On our own again, sadly

Montereau to Sens

We set off early, knowing we had a 40-kilometer run ahead of us and difficult sloping-sided locks to negotiate. Luckily there was a lock-keeper to take our rope at this first particularly steep lock: 

Locks further down the river were somewhat easier. First Norman and Pat went in and moored on the floating pontoon. We then tied up to their boat, using it a bit like a floating bollard:

As we chatted away while the boats slowly rose, Norman expressed some concern about getting through the bridges and particularly the tunnel on the Canal de Bourgogne. I had just bought an up-to-date navigation book so, when we broke for lunch, we checked the heights given. Unfortunately it was clear that their Linssen 40.9 would never make it through the tunnel, even with the canopy down. The only solution was for them to return to Paris, a good three-day trip, and then go up the Marne and take the Champagne-Burgundy Canal. So after lunch, quite unexpectedly and dejectedly, we parted ways with our delightful sailing companions.

As a lame consolation prize, we got to moor on the next floating pontoon all by ourselves: 

As we went down the river, there were various signs of this spring's devastating floods, including this half-sunk boat:

A few hours later, we were in Sens, nicely moored in front of an old rural church:

We were early enough to walk around the town and see its spectacular cathedral, one of the earliest Gothic cathedrals in France:

Being Sunday, the cathedral was still open and we were able to admire its soaring interior:

and famous stained-glass windows:

When we left the cathedral, we looked carefully at the portal and saw that all the statues had been decapitated, part of the Revolutionary furor: 

Tomorrow we should reach Joigny, just before the start of the Burgundy Canal, but a handsome town in its own right. More sightseeing, and some shopping, I think.