We decided to have our ‘Sunday roast’ on the boat at Cervizy on Saturday and then go into the moorings at Stenay first thing Sunday (only a half hour cruise) – the town moorings there are inclusive of electric and water and we could get our money’s worth, rather than turn up at 5.00pm. We used to baulk at paying for a mooring but, once a month, it’s worth going in and doing all the heavier washing like towels, bedding (ours and the dogs) and having nice long showers; topping up batteries. All for less than the cost of a launderette. We had to go past the bridge and then reverse in, past the audience of interested fisherman on the grass banks and then moor on the quay – although I was on the helm I suddenly remembered an urgent need inside and handed the helm swiftly to G who executed the manoeuvre with his usual aplomb and shouts of ‘grand chef’ from the fishermen (evidently chef means ‘head’ or ‘leader’ not just in the kitchen). With hindsight, it was a bit mean of me to deprive them of the hilarity of me having a go!

Washing on, there was time to hit the bakers before it closed (being Sunday) have a scout around the town for the usual recycling facilities and anything that might have potential for a blow out Sunday lunch

I reported back and still had time for a long shower and change, before heading off to a wonderful lunch in an old mill building (could have been on the Nene).The detail on the catch that held the shutters back was amazing – the puddings weren’t bad either!.

Sadly, the weather changed yesterday and we left Stenay in the rain – just two locks and a two hour cruise saw us moored up in the field outside the little village of Mouzay. The pinning arrangement is to protect us from the Dutch who roar passed in their big cruisers with not a thought for anyone. It’s still possible to have the smaller commercial peniches come through here, but they tend to be more considerate.

Jill