th August The final (at long last) lock at Port St Louis only opens about 4 times a day, so we left Arles at 1130 to catch the 1530 opening, along with about 10 other pleasure boats and a…