On the Move

We finally managed to cast off our lines and leave Auxerre on Tuesday, May 21. We were ready to go on Sunday, but another holiday weekend (May 20, the day after Pentecost) and marina employees who stretched their long weekend by leaving work at noon on Friday, meant that the port didn't have the required manpower to move the unoccupied boat that was rafted next to us. We would have to wait until the employees returned to work on Tuesday.  Just another "Hotel California" experience, where "you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave." The extra time in port was not wasted. We have some window cover snaps to install, so we worked on that task over the weekend and on Monday had a nice farewell dinner at one of the local restaurants.

It was great to be moving, but of course, the first few days of a cruising season are always "interesting" as we try to remember our standard processes for our cruising days. Adding another level of complexity were the heavy rains that came through the area on Monday the 20th. Just like that, high water volume and faster currents were back.

Exiting one of the first locks north of Auxerre. The water at the lock exit was turbulent, but
we were able to power through without a problem. It was a similar situation at all of
the locks we passed through.

After 10 kilometers and 5 locks we were snugly tied up at the halte nautique in the village of Gurgy.

Gurgy was a pleasant stop when we were there last July. It was a bit less crowded along the
dock this time around, although we were still glad that we arrived early in the day.

The "social season" got off to a quick start with docktails with Swiss couple Paul and Bea, who were also moored in Gurgy for the evening,  

We cruised in tandem with Paul and Bea today as we left Gurgy and continued north--we were heading for the town of Migennes on the Burgundy Canal and their destination was the town of Joigny on the Yonne. We are so glad that we are cruising north (downstream) and not south (upstream), because the current continues to be quite significant from the recent rainfalls. In fact, the Nivernais Canal (just south of the city of Auxerre) has been closed again to navigation due to high water. Going upstream would have been a slow "slog" to get anywhere; by going downstream, our cruising days are going incredibly fast.

Making the exit at one of today's locks. 

Because our proposed destination for this cruising season is the town of Auxonne, we had a basic choice of two routes to get there from  Auxerre: the Burgundy Canal, which joins the Yonne River about 23 kilometers north of Auxerre and ends at St. Jean de Losne on the Saone River not far from Auxonne; or a longer, more westerly route that travels on waterways close to the Loire Valley before heading east to join up with the Saone River south of Auxonne. We decided on the longer route, but couldn't resist the opportunity to at least be able to say that we have cruised on the Burgundy Canal, so we are making a brief side trip on the Burgundy Canal over the next few days. The timing is good, as we're happy to leave the river for a few days and give it the opportunity to "settle down" before we start cruising it again.

Approaching Migennes, where the Burgundy Canal meets the Yonne River. Our "boating buddies"
for the day, Paul and Bea, are in the boat approaching the far bridge.

Off the main channel of the Yonne, approaching the first
lock of the Burgundy Canal in Migennes.

What used to be a double lock is now a single, deep
lock (about 5 meters/15 feet deep). The attending
eclusier dropped down a hooked line to us so that
she could retrieve our lines and attach them to bollards
at the top of the lock.

My view from the front just before the sluice
gates were opened to commence the filling process.

And . . . in comes the water!

We're staying for a couple of nights in a basin just outside of that first lock. We're hoping to spend some time tomorrow on the bikes (my first attempt since I broke my hand) getting a feel for the area, and will resume cruising the Burgundy Canal on Friday.

We're able to get a pre-cruise look at the first part
of the canal by simply going for a short walk.