Yesterday I did 4 deep locks, the deepest was the one at Bolène, 23 meters or a little over 75 feet. I could just barely keep up with a commercial barge but this gave me the opportunity to get in right behind him and that saved me a lot of time. I left from k.m. 112 at about 10 a.m. (after waiting for the marina office to open at 9) and I anchored at km 201 around 6.15 p.m. Just around the corner from where the Vieux Rhône flows into the main channel. This kept me out of the heavy current and a restful night, except for the fact that the bridge for the TGV (bullet) train, but they don’t seem to run at night or I was tired enough that it did not bother my sleep. There was a strong wind from the south yesterday and again today. This makes for a very uncomfortable ride, the waves get real choppy against the strong current. And when a fast loaded barge comes up current then it really gets nasty, especially in the narrower canalized stretches. Their wake bounces back and forth from shore to shore for ever and I just hobby horse and make no progress. As you can see from the pictures, it has been dark overcast with a few spatters. But it is nice and mild, in the high sixties. Avignon is an amazing place. I will try to go to mass here at 6.30 p.m. I am trying to connect with my cousin Adri and her husband Gert, they are camping nearby.

I stand corrected. The sign “No Tipping” I questioned in yesterday’s blog, seems to be understandable to Brits. I had never heard of the expression. I asked a Brit yesterday in the marina in Valance and he clarified this. So, if you ever happen to be in England don’t try tipping anyone with your trash……