After a restful night's sleep at our quiet rural mooring, we were up and ready to get going early. On checking my morning emails, however, I saw one from Frank Vella, a mate from Fairfield school days. We had seen him before leaving Australia and suggested that he might consider a trip to France and stay with us on the barge for a few days. His email indicated that he was interested, and had lots of pertinent questions. So before casting off, I sat down and wrote an email to him to answer his questions.

As we were casting off, Rita was using the long barge pole to push the bow away from the bank of the canal, because it was unwise to use the bowthruster in that somewhat weedy location. But as she pushed, the pole slipped on the dry grass at the side of the canal, and she tumbled. Luckily she did not fall overboard, but she did land on the bollard on the boat, and hurt her ribs. During the day we kept monitoring the pain, but since she could breathe easily and even laugh (on occasion) we didn't think she had broken any ribs. However, the pain was to last for several weeks, as she was reminded every time we had to do work in the locks.

As we cruised along the parallel section of canal/river just west of Ranchot, we noticed how low the water was (it normally spills over the stone wall), and this low water situation was reinforced as we entered Orchamps. Unless we get some heavy consistent rain soon, many more canals will be closed.

We stopped for lunch at the waiting pontoon at Ecluse 63 at Moulin Rouge, and then continued on to Rochefort-sur-Nenon where we hoped to get a mooring for the night. However, the solitary mooring dock already had two boats totally occupying its length, so we continued on. But Rita was determined to have one final swim in the River Doubs, so we stopped at a dock on the west side of Rochefort, where Rita ducked down to the river for a swim, while I sat on the rear deck admiring the local scenery and architecture.

Having missed getting a mooring at Rochefort-sur-Nenon, we decided to press on through Dole (where mooring on the sloping wall in low water is no fun, especially with damaged ribs!), and look for a mooring at Choissey. This time we were successful and got the last available spot! As the evening arrived, we saw the cruise barge Daniele pass us for the umpteenth time and then we relaxed with a very pastel sunset and moonrise.