12th June - Rouen to first big lock

We departed Rouen at about 11 (early start for Alison!!) and motored against the tide for about ½ hour to the fuel barge. We had to potter around for another 30 minutes while a peniche filled up before we could get on. We then motored all day in nice sunshine to our first big lock at Amfreville. All on our own it looked huge and in a few minutes lifted us the 9m to the non tidal Seine. A quick check in to register ourselves with the lock keeper and we are off into relative tranquillity. After about a kilometre (measurements on the rivers are in kilometres rather than nautical miles) we turned right into a beautiful backwater, Le Mesnil de Poses. We passed Fantastico who were already moored and tied up to a town supplied pontoon for the night near the floating barge museum (open Sundays only!!). Bike ride, wine on Fantastico, dinner, calm - wonderful.