We got up and had difficulty with the electrics. The toilet would not flush properly and the fridge was off. There was a red light on our dashboard. Since we were not connected to electricity, our battery had gone flat.

We then read the manual and apparently the fridge chews up a lot of electricity. We had turned it up to the top setting. We had also charged up all our phones.

We luckily got the engine started and left it on to charge the battery . There was a boat next to us had the same problem but could not get their engine started. They were also from the same hire company. They called up the hire company for help as we motored off. Soon all the electrics worked again.

It was a very nice sunny day with a forecast of 29 degrees top temperature but with storms later.

I found a panel of photos of the building of the canal in 1876.

We had many locks again so there wasn’t any time for relaxing.

The lock people have lunch between 12 and 1pm so we have to stop then for lunch too.

In the afternoon I jumped on my bike and cycled ahead and was ready to catch the ropes at the locks – or when stopped before the lock waiting for it to open. It got very hot exercising in the sun.

We soon approached our night spot – Chatillon-en-Bazois marina so I jumped back on and became rope girl again.

The chateau was next to the bank with a big tarpaulin on the tower. Many chateau that we see are delapidated – and sometimes boarded up.

We cruised into the marina where we immediately plugged into electricity.

We then went straight to the only shower one by one. It was a relief to be in cold water after such a sticky day.

We got ready as we were going out for dinner with Ange and Oli’s French friends Jean-Michel and Christine. We walked through the town to the only eating place that was open – a pizza place.

We found an old photo of the town – and then got the same location today.

The pizza place was not classed as a restaurant by the French couple – not up to their standards – but it was where you could find something edible.

We had a lovely night out but with very strange service. Three of us received our dinners and it then took another 15 minutes until the other 3 arrived. The food was up to my standards – obviously very low! I had a warm goat cheese salad – mostly meat with lots of bacon!

Jean-Michel was a very good English speaker and Christine understood most – so conversations were happening in both English and French.

Leaving the restaurant large raindrops were coming down and it got heavier. We managed to get back to the boat only slightly damp. We said goodbye to Jean-Michel and Christine.

We then settled into the boat and had some tea discussing the joke of the day – that Angela noticed that Glenn likes birds, blondes, and tarts.

We then went to bed early – exhausted again!