Valence to Les Roches-de-Condrieu – 71 km

We were keen to make an early start, knowing we had a long way to go. The problem with the Rhône is that comfortable overnight mooring places are few and far between, and you cannot just tie up to the bank of the river as you can in the small canals further north. 

Our first lock was only half an hour upstream, and we had just five or 10 minutes to wait while another cruiser came down. Diana took the opportunity to record a different sort of power station from all those nuclear places. In fact each of the locks on the river has a hydrostation associated with it, and they produce considerable quantities of electricity.

Of course one of the other great productions of the Rhône valley is wine, and this is Tain-l’Hermitage, where the quality, and the prices, are high.

There were, naturally, a couple of cruise boats tied up. No sign of the passengers, who were doubtless off slurping – sorry, I mean tasting.

The crew, meanwhile, were being kept busy cleaning windows – although one seems more interested in his phone.

Across the river is Tournon-sur-Rhône. Unfortunately the small port has become silted up and is no longer usable.

There was nowhere suitable to stop for lunch, so once again we had it on the run, taking turns at the wheel. Another tower hove into view, but crucially the next two locks were ready and waiting for us, and we went through without any delay and by ourselves. A lot of water for a small boat.

Unsurprisingly, there was another nuclear establishment after the third lock.

Then finally we came to Condrieu, where they also have just a few vines and make an excellent white wine. Pricey, though. We are comfortably tucked into the port across the river, and will go on to Lyon tomorrow, finally finishing with the mighty Rhône.