Day 44: 26/07/17 Where-ever it was to Chateau Thierry

A tough day with respect to boatschool. BOTH kids rebelled and our 2 hours work took nearer 5 hours, although it would probably have taken longer if we had not moored alongside another kid boat in Chateau Thierry, and threatened no playing at the park until it was done!

Esmé did enjoy doing some maths in the cockpit though!

Our first challenge was the automated lock, we motored up to it, expecting the lock gates to open but nothing happened. I had to call the emergency number, and the guy said he would come. Luckily he brought what looked like his apprentice with him who could speak some English; he told us that we had to press the remote control before our arrival, and that instead of using the remote to operate the lock once inside, we pulled the blue lever up! The French guy still didn't realise that the stupid English had not even tried to use the remote and insisted on taking it off us and checking its functionality!



We are now very definitely getting into wine country with vineyards on the hillsides along the waterway. We also passed a rather pretty building for some reason called The Devil House.

The next few locks went ok, but with only the final lock to go we came a cropper again. Patrick pointed the remote and hit the button, the yellow light flashed as it was supposed to, and then it stopped and went back to red. No amount of trying again would get it to work and by now another large charter boat had arrived. Luckily he spoke better French and called the magic number which resulted in another visit from the little man and our eventual passage through the lock.

Chateau Thierry looked a little busy, with the pontoon full of large barges, but there was a space on the quay. I gently nosed us into another small space only to feel the keel hit the bottom, or the side, or something. The barge behind us hadn't managed to get all the way alongside either but I wasn't comfortable with staying as the keel kept bumping so we came out again and asked to go alongside Kotare, a boat we had seen previously at Meaux with kids on board. They very kindly allowed us to raft on them so thankfully we didn't have to go further.

We had to pay 5 Euros to stay via a ticket machine rather like being in a car park. Electricity and water was extra so we decided against the electricity, and to fill up with water in the morning as it was 6 Euros for 2 hours so we want to make the most of it. I went shopping for food for the next day or so while Patrick took the kids to the park. I owed the kids ice cream for good school work yesterday so I brought a pack of 6 Pistachio and Chocolate cornets back much to AJ's disgust. He kind of just ate the Chocolate part while I gave the spares to Kortare. Luckily for us Kortare had an electrics problem so couldn't use the shore power they had paid for so donated it to us. Showers all round using the electric to heat the water, emptying the tanks before we fill up tomorrow.

We all needed a break so the kids are sat watching a film while I had a lovely chat with my lovely friend Tracie on the phone, and then update the blog. Now for some planning to try to get us in a position to meet up with Tracie and Russ on their way back to the UK from the South of France.