We awoke to a misty morning over the River Saone, but were kept entertained for a long time by a flock/flight/gulp of swallows (lots of collective names for swallows) skimming over the water.

Over breakfast we checked the weather forecast and saw that our week of sunshine was about to come to an end, with rain forecast again for tomorrow. So we made the reluctant decision to cut our trip short by one day and return to Auxonne today. Soon after breakfast, we were untieing the ropes and leaving port at 0930h. But for the moment, the sun remained with us and provided the right weather for a river cruise. We thought we might stop at Lamarche for lunch and to explore the lakes on the other side of the old railway line. But when we got there we saw that the entire mooring was taken up by one large barge, with lots of campervans in the background.

So we took the next best option, and cut the engine soon after passing Lamarche and just floated down the river with the flow. Rita prepared some sandwiches and fruit for lunch and we just enjoyed the sunshine and the peacefulness as we had lunch (occasionally getting up to use the bowthruster or start the engine to keep us on the straight and narrow, and out of the trees on the banks). As we approached the final ecluse before Auxonne, we phoned Port Capitaine Alain to let him know we were arriving today and to find out where we should moor Kanumbra in readiness for winter. As we went though our final lock for the year, we were reminded of the beauty that occurs unexpectedly in the strangest of places, like growing in the wall of the ecluse.

When we arrived in Auxonne, we moored on the inside of Pontoon A, next to another Piper Barge, Manuka, and in readiness for another couple of Pipers arriving in the next few days.

That evening we went down the river to the Ginguette for dinner and drinks, as we watched a group of paddlers having a good time out on the river.