From the Charente River

23/9/2018


We join our Oz friends on their white cruiser, for a week's cruising.


From Jarnac we've motored east up the R Charente, throigh cognac country. A wide slow river, tree fringed, small hamlets, a few towns. A cognac distillery a must.

Last night in Chateauneuf, a splendid meal some mile or so on the edge of town,  a laughing walk back in the late evening.

The locks on the river are manually operated, involving a small wheel to raise the paddles, a larger one for the gates.  It is quite a good arm workout. Our fibreglass boat is skittiah to handle, so has to be moored tightly during locking.

Tonight we moored about 7.30, light fading, at a pontoon landing outside a taverna, coloured lights, river view verandah, and delight of delights, a singer-guitarist. He was wonderful, many of us ventured onto the dance floor, finally staggering back to the boat near midnight.  An accidental magical evening.

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