Episy lock

Tom went at midday and I found launderette in St Mammes on my bike. Lock day today. We learnt how to glide inside lock without scratching sides and how to operate the gates. We had to lift the blue lever. Easy really, once you know. Next lock was “manual” i.e. an eclusiere was here. We were quite confused, first thought there was a boat already in the lock (it turned out it was moored way before and not in our way at all), then we attached our ropes on the wrong side of the lock so we weren’t able to help the lady lock keeper. She explained how eclusiers communicate with each other about boats movements in the Canal. She was so nice we gave her a bottle of wine.

We had thought of mooring before next lock (there was a restaurant nearby…) but after chatting with eclusier Frank, we thought we could make an earlier start by mooring after lock. John had to undo his carefully placed spikes and we are now moored under the trees, birds are singing and we are just about to go and investigate the “Auberge de l’Ecluse”.