On Monday we stayed on at Verdun sur Doubs. We had invited Terry and Zena around for drinks that evening. Wendy had met them in the Port Office the day before and after a long chat invited them over the next day. Terry retired now is a Welshman who has worked in the wine trade for his life time. Married to a French lady he has lots of connections with New Zealand and its wine. It was a good evening made even better by a fortuitous turn after Terry and Zena left. We had decided to eat out as it was so hot but the local restaurant seemed a bit expensive at 30 Euros for a 3 course meal so we decided to try one about 10 minutes walk away that we had seen advertised for 20 euros. Unfortunately that was a lunchtime only price. Fortunately the meal they served up was one of the best we had ever had. We started with substantial canapes followed by an amuse bouche (small tasty starter), then for Wendy a most unusual entree of half a bone with its marrow topped with breadcrumbed pork trotter (bone removed) with whole garlic and snails on top. Then a main course and then cheese course followed by a gourmet dessert and then petit fours. Very filling!
The next day we continued up the Saone to Seurre where we stopped the night. The temperature didn’t drop below 35C that night and we slept very badly. Next day on up the Saone to St Jean de Losne where we have been for the past three days having the boat looked at. It rained all day yesterday and half of today and the temperatures are much more moderate – thank goodness.
The boat had been smoking a lot more than usual in the past few weeks and also ‘leaking’ some oil or fuel through the exhaust. It could have been anything so we got a mechanic to do a compression test to rule out anything major. Fortunately there was no problem with the compression. We changed the oil and filter and cleaned the fuel filter but I suspect it is the injectors that need servicing – something we can’t do here easily. So we shall monitor the situation on our way up the Saone for a short cruise this week before heading back and going up the Canal Rhone au Rhin.
We have Wifi here at St Jean de Losne hence the early blog!
