Up at 7.30 (please note 6.30 am UK time), I was greeted by the most perfect weather; wisps of mist and a ball of sun reflected in the water. The light was fabulous as I whisked Muttley around the woodland and I was highly amused by the taped up, clearly dangerous, litter bin.

It was a little bit of a performance to leave and turn onto the canal. We had to turn the boat, go passed the canal back down river, then turn the boat to come back upstream to catch and twist the dangly pole. We were trying to work out how long we have been on the rivers for and recalled that we left the Canal de Nivernais for the river Yonne back in September. Other than a few little short cutty canal bits on the Marne, we’ve been on the rivers ever since and I love the wide views from our big windows; virtually no danger of getting iced in either.

Photos are horribly grainy taken into the early morning sun; sorry.

There are some definite advantages though, like when Mr Baxter was suddenly caught short; we were able to pull into the side to let him off. It also means that Daisy can be let out of the bedroom and be allowed to roam and sun herself on the top of the boat between locks; should she go in, she swims perfectly well enough for us to be able to fish her out or for her to just swim to the bank in still waters. It also means I can walk the towpaths again so I don’t have to do all the Muttley walking after we’ve moored up.

We actually saw two pleasure boats today (only three in total that we’ve seen on the move since we first met Voirrey and Andy at the beginning of last winter. The second boat really peed G off as it pulled out in front of us (close enough to make him have to throttle back) before going into ‘our’ lock. Adding insult to injury, we had to wait whilst it turned around and came back down again when it could easily have turned before the lock; it must be summer!!!!

Approaching our last lock of the day at Tours-sur-Marne we had plenty of time to admire the view as it let us in and then broke down. Called on the radio; no answer. Telephoned the number provided; no answer. Yep; we’re back on the canals.

The lift bridge came as a bit of a surprise – it’s been a very long time since we’ve activated one of those – as neither of us had noticed it in the Fluviacarte; I suspect we’ll be getting a fair bit of practice with lift bridges later this year though. A pleasant enough spot, but onwards and upwards tomorrow.