Monday 21st September – Day 70
We filled up with water today – the authorities here are very strict about this and you are only allowed to fill up between 0900 and 1100, due to the ongoing drought. Most places turn their water off. Jenny Wren was in dire need of water, and being moored on the trot, this was not available to them. However, they asked the harbour master if it would be possible to bring their boat to the pontoon which stuck out before the bridge to do this, which was all OK.
After all this, we set off… under that bridge again – so here are a series of photos showing just that:
Phew! Even though we knew it was going to be OK, it still looked touch and go!
On we went, down the quiet, beautiful river to turn left to another tributary to a place called Le Bono, the river being also called the Riviere du Bono. This was a motor trip (no wind) and took about an hour. Here we are approaching the much taller bridge at Le Bono.
We moored up on Visitor moorings, which were again trots, but we were side-by-side.
Jenny Wren and Boni
A bit later, we dinghied into town. This place reminded me very much of a Cornish style harbour and village, a bit like Mousehole in Cornwall, although this was much smaller. It was very quiet. All bars and restaurants were closed, as was the Boulangerie, although there was a general store that was open.
and in town – a lutherie – mostly guitars I think.
The most interesting thing was the beautiful iron suspension bridge built in 1842, now superseded by a 20m high road bridge, which we had moored under (and later witnessed a group of 4 girlies enjoying themselves with an evening picnic)
And views up and down the river:
We walked a little way – some forested paths led us back to the river shoreline and I picked up a super-big pine cone. I collect a pine cone every year from my holidays and this one is a whooper and will be added to my basket of pine cones at home.
It was our turn to entertain Steve and Monica on board tonight – handy that we moored next to each other, so they could pop across.
On the menu was calamari, moules, an interesting pork melange with veggies and our attempt at a café gourmand – which included some Christmas pudding(!), chocolate mousse and almond pastry.