Monday 30th July
We moved from Sillery to Conde-sur-Marne. 11 locks and 2.3km tunnel. After the first lock we came behind a very slow barge that was hardly moving but ahead of us at the locks.  It was an English barge with a couple from Norfolk. The barge was electric powered driven by solar panels. We certainly wanted to be ahead of them before we got to the tunnel! We thought we could pass them after the last lock before the tunnel but again we got stuck in the lock with the control rod not working and the VNF phone line engaged. When we eventually exited the lock they were nowhere to be seen and we thought they would be in the tunnel ahead of us with no sun to power them through it. Luckily we found them moored to the bank recharging their batteries before attempting the tunnel. We spent 2 nights at Conde-sur-Marne. The electric barge arrived the next day and we spent an enjoyable evening drinking their red wine as the they recounted tails of their sailing adventures including dealing with smugglers in Gibraltar and sailing to the canary islands without charts by following the aircraft from Europe.

In the past this engine would have pulled us through the tunnel

Thursday 1st August
We arrived in Chalons-en-Champagne yesterday, a picturesque town with good shops unfortunately arrived to late for the market. The mooring is also very good with water, electric, wifi and satellite reception for the Archers and the Olympics. We have decided to stay a few days do some sight seeing, bike rides, washing etc. and visit the market on Saturday.
The electric barge arrived this evening and we reciprocated their hospitality.

Moored  at Chalons-en Champagne. Electric barge behind us.

Wednesday 8th August
We are still in Chalons-en-Champagne several days longer than planned because of engine trouble. For the last 2-3 weeks the engine has not been starting as easily in the morning and occasionally missing beats at low revs. When I checked the engine on Sunday morning it only ran for a few seconds then stopped. ?Blocked filters with the dreaded diesel bug, air or water in the fuel line or a problem with the lift pump. I quickly exhausted my knowledge about diesel engine and thought we might be in Chalons-en-Champagne for a long time.
Lenny to the rescue. He arrived in a barge on Sunday afternoon and I quickly told him our problem (I should have let him moor up first) and he spent the rest of the day trying to track down the problem, methodically testing each part of the fuel system. He got the engine to run for 5min but no longer and we gave up after a long hot afternoon in the engine.
Next day Lenny comes back before we had finished breakfast saying “I never like to be beaten by a problem like this”. By then we had also received helpful advice from Simon Piper the boat builder who said he would send some one out here from the UK if we could not fix it. Eventually Lenny tracked the problem down to an air leak in the secondary fuel filter, so we swapped it with the filter from the heating circuit (well Lenny did) and the engine seemed to work fine. Simon Piper has been very helpful and is sending us a replacement part.
We are very grateful to Lenny, before he left he instructed me on the difference between 8mm and 5/16th copper piping and why a 8mm compression olive slips on an 5/16th pipe. He gave me a list of spares and extra tools I need to carry on board (may need a bigger engine room) he even left me with enough bits to make a temporary repair in case it happens again.
As we had booked another 3 days at the mooring we plan to move off on Thursday, fingers crossed!
David has been to the French barbers. Very good value for money. Lots of hair cut for very few euros. So no pony tail!