Fragnes and Verdun-sur-le-Doub, France

Rabelo tied up in Verdun-sur-le-Doub

 Rabelo carries 4 tons of fuel.  It sounds like a lot, and actually allows us to go a fair distance.  Eventually we need to refuel.  It isn't like we can cruise up to the local gas station and say "fill er up."  Instead we call for a fuel truck.  We carry two types of fuel, white and red.  The red is for heating and isn't taxed like the white fuel which we use for propulsion.

Fuel truck

Rabelo fueling up

 Near where we tied up in Fragnes is a free range chicken farm.  Every time I walk by the chickens come running out of their coop, and crowd around the fence.  I wonder if they think a passerby is going to give them a handout.  The owners open their doors on Saturday's and if you get there early enough you can buy their fresh eggs as well as various other local products.

Free range chickens crowding together watching me walk by.

I felt like this guy was giving me the evil eye.  

Because of all the canal closures our Aussie friends Amanda and Pete caught up with us as they searched for a way to reach their winter mooring.  We shared many meals together. and even more bottles of champagne.

Pete and Amanda enjoying a cocktail before dinner on Rabelo.

 France is in the middle of a serious drought.  There have been numerous canal closures.  Hotel barges as well as cruising canal boats have been forced to make major alternations to their travel plans.

The water level on Canal du Centre is too low.  This picture was taken just a week before the canal was closed for the balance of the season over 2 months early.

With the water level so low we can see how badly the canal has fallen into disrepair.

This ladder is for the baby ducks to be able to climb out of the water.  They are found along all the canals.

The canal runs under this restaurant giving the patrons a great view while they dine.

The lock taking us from the Canal du Centre to the Saone River is 11 meters (36 ft.) deep.

Once the water is lowered the huge lock door opens allowing us to enter the river.

The River Saone is beautiful cruising

These parents are teaching their babies the art of begging for food from the barges

Now that telephone booths have become pretty much extinct, what should be done with them?

In Fragnes they converted a telephone booth into a book exchange

You can get an idea of how low the water level is here at the marina in Verdun-sur-le-Doub on the Doub River. 

Walking around Verdun-sur-le-Doub we found this house with an American flag in the door.  I would have loved to meet the owners.

Lovely church in Verdun-sur-le-Doub

Across the bridge from where we were tied up is an island with a beautiful park and forest.  With the heat we were experiencing, a walk in the forest was wonderful.

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