Armida's Travels: 3 Perfect Days to Besancon

Besancon 17 Sept

I've written about Dole and Besancon many times, probably more than anywhere else on this blog, We have travelled the stretch in between them more times than I can remember since our very first trip in 2001 on a rental boat. Still, when Caroline and Phil said they could only come from the UK for 3 days I couldn't go past this trip, For Canal afficionados it has lots of technical interest, alternating beween the canal and the river, as well as lovely. scenery.

Lilou and I spent a week in Dole where is was 33C every day, but cool at night and in the mornings. By the time peak heat was reached around 6pm we were in the shade, so careful time management allowed me to get my projects done and still manage some Dole wanderings.

The day before they arrived it started cooling off and we had a light drizzle for our departure around 2 pm. A downpour just after our second lock was the end of the rain and we arrived at an open pontoon under the cliffs by a weir for a perfect evening. And so went the rest of the cruise, everything aligned perfectly, almost. Lunch the next day didn't go as planned as the Hotel was closed and being converted into a daycare centre. No problem, a short walk to a Routier Cafe gave them an experience that everyone should have - a working man's lunch spot. But in France that is a full 3 course meal with wine, and very good too.

We arrived at our favorite weir at 5pm and it looked like there was no room. But wait, the barge Kanumba waived at us to indicate they were just leaving and our pefect spot opened up.

The next day took us into Besancon as the Citadel loomed over us and around the loop of the city t0 culminate in one of the few locks in the system you must operate youselves, or at least the crew must. A lovely meal in town completed 3 perfect days.

I'll leave you with some random photos.