contentedsouls

18 km and two locks through glorious countryside; the valley has opened up more now and it is very similar to the Runnymeade area of the Thames (but very little traffic) – the weather was perfect. Our next small town en route was Stenay but that means other people, other boats and paying and G spotted a nice little spot on the bank at the village of Cervizy; just 5 km North with a choice of good dog walking and a Lidl just up the road. I suspect very few boats moor here but it’s lovely and quiet.

Even the cattle needed to cool off

Thames- like scenery

If you have to live on land this beautiful riverside cabin would be pretty acceptable

We’re moored on the lock cut, but their is plenty of access to water for the dogs on the main river. The village is quite sweet and sleepy too

G’s last 2 car shuffles have been quite interesting! This part of the railway network doesn’t run anymore so car recovery has all been done by electric bike (very little in the way of local buses) and cycle tracks have long since vanished; although the dogs and I are immensely grateful for the latter.

His last trip was fairly flat but 10km over rough footpath which ended with the last 1/4 mile not having been mown in anyway, so he was pushing through 3ft high grass and weeds – he added new underwear to the shopping list when he arrived home! On the trip before he decided to follow the sat nav recommended cycle route up the side of the valley to the top of the hill, along and then back through the forest tracks – thus avoiding an unpleasant road. Unfortunately the forest track ran out and the forest closed in on him – the sat nav battery ran out on him too and he was left weaving through the trees following his sense of direction (I should have packed him a bag of crumbs to lay a trail!). He still had a smile on his face when he returned; despite trickles of blood running down his legs (note to self: check him for tics).

Jill