Using our WI-FI access key, Mike checked the weather, 42 now/up to 52 by afternoon, 60 tomorrow, 61 Monday. He sent Emy an e-mail to respond to her voice mail.  Carol sent an e-mail to let everyone know where we are. Shoe and I filled the tank with water again, wiped the windows down, and readied the boat to leave Verdun for Chalon.
We left Verdun- sur-le-Doubs about 10:45. To reach out target Chalon-sur-Soane we needed to cover about 26 km – with no locks. Shoe drove most of the way, paying strict attention to all of the various buoys and markers. We passed a small town named Verjux, with a bridge across the river to Gergy. Supposedly, a young woman lived in Verjux and her geese would cross the river to Gergy. Since, at the time there was no bridge, she would have to walk to Verdun to cross the river to recover them. When as an adult she married the fonder of the department stores Le Bon Marche, she built a bridge at Cergy to connect Verjus to better the life of her fellow citizens.
Pat and Carol provide detailed instructions to Shoe from the back seat
Pat is dress for the first 250-meter lock (life vest required)
Mike gets a photo-op of Pat
The way to Chalon was marked by shallows on each side of the river; and they were clearly marked. At Chalon we rounded Ile-St-Laurent and found the marina, docking area behind it. Even though signage said the captainerie was open all day, we found it closed – for the obligatory lunch hour we assumed. At 2 PM, the secretary finally arrived and opened the office. We paid for two nights stay, in slip number 125, a total of 17 euros, with water, electricity (which our boat was incapable of using), water fill-ups, showers, etc. Once the formalities were consecrated, we wandered through Ile St-Laurent, crossed the Soane into Chalone. The sun had come out, we had a glass of wine in the square in front of the church. Walked around and took a gander at all the architecture, half-timbered buildings, 17th, 18th and 19th C architecture. Last stop, the MOMOPRIX to lay in some supplies – especially wine.
The Kir is gone but plenty of Red Wine
Boeuf Bourguignon for supper
Once back at the boat, Carol and I enjoyed a Kir Royale on the top deck in the sun. Then showers for everyone and back into Chalon for a traditional Burgundian dinner. We found La Rotisserie Saint-Vincent, at 9 Rue du Ble. The menu for 23 euros consisted of fois gras and terrine or shrimp egg rolls, and we all choose the ballotine de poulet, a boned, chicken stuffed with green cabbage and lardons and wrapped in chicken skin to hold it in the proper shape. It was accompanied by roasted potatoes and green beans. For dessert the choices were an apple tart with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce with raspeberry coulis or a gourmet dessert plate: chocolate cake, crème brulee, and poached pear (poached in cassis) with a raspberry coulis decorating the plate. By far, this was the best meal we’ve had so far. By now, the night chill had set in and we headed back to t boat to retire for the evening.
