Thursday 16th August
We have travelled back to Chalons-en-Champagne stopping at Soulanges and La Chaussee-sur Marne on the way. Soulange lock was still causing problems. When we arrive at Chalons the quayside was full and we moored alongside Ettie, a piper boat that was build just before ours. We had been on board during its build and the dimensions and layout is very similar to ours. It was nice to meet the owners for the first time and go on board again. A quayside mooring became free later in the day and we moved the boats apart. They were obviously getting on well together catching up on the year since they had been in the boat builders together. We are now moored next to a delightful elderly French couple who we have met before and he serenades us on his accordion.

Canal Marne au Rhin

Crossing the River Saulx

Tesserae and Ettie meet up

French serenade

Saturday 18th August
More British and Australian barges arrived yesterday and the quay has become very sociable with drink parties in the evenings. The weather is very hot and everyone is sitting under the trees on the bank. Vie and Allan have arrived from UK, (Allan had joined us for the Channel crossing) it is great see them both but they have picked a very hot weekend to stay on board. They bought us English goodies and replacement filters from Pipers.

Afternoon tea 

Sunday 19th August
Very hot, 40c in the shade. The hottest day in France since 2003. It was too hot to take the barge out, instead, in an attempt to keep cool, we took a boat trip on the rivers Mau and Nau which go under the city of Chalons-en-Champagne, followed by champagne sorbets in the town square. The sorbets did not taste as good as we hoped but they were cold.  Still very hot in the evening both fan and air conditioning going full blast.

Boat trip around Chalons-en Champagne 

Monday 20th August
Vie and Allen left to drive back to Calais for the ferry home. We did try and persuade them to stay longer. As it was cooler this morning David went down the engine room and replaced the faulty fuel filter.  Just as well because after a brief thunder storm the temperature started to climb again but not as high as yesterday. Tomorrow we are off down the Marne towards Paris.