SUR LE PONT D'AVIGNON
Except by all accounts the nursery rhyme is not correct and the dancing took place under the bridge, not on it,
Anyway we had a long day's sailing from Valence to Avignon - 12 hours and 6 locks - including the massively deep Bollene lock in which we were all on our own! In fact we saw very little traffic all day, commercial or otherwise. When we arrived at the town quay there didnt appear to be anywhere for us but there was a British Linssen and we were all set to raft up against her when the people in the boat behind very kindly offered to let us have their place as they were off in the morning and they then rafted up against us. We were sooooooooo grateful as quite tired by that time and desperate to actually visit somewhere. We were forced to have a glass of wine with them to say thank you.
And we have been here for two full days. We visited the Palace de Papes yesterday and the famous Pont Saint Benezet along with, what felt like, a million other tourists yesterday and today have done very little apart from search for an Observer. The Captain has been desperate for a paper to read.
Tomorrow we make our final trip down the Rhone to Port St Louis where we hope to arrange to take Sequel out of the water as there seems to be a problem with the port engine - the bearings have worn and are making a worrying knocking sound. C'est la vie. My French is really coming on!!
We have booked flights to come home on Thursday 03 June - can you believe from Avignon to Southampton? Have had a lovely time but looking forward to being home and catching up with everyone and the garden. We may return after respective stag/hen weekend on 18 June - but watch this space. Thank you again for messages posted - it has been great to get them.