25th - 30th April. Through three tunnels, down the flight of 16 locks, then on to Villiers-sur-Yonne

Having passed the lake, there are three tunnels before descending the 16 locks. There are no lights in the tunnels, which is unusual for France.

This cutting after the third tunnel is reminiscent of the Shroppie!

There was even one lock with traditional balance beams, although they would be too high for easy use. We completed the first 8 locks in record time, then had to wait for half an hour for a boat which was coming up the flight. We started at the same time, but we made much better time! It does help that we only need to use one gate at locks.

All the trees are really green now, as we continue our descent.

A pottery shop at one lock was followed by some unusual sculptures, alongside the canal. They are unusual, to say the least!

Did this martian annoy someone?

I think I prefer the steel ones.

What a pretty lock cottage!

The canal widens out below the 16 locks, and we actually shared the mooring with another boat, for the first time on this canal. It is really quiet.

Most of the time, the canal wends its way between trees.

Sometimes, though, the river Yonne can be seen from the canal, across at the far side of the valley.

We are passing some pretty villages. This is Dirol, with a lift bridge too, which was open for us. There are push button controls at lift bridges on this section of the canal, so they are easy to operate, without having to call VNF.

The plane trees are very attractive here.

Near Asnois village we gave this log pile first prize for the best stacking!

On to Villiers-sur-Yonne, where we spent five days on our own. The canal is really quiet due to the canal closure before Auxerre. Opinions vary as to when it will be open again, and it could be as late as the end of May.
Què sera sera!

The trees in Villiers, which is over the canal bridge, have had a haircut, and look very French!

From the top end of the village, there is a splendid view over the valley of the river Yonne. Yes, the mown grass is in a private garden!

Going to the left at the canal bridge and crossing the river Yonne, we visited the hamlet of Sur Yonne, which has many attractive old houses.

The most famous structure here is the “Corps de Garde”, which is the only significant remains of the 16th century fortifications of Sur Yonne, when the hamlet was independent of Brèves.