Wednesday 29th August
We moored below the bridge at Chateau-Thierry and went for lunch at the restaurant there which we had stopped at for a cup of tea last March, when we were in France looking for winter moorings. It was clearly the most popular restaurant in town and incredibly busy (we had duck in Normandy sauce and a very large quantity of the most excellent chips). After lunch, in an attempt to burn of the excess energy consumed, we walked up to the castle. Only the ruins of he outer walls and towers remain and it was made into a public park at the end of the 19th century. The views were spectacular and we certainly melted away a few pounds watching a film in the visitors’ centre, which was like a sauna.
As always we had to call in at the local quincaillerie (ironmonger) where D finds just what he wants, (some hose connections this time). L likes going as she can actually pronounce the word because the Rosetta Stone French course has a whole section on visiting the ironmonger, how bizarre!

Chateau-Thierry

Thursday 30th August
Moved down to the lock at Charly and went for a cycle ride that included some steep hills. We must be getting fitter as we would not have attempted this a few weeks ago. The circus had just arrived in town and there was a collection of animals grazing next to the local supermarket including one sad looking elephant, horses, camels, lamas and 3 tigers. The tigers were not grazing next to the supermarket car park (not good for business) but safely locked up in a cage.   The 2 donkeys in the field next to our mooring were much happier than any of the circus animals.
Fortunately the circus’s first performance was not for a couple of days or L would have thought it necessary to wave a placard at the entrance protesting at the treatment of the tigers.

Our neighbours at Charly

On route to La Ferte-sous-Jouarre 

Saturday 1st September

Yesterday we continued downstream to La Ferte-sous-Jouarre. An attractive town on the main railway line to Paris. The mooring is in a narrow channel behind an island and we had to do some tricky manoeuvring around the end of the island to get in here. We are told we can get out at the top end of the island, otherwise it will be even trickier backing out of the narrow channel.
Today there was a large flea market in town with many desirable items such as porcelain swan vase and hideous lampshades. Also the US army was in town circa WW2 with a collection of old army vehicles and a marching band complete with bagpipes and kilts. However it turned out they were all French, we think they were a sort of Sealed Knot group.

La Ferte-sous-Jouarre

The Yanks are here!