Continuing on the Bourgogne Canal ...........

The Pouilly Tunnel

We have managed to go everywhere and no where within the last two weeks. We have gone through the Pouilly Tunnel 3 times, spent 4 days in Vandenesse, 4 days in Pouilly en Auxios, then 6 days in Vandenesse and now 1 day back in Pouilly en Auxios. We discovered after leaving Pont d'Ouche that our reverse was again not cooperating with us. A little nerve racking as there are so many ecluses on this canal. So when we arrived at Pouilly en Auxios for the first time we decided that it would be better to go back the way we came, with perhaps a stop in St Jean de Losne to look for resources to fix this issue, rather than continue on through the Bourgogne Canal and Nivernais Canal to the tune of 240 ecluses. So back through the Tunnel we went to Vandenesse to stay for a week or so. While there our friends Sally and Foster happened to call and suggested we call Joe Parfitt in Migennes. Well Joe knew exactly what the issue was and that he was available to come to us but if we could get to him that would be preferable. So Eric the magician fixed(too many details to explain all of the fix) the reverse again and we went back through the Pouilly Tunnel for our third time in 2 weeks . We luckily had 3 of the best eclusiers although we are sure they did wonder what we were doing. So now off to Migenne we go.

Les jolies eclusiers

This canal is just lovely with many many chateaux , churches and just beautiful bike rides. After leaving and saying a fond fairwell to the Jackie and Andy who own the lovely Tea Room in Vandenesse we were back in Pouilly en Auxois for a night. We then were off to Pont Royal. A nice and easy mooring. We had one huge day of 31 ecluses to make it to Pouillenay and the following day to Verenay les Laumes. Verney les Laumes is surrounded by some really interesting old and beautiful villages. There are archeological digs where they have discovered many Gallo - Roman ruins. There is the old village of Alise Ste. Reine and Flavigny sur Ozerain. Both of these villages have buildings, churches and other sites that date back to the 12th century and some ancient places dating back to the 8th century. Definitely worth spending the effort to go see. We had a delightful lunch in Falvigny. The restaurant is called The Grange and is food that is prepared with only local farm produce. Delicious.
Life along the canal meanders along. Eric recently fell in love with a hammock. So now there is a hammock on the boat. Our back deck contains 4 bikes, a barbeque grill, a satellite dish, Tulah's bike cart, a rowing machine, 3 containers of flowers, 3 chairs, a table and now a hammock. Oh yes and Tulah at times.
We are leaving Tanlay tomorrow for Tonnerre. Eric fell in love with a hammock but also fell on the boat and now has a significant infection in his elbow. He has to go back to the doctor in Auxerre to see how the elbow is doing. Slight complication . We are about 3 days from Migennes and need to be there by the 5th of September. So on we go!!!!

The elbow being examined and cleaned