Saskia's 2017 Cruise

Day 1 – Saint-Jean de Losne to Verdun sur le Doubs - 35 km

Once again Saskia is on the move. After a long winter, spring and early summer tucked up comfortably in her heated shed here in Burgundy, tomorrow morning we set off finally to the south. After the last two years in the north, with lots of rain and cold, we are prepared for the summer sun. Actually, we arrived in St Jean de Losne this afternoon to be greeted by a massive thunderstorm and lashing rain – but apparently this is a GOOD THING, since it signifies the end of the heatwave. We shall see.

Anyway, once again we plan to keep a diary/blog at: www.nwrparsons.blogspot.fr for anyone interested to follow our progress down the Saone and the Rhone, then across to Sète and the Étang de Thau at least.  Perhaps further. We had planned to get away a month earlier and go all the way through to Bordeaux and back, but various things intervened and delayed the departure. Never mind. Perhaps another year.

Just in case anyone is not sure of the geography, here is a map. Basically we just start half way up France, in the middle, and head south. Eventually we hit the Mediterranean.

We set off this morning at about 10 after doing some essential shopping – including buying gas cylinders. We also moved  the car to a secure long-term car park, disconnecting  the battery so that the car should start easily in a couple of months’ time. The rain had mostly gone, but it was still cloudy.

As we cruised gently down river, Diana decided our first ever selfie should be essayed, in celebration.

Locks on the Saone and Rhone require you to wear a life jacket as you go through. Ours have been sitting in a locker for a few years and were somewhat mildewed. However we have a magic product:

And a willing scrubber!

We had two or three companions (German) through the two locks of the day – hardly stressful compared to previous trips!

We cruised past the pretty little town of Seurre, just after the first lock.

The river then wound through a bucolic Burgundian landscape, inevitably populated by cows: Boeuf Bourguignon?

We reached the port of Verdun sur le Doubs in early afternoon, and were happy to find a mooring spot. The port filled up later:

Hire boats to the left, hire boats to the right. We feel quite like sandwich filling squeezed between them. 

Armed with a map and leaflets from the tourist office, we set off to explore the village. It has a long history, mostly of disaster, plague, famine and warfare, but was tranquil today.

The town has painted bright yellow fish on the roads and pavements to guide you around. We saw the Bread and Wheat Museum from the outside, but were not lured inside.

Finally we decided the afternoon had warmed up sufficiently to warrant a beer: 

Meanwhile we are discussing our evening’s entertainment. We (Diana) decided that this trip should have a gastronomic theme, and Verdun is famous for its Pochouse fish stew. Of course Burgundy is also famous for many other gastronomic delights, so we will also be hoping to sample, and photograph, frogs’ legs, snails and heaven knows what else in due course. Watch this space.